Hotei or the Laughing Buddha is a cheerful, contented Buddhist monk. His large, exposed, pot-belly stomach protrudes in front of him as he continues to laugh. Hotei derived his beginnings from a mix of Buddhist and Shinto religions and can be traced back to the time of the Liang Dynasty in China. During this time, tradition has it that a Buddhist Zen monk by the name of Pu-Tai lived. Because of his benevolent nature he was regarded as a bodhisattva, but due to his large protruding stomach, Pu-Tai was caricatured as the "Laughing Buddha."

However, Hotei is also seen as a one of the Shichi Fukujin, the seven Japanese Shinto-gods of luck. Hotei is not limited just to Japan though, he is found among many Chinese Buddhists. Many Chinese temples will have Hotei located at the entrance of the temple or seen in the courts and he is worshipped as a god of good luck and prosperity. One such image is located by the Hsi Lai temple.

The image of Hotei is sometimes seen carrying a cloth or linen sack. It is usually filled with many precious items, including candy for children, food, or the woes of the world. Sometimes it can be filled with children who are seen as precious items of this world. In some scenes he may be found sitting on a cart drawn by boys.

The large, fat belly is a symbol of happiness, luck, and generosity.

The name Hotei actually means "cloth bag" or "glutton." A legend has it that if a person is to rub his belly, it brings forth wealth, good luck, and prosperity.

Another item that may be seen with the Hotei figure, is a begging bowl. This represents his Buddhist nature. All of these images display Hotei as a wandering monk who goes around and takes sadness away from the people of this world. He most certainly is a loving and cheerful character.

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