Who was Laughing Buddha?

Laughing Buddha got his name due to his habit of being joyful and always happy though his real name in chinese culture is Budai. He lived around 10th century. He likes travelling from town to town aimlessly. He is mostly depicted with bald head and big belly with a cloth sack. He is always depicted wearing a simple robe. He would carry his belongings in his cloth sack.

Legends says that he used to travel from town to town and used to sleep anywhere. He always gained attention from children and people. In his visit to town each time a huge crowd would surround him, he then simply cracks some jokes and start laughing which made whole crowd happy. He would simply pat his large belly which made children laugh. He would predict fortunes of people and also predict the weather conditions. There are legends saying that his cloth sack would never become empty and he would always give sweets to children.

In Chinese Buddhist temple laughing Buddha's is always in front of the entrance hall. Some statues shows small children at his feet. There are even legends which says he is the only Buddhist monk who achieved enlightenment by just laughing and making others happy. In now-a-days his statue is placed in home, hotels, business firms, etc believing that it would make the members of the buildings where laughing Buddha is placed happy, wealthy and prosperous.