Buddha ?

[opr1945]

I have come across statues of Buddha. They seem mostly to fall into at least 2 types. In my opinion they do not remotely resemble each other. So there must be differing opinions of what he looked like. Can someone provide me with more information?

 

[Xue Sheng]

There are many more than 2 types of buddha

The Different Types of Buddha

 

[Same Trick]

If you meet the Buddha on the road(way), kill(smash ?) him

 

[Stuarto]

They also look different depending on the country. One buddha statue could be from India while another is from Japan. My wife is Japanese and has educated me on some of the differences on the Buddha and the various other deities/guardians etc.

 

[Stuarto]

I have come across statues of Buddha. They seem mostly to fall into at least 2 types. In my opinion they do not remotely resemble each other. So there must be differing opinions of what he looked like. Can someone provide me with more information?View attachment 32882View attachment 32883

I think the fat one may be Chinese, not positive though.

 

[Xue Sheng]

I think the fat one may be Chinese, not positive though.

smiling or laughing Buddha originated in Chinas but is also venerated in Japan, Korea and Vietnam

 

[Stuarto]

smiling or laughing Buddha originated in Chinas but is also venerated in Japan, Korea and Vietnam

I just bought my wife a late edo period Buddha figure. She likes to visit the Buddhas in Japan and also various shrines.

 

[opr1945]

If you meet the Buddha on the road(way), kill(smash ?) him

I don't get this? Are you saying "kill (smash) all Buddhists" ???

 

[Xue Sheng]

I don't get this? Are you saying "kill (smash) all Buddhists" ???

it is a Zen Buddhist Koan

"If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him" is a Zen koan, a paradoxical statement meant to challenge fixed ideas and encourage independent thinking, not a literal call to violence."

 

[Xue Sheng]

I just bought my wife a late edo period Buddha figure. She likes to visit the Buddhas in Japan and also various shrines.

I go see them in China

 

[opr1945]

I watched a documentary on the first Buddha. Apparently the last several years his eating habits changed and he lost a lot of weight and became very thin.

So why do some statues portray him as ...rotund?

 

[Xue Sheng]

I watched a documentary on the first Buddha. Apparently the last several years his eating habits changed and he lost a lot of weight and became very thin.

So why do some statues portray him as ...rotund?

there are more than one, everyone has Buddha nature

And he changed his eating habits before he became Buddha while he was searching

Buddhism for Beginners | Start your journey here!

Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of the Buddha—the title given to the Indian spiritual seeker Siddhartha Gautama more than 2,600 years ago.

tricycle.org

Buddhism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Buddha - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

I watched a documentary on the first Buddha. Apparently the last several years his eating habits changed and he lost a lot of weight and became very thin.

So why do some statues portray him as ...rotund?

It may actually be someone else entirely, who has been (over centuries and folklore) conflated with buddha. Look up the Buddhist monk named budai, and look at some of the statues of him/read his story if you're curious.

At some point the general public forgot he was meant to be a separate figure, and he just became another face/type of buddha.

 

[opr1945]

I did find this:

The Different Types of Buddha Statues and Their Meanings | A Comprehensive Guide

With our comprehensive guide, learn about the different types of Buddha statues, their postures, mudras, and materials used to make them.

www.originalbuddhas.com

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

It may actually be someone else entirely, who has been (over centuries and folklore) conflated with buddha. Look up the Buddhist monk named budai, and look at some of the statues of him/read his story if you're curious.

At some point the general public forgot he was meant to be a separate figure, and he just became another face/type of buddha.

A google search found this blog post. A quick read through matches what I learned about it in some of my religious studies classes in college, but a) it's been about 10 years and b) I did not vet the article super carefully.

The Laughing Buddha and an Ancient Man’s Journey to Simplicity and Contentment

In India, Nepal and throughout Southeast Asia, Buddha is commonly depicted as tall, slender and serene. However, we are also familiar with the image of the “Laughing Buddha” – a short, well-fed, jo…

martinifisher.com

 

[opr1945]

It may actually be someone else entirely, who has been (over centuries and folklore) conflated with buddha. Look up the Buddhist monk named budai, and look at some of the statues of him/read his story if you're curious.

