Buddai Buddha in green jada HEIGHT 14 cm, WIDTH... Lot 434

Buddai Buddha in green jada HEIGHT 14 cm, WIDTH 16 cm, DEPTH 12.5 cm Smiling Buddha, Fat Buddha or Pu-Tai originally Pibudai Heshang (Little-Monk Sack-of-Skin), is a recurring figure in Chinese Buddhist iconography, sometimes interpreted as a real-life historical figure. Budai/Hotei is always depicted fat and bald, with a sack on his shoulders or under his arm (from which he takes his name) that is never emptied and with which he feeds the poor and needy; it is filled with rice plants (a symbol of abundance), sweets, food, and many valuable things. He often carries an alms bowl, representing his nature as a Buddhist monk. His role is to protect the weak, the poor and children, and he is often portrayed next to them. Buddhism In Chan and Zen temples, a statue of him is generally placed at the entrance with his smiling face turned toward the entrance