Laughing Buddha

Description

This porcelain figure is based on a carefully detailed representation of Budai (1644–1911) in the Museum’s collection, an example of the Dehua ware produced for both trade and export in Fujian province. The original figure’s lustrous glaze and skillful modeling illustrate why Dehua porcelain became fashionable in Europe, where it was usually identified by the French term blanc de chine, or china white.

High- gloss porcelain. 6''H x 6 3/8''W x 5''D.

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Art History

The monk Budai, who lived in the late ninth or early tenth century, is usually shown in the visual arts as a somewhat eccentric figure notable for his rounded belly and ubiquitous smile. Although he plays an important role in popular culture both in China and in Japan (where he is known at Hotei), Budai is also understood to be a manifestation of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, because he identified himself as such in a poem he wrote just before he died.