In the popular Western imagination, the Buddha is a fat, ugly and perhaps smiling Chinaman. Where on earth does this absurd stereotype come from? Turns out that it *is* Chinese. However, the adoring old fatty isn´t the Buddha but a certain Budai, a saintly Zen Buddhist monk who may or may not be an actual historical figure. The "holy fool" (today sometimes conflated with Santa Claus in Japan) is actually Maitreya according to some traditions. Maitreya being the future Buddha, the Buddhist "Messiah"! Oookay...
I´ve heard of weird Maitreya connection before, but this YouTube video gives a good overview of the entire Budai problematique. Enjoy! And don´t forget to give the old man some candy, LOL.
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