{"corpus_id":213379499,"paper_sha":"74d2ceba5f329d80fe2363cca1e51a17f376515e","doi":"10.1177/0972558X19873818","arxiv_id":null,"pmid":null,"pmcid":null,"mag_id":2998725176,"dblp_id":null,"acl_id":null,"title":"The Laughing Buddha: A Chinese, or of an Indian Origin!","year":2019,"publication_date":"2019-12-01","venue":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","pages":"139 - 142","volume":"19"},"journal_issn":null,"journal_title":null,"publication_types":["Editorial"],"pubmed_pub_types":null,"s2_fields_of_study":["Art","History"],"reference_count":2,"citation_count":0,"influential_citation_count":0,"is_open_access":false,"arxiv_categories":null,"arxiv_license":null,"arxiv_journal_ref":null,"mesh_headings":null,"chemicals":null,"comments_corrections":null,"source_flags":1,"s2_open_access_pdf_url":null,"s2_open_access_landing_url":null,"s2_open_access_license":null,"s2_open_access_status":null,"pmc_open_access_pdf_url":null,"pmc_open_access_landing_url":null,"pmc_open_access_license":null,"pmc_open_access_status":null,"unpaywall_open_access_pdf_url":null,"unpaywall_open_access_landing_url":null,"unpaywall_open_access_license":null,"unpaywall_open_access_status":null,"abstract":"The statue of the Laughing Buddha is generally attributed to be of Chinese origin, based upon some Chinese folktales of the 10th century ce. However, few people perhaps know that over 1,000 years before any such Chinese folktale, a prototype of the similar figure, that of the Yakshas, existed sculptured in the pillar capitals of the Western Gate (Figure 1) of Sanchi Stupa, constructed by emperor Ashoka during 3rd century bce. Besides the above, there would be no wonder, if the very “concept” and “image” of the Laughing Buddha might have been influenced, implicitly or explicitly, by the image and concept of Lord Ganesha of the Hindu pantheon. Today, the statues of the Laughing Buddha could be found in any part of the world gracing the drawing rooms of the rich and the poor alike, as also at the entrances of the hotels, restaurants, and even parks. Some keep it in their houses with the belief that this will prove to be harbinger of good fortune for them; whereas, many keep it in their houses or on their office tables, just as an item of decorative art. The image of the Laughing Buddha is conceived in one’s mind as a bald headed, fatty man with protruding belly; and though poor, but a smiling, contended, happy, and of a jolly character. The cult of the Laughing Buddha is not only confined to China, but with different nomenclatures, it also extensively pervades in countries like Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Manchuria, Taiwan, Laos, and many others. After all, where did the concept and the image of the Laughing Buddha come from? It all started hovering into my mind since June 11, 2019, when I first visited the ancient Stupa at Sanchi in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh in India. There, while observing the Western Gate of the Stupa, I saw the figures of the groups of four Yakshas on each of the right and the left pillar capitals. Immediately, it struck my mind; as to some degree, it seemed to resemble the Laughing Buddha. According to Chinese traditions, the very concept of the Laughing Buddha emerges from the Chinese folktales of the 10th century ce. Accordingly, there lived a Ch’an monk named Ch’i-I’zu, also known as Qieci, in Fenghua district of Zhejiang province of China. Ch’i-I’zu lived a wandering life, and was though eccentric, but was a very-loved character. He could also do some small wonders, like predicting weather and foretelling future. Before his death, he also selfproclaimed to be the future Buddha. Thus, the very semi-historical and/or semi-mythological character of the legendary monk Ch’i-I’zu, in course of time, assumed the form of the Laughing Buddha. 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