Laughing Buddha: Which One to Use and Where to Place?

Table of Content:
Introduction to the Laughing Buddha and its origins.
Different types of Laughing Buddha statues and their meanings.
Feng Shui placement tips for the Laughing Buddha.
How to choose the right Laughing Buddha statue for your home or office.
Benefits of having a Laughing Buddha in your space.
The significance of the different hand gestures of the Laughing Buddha.

Pot-bellied, laughing like a little child, Laughing Buddha is one of the most popular pieces when it comes to home décor.

The Origin of the Laughing Buddha

According to Chinese tradition, he was a monk named Pinyin, who lived 1000 years ago and followed the path of Buddhist asceticism. He was jolly-natured and roamed from one place to another, carrying his earthly possessions in a small sack of cloth, spreading smiles and peace everywhere he went. His followers believe him to be the incarnation of Bodhisattva Maitreya or the future Buddha, born to help them with the problems of the current world. From Zen Buddhism in Japan to Korea, India, and even the western world, the Laughing Buddha statue is the go-to piece for home decor. A high level of demand has resulted in an abundance in the availability of laughing Buddha statues online, making it a challenge to find the one that fits your expectations. Treat this blog as your guide to finding your own laughing Buddha statue for your space.

Budai or the Laughing Buddha according to Chinese Zen traditions was contemporaneous to the later Liang dynasty. The Japanese call him by the name of Hotei (literally cloth sack). He is one of the “eccentric saints” revered in Zen Buddhism. The Laughing Buddha statue can be seen adorning the entrance of several Chinese temples, with his quintessential smile, bald head, and protruding stomach. His good-humored depiction, while wearing simple clothes and having minimal possessions, signifies his ability to be content with almost nothing. At the same time, he has the power to bestow the utmost wealth and prosperity on those who bring him home. Merely rubbing his belly every day with optimistic intentions is supposed to ensure luck and success. This is why feng-shui and Vaastu experts are big proponents of keeping a laughing Buddha statue at home.

Types of Laughing Buddha Statues You May Find

There are numerous types of Laughing Buddha statues online and in the market, which charmingly capture the personality and aura of the lovable Budai. One needs to understand the symbolism and meaning behind all of these forms in order to know the right placement of the laughing Buddha.

With Children : An absolutely adorable idol of the laughing Buddha is one where he is shown with several children. According to Chinese Zen myths and folklores, when Budai roamed in villages, children used to gather around him, filling the air with their chatter and laughs. Such a statue is believed to bring fertility and good luck to the children when placed in your home.

With Fans : Budai also removes misfortune from his surroundings. Laughing Buddha idols where he is holding a fan are kept in homes and offices to ensure this. His fan is believed to possess magical powers like a wand. It is said that Budai fans off the grievances of those who bring him home.

With Beads : A beaded rosary in Budai’s hand brings wealth, health, and affluence. Since the beads also symbolize meditation, an idol of the Laughing Buddha with beads in his hands brings peace and positivity to the house it inhabits.

With Bowl : Laughing Buddha, when shown with a bowl, highlights his aspects as a monk who has devoted his life for the benefit of this world. He collects good fortune and prosperity in his bowl which he spreads in his surroundings.

With Gold Ingots : Several laughing Buddha statues show him standing straight, with his hands raised above his head, holding a gold ingot. In this pose, he attracts immense luck and prosperity of the heavens for those on the earth.

With Sack : Among other types of laughing Buddha statues used in home decor are the ones where he is carrying a bag or sack. In this form, he collects all the misery from wherever he goes, keeps that in his bag, and replaces it with luxuries and positivity.

Meditating : When placed in your home or office as a meditating monk, Budai emits calming vibrations and helps you focus on your tasks. It fills the atmosphere with such positive energy that the mind immediately gets at ease when someone enters the space.

With Different Animals : In the treasures of innovative laughing Buddha statues online, you will also come across the monk with different animals. A laughing Buddha statue with a tortoise, mostly a dragon-like tortoise, helps students and people with jobs excel at whatever they do, by removing any and all obstacles from their path. Laughing Buddha with an elephant, the wisest member of the animal kingdom, symbolizes wisdom and prosperity. When accompanied by a fish, the laughing Buddha statue is the bearer of financial benefits and ealth.

How Should You Place it for Abundance?

Feng-shui (meaning wind-water) is a Chinese science of harmonizing human energy with its surroundings. One of its key ideas is the right placement of any piece in your space in order to ensure maximum gains from its presence. Now that you are familiar with the types of laughing Buddha statues online, let us delve into the placement of laughing Buddha as per the rules of Feng-shui. Each individual is believed to have her/his specified direction in Feng-shui which is known as ‘Sheng-chi’. If you place the laughing Buddha statue in this direction, it will ensure your overall well-being. When kept in the east direction, this idol brings fortune and harmony to the family. Placed in the southeast corner, Budai brings a manifold increase in the wealth of the family. By placing the laughing Buddha statue in a corner in such a manner that it is facing or is diagonally opposite to the main door you can ensure that only good energies enter your home.

There are certain Feng-shui tips regarding the placement of laughing Buddha statues in different spaces of your home so that there is a constant flow of goodness in your abode.

Your entrance is the first thing that meets the eye when someone reaches your home. Placing the laughing Buddha statue here is a way of signaling your aspirations to gain joy, laughter, and abundance.

A favored space for the laughing Buddha statue is the living room. Regularly gazing at his joyful expressions will attract similar energies in your daily activities.

You can also place the laughing Buddha statue in your garden. Standing here, he will attract the positive spirits of nature, which will make the ambiance pure and blissful.

A laughing Buddha statue on your office desk will bring good luck to your career prospects, and prosperity will follow you in whatever work you do.

Placing a laughing Buddha statue in your meditation room will instill his qualities in you when you meditate while focusing on his attributes.

You have acquainted yourself with the variety and placement of the laughing Buddha statue. It is clear that each form is associated with distinct qualities and attributes of Budai, and in every form laughing Buddha brings good luck and abundance. There is a long list of the types of laughing Buddha statues online, available in different materials, sizes, colors, and postures. However, Exotic India Art prides on bringing to you handpicked collection of laughing Buddha statues in the purest material and created as per the rules of Feng-shui. Prepared by skilled artisans and selected by our experts, the idol collection on our website is a bouquet of the finest laughing Buddha statues. From buffed stone images to smooth metal icons in all the forms mentioned above, the assortment on the Exotic India Art website will definitely be the last stop in finding your favorite Laughing Buddha statue for your home.

Key Takeaways:
Laughing Buddha statues are considered auspicious and bring good luck and prosperity.
Different types of Laughing Buddha statues have different meanings and can be chosen based on your needs and preferences.
Feng Shui placement of the Laughing Buddha is important for maximizing its benefits.
The Laughing Buddha's hand gestures also hold significance and can be chosen based on your intentions.
Overall, having a Laughing Buddha in your space can bring positivity and joy.