Monk Budai Standing on the Bag of Plenty
Date17th century
PeriodQing dynasty
MediumDehua ware; porcelain with transparent glaze
Dimensions9 1/8 x 4 1/2 x 4 in. (23.2 x 11.4 x 10.2 cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineGift of Ira and Nancy Koger, 2001
Object numberSN11122.70
The semi-historical traveling monk Budai stands on a cloth bag suspended above an ornate pedestal of churning waves. On the ground next to Budai sits a basket, from which a small creature pokes its head. He holds a whisk, a tool for shooing away bugs without harming them. Budai, who lived in the tenth century, is a significant figure in the Meditation (Chan) school of Buddhism and is often considered an incarnation of the Buddha Maitreya. Budai typically appears with a round belly and bald head, wearing a joyful expression, and carrying or resting upon his cloth satchel.
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17th century
19th century
early 17th century
late 18th-19th century
17th century
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17th century
17th century