Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Yard Art on Thursdays

This is a picture of a Laughing Buddha on a hotel green in the Dominican Republic back in 1990. Little did I know I'd be posting this for Yard Art on Thursdays in 2010. Neither did the hotel. I wonder if it's still there?

Budai (Chinese: 布袋; pinyin: bùdài), pronounced Hotei in Japanese, is a Chinese folkloric deity. His name means "Cloth Sack," and comes from the bag that he carries. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the Laughing Buddha (Chinese: 笑佛). In English speaking countries, he is popularly known also as the Fat Buddha.

Budai is often depicted as having the appearance of an amply proportioned bald man wearing a robe and wearing or otherwise carrying prayer beads. He carries his few possessions in a cloth sack, being poor but content.
His figure appears throughout Chinese culture as a representation of contentment. His image graces many temples, restaurants, amulets, and businesses.
Amongst Westerners new to Buddhism, Budai is often confused with the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. However, the two are visually very distinct. Gautama is commonly depicted as being tall and slender in appearance (although since no images of him from his lifetime exist, this depiction of him is unverifiable and possibly idealized); Budai is short and overweight. (Buddha means "one who has achieved a state of perfect enlightenment" and there are several people who have been given the title.)
 

11 comments:

Unknown said...

I always enjoy a jolly Buddha! Crazy Nova Scotia yard art again at my place!

Anonymous said...

What a happy piece of yard art and thanks for sharing the information. :)

Carletta said...

We should all enjoy a hardy laugh now and then!
I like him Mary!

Don't see Mr. Linky so I'll come back.

ellen b. said...

Glad he's laughing :0)
I'll come back later to link up!

concretenprimroses said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
concretenprimroses said...

I love the laughing Buddha.

I don't know how to post a link. I tried twice.

Kathy

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

Hi Mary, I've joined your fun blog and I'm enjoying my first visit... Your Buddha is "Fun"... and boy do I have Yard Art... I have a cute post for tomorrows "Yard Art Thursday", I'm waiting for you to post Mr Linky to enter it! I'd love for you to check out my blog and "maybe" follow me too!
Donna@Conghaile Cottage

Gemma@Greyscale said...

Gorgeous little happy figure!
Love all the different interpretations of the Buddha figure!

If you click on my name, you will get my Yard Art this week! (No Mr Linky!)

Hootin Anni said...

Hello Mary!
Just thought I'd pass along the link to a new and fun meme for Thursday's that I started this month. Maybe you'd like to join in?!!

Thursday Theme Song

Carletta said...

Hi Mary,
Its's me again. Yes, my blue chairs were for yard art. So glad you came by. I had forgotten to put the link in the post but I've corrected that. :)

hahai.ponce said...

Hi, I posted my entry to Ruby Tuesday to the link attached to this post...my mistake, sorry :)