Copper Mini Maitreya Buddha Statue,brass Laughing Smiling Buddha Statue Budai Figure Buddhism Happiness God of Wealth Zen - Etsy

Stop calling him Buddha! The statue you rub for luck is not Gautama Buddha. His real name is Budai (Hotei) — a wandering Chinese monk from the 10th century known for spreading joy. He carried a cloth bag full of gifts for the poor, which is why he became a symbol of abundance and happiness. In China, many even considered him an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha. But the shocking truth is — he has no direct link with Siddhartha Gautama. The world misunderstood and marketed him as “Laughi