This seems to disagree.......

Laughing Buddha statues​

Laughing Buddhas are one of the popular Buddhist figure in the world. They are famous for the cheerful nature of the character in the statue. The Laughing Buddha is generally known in China as Budai or Putai, Bodai in Vietnamese and Hotei in Japanese. Elsewhere, the laughing Buddha statue is generally known by Happy Buddha, jolly Buddha or Chinese Buddha.

Laughing Buddha is a Chinese folk deity whose name means "Cloth sack". Often seen and believed to be an incarnation of Maitreya - the future Buddha, the Laughing Buddha statue is the taken as the medium for depicting Maitreya in the Southeast Asian culture. The large protruding stomach and jolly smile have also helped him to be known as more common designation "Laughing Buddha". In China, Laughing Buddha is known for his loving and friend nature.

The Laughing Buddha statue is traditionally portrayed as a fat, bald and robe wearing monk carrying a sack and prayer beads. He is also portrayed in different paintings as followed or surrounded by the cheerful children around him. Another item that is usually seen with the Laughing Buddha figure is a begging bowl to represent his Buddhist nature. His large protruding stomach and jolly smile have given him the common designation "Laughing Buddha”. In China, the Laughing Buddha is known as the Loving or Friendly One.

Rare, original & antique Laughing Buddha statues from Burma.

We buy and sell original and antique Laughing Buddha statues and sell them to collectors and Buddhists worldwide.

www.originalbuddhas.com

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

This seems to disagree.......

Laughing Buddha statues​

Laughing Buddhas are one of the popular Buddhist figure in the world. They are famous for the cheerful nature of the character in the statue. The Laughing Buddha is generally known in China as Budai or Putai, Bodai in Vietnamese and Hotei in Japanese. Elsewhere, the laughing Buddha statue is generally known by Happy Buddha, jolly Buddha or Chinese Buddha.

Laughing Buddha is a Chinese folk deity whose name means "Cloth sack". Often seen and believed to be an incarnation of Maitreya - the future Buddha, the Laughing Buddha statue is the taken as the medium for depicting Maitreya in the Southeast Asian culture. The large protruding stomach and jolly smile have also helped him to be known as more common designation "Laughing Buddha". In China, Laughing Buddha is known for his loving and friend nature.

The Laughing Buddha statue is traditionally portrayed as a fat, bald and robe wearing monk carrying a sack and prayer beads. He is also portrayed in different paintings as followed or surrounded by the cheerful children around him. Another item that is usually seen with the Laughing Buddha figure is a begging bowl to represent his Buddhist nature. His large protruding stomach and jolly smile have given him the common designation "Laughing Buddha”. In China, the Laughing Buddha is known as the Loving or Friendly One.

Rare, original & antique Laughing Buddha statues from Burma.

We buy and sell original and antique Laughing Buddha statues and sell them to collectors and Buddhists worldwide.

www.originalbuddhas.com

Can you point out which part of that disagrees? Because unless I'm missing something, none of that goes against what I stated. A Buddhist figure does not mean it has to be buddha, just like a Christian figure is not necessarily christ. and if I'm reading/understanding the Maitreya part correctly, that's referring to a separate bodhisattva then Siddhartha, indicating that they would in fact be a separate person.

From the link you shared, it also directly references Bodai:
"Based on an eccentric Chinese Ch'an monk from the 9th century, the laughing Buddha has become an inseparable and significant part of Buddhism. He was a native of Fenghua in China, and his Buddhist name was Qieci. He was always taken as a man of loving and cheerful character"

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

@opr1945 Just to clarify what I mean when he is not Buddha, FYI. I mean that he is not Siddhartha Gautama, as that seemed to be what you were referencing when you were comparing the two Buddha's physical shapes. Not the concept of Buddha as anyone that has reached enlightenment/referring to other buddha's.