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Hotei, the God of Happiness

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popan vasile
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Post  bonsaisr Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:08 am

My granddaughter gave me a kitschy little figurine who I assume is Hotei, the god of abundance & happiness. He is typical except for one thing. Instead of just holding his hands up, he is holding an object over his head. It looks like an oval bowl or platter, with a dome shaped cover. Almost, but not quite, like a hat. I found lots of pictures of him on the Internet, but none like that. confused If none of you chinoiserie experts know what it means from my description, I will post a picture, if that will help. Question
He goes with my kumquat tree, if you don't mind.
Iris
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Post  Todd Ellis Sun Nov 14, 2010 1:24 pm

I would love to see your figurine of Hotei... or who ever he might be. Please post a picture.
Todd
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Post  bonsaisr Tue Dec 28, 2010 2:50 pm

Here are a picture and a close-up. Any ideas?
Iris

Hotei, the God of Happiness Hotei10


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Post  popan vasile Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:24 pm

Hi Iris
Besides many other things I figure it home and I do not know what he wants to represent that object, but I and you have a Buddha sitting in the left hand
I would be glad if someone would enlighten me.


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Post  bonsaisr Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:53 pm

Hotei is one of the Immortals, the ancient Chinese gods. He has nothing to do with Buddhism, as far as I know.
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Post  Chris Cochrane Tue Dec 28, 2010 6:40 pm

Hi Iris... He is holding an ingot of gold (or silver)-- a sycee.



Last edited by Chris Cochrane on Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:16 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Post  bonsaisr Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:10 pm

Thanks. I assume that is in conjunction with his job as the god of abundance.
Iris
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Post  kauaibonsai Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:21 pm

or could it be a dish of rice cake/mochi - held aloft in thanks?

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Post  DougDT Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:41 pm

Chris is right,
Many Chinese people celebrate the Chinese New Year by placing golden yuanbao (sycee or gold ingots) in their houses to bring wealth and prosperity...
More at
http://mikechujournal.blogspot.com/2010/02/shangri-las-golden-yuanbao-mooncakes.html

Maybe a New Years Display.
I also Lifted this from the net, while looking for a answer to your question.

"Hotei is often shown surrounded by a group of small children, romping and squealing in delight around his rotund shape. In addition, he has a reputation for giving gifts. There is a tradition, credited by many, that if a group of strangers gather together on New Year's Eve and ask Hotei for the same gift, provided they have strength of will and truly believe that he will grant it, Hotei will indeed give them what they ask for (Chiba, 22). Another custom is to place a drawing of Hotei, shown in a treasure boat along with the six other Lucky Gods, under one's pillow on the first night of January. The idea is to ensure that one's first dream of the new year will be an auspicious one.
Read the whole article here.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/hotei_by_jennifer_polden.htm



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Post  popan vasile Wed Dec 29, 2010 4:22 am

Hi all

Reading the explanations above figures mean that I have the same character in several iposturi. The first picture, not an expert in this subject, I always thought that is a representation of the Buddha, besides the fact that this figure is that ingots left arm, stands in a sitting position with his back leaning against a larger ingots.
Doug, thanks for the explanation.
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Post  Khaimraj Seepersad Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:13 pm

This may help -

http://www.lightsourcegroup.com/Whos%20Who.htm

There is yet another reincarnation - Maitreya [ buddha to come ]

It's easy to confuse the food gods, the eight immortals and all those other stained red cast resin/marble dust figures, that are bombarding the various Chinese, Indian or other stores world wide.

You may also notice that Avalokiteshvara = Guan Yin [ Quan Yen ] - once a male/female figure of compassion. Notice the Guan Yin has no bosom ?

Have fun.
Khaimraj


* I bought a "jade" Quan Yen yesterday, the size of an American quarter. It is really a heated hardstone, heated to accept a turquoise blue dye. I shall place it in sunlight for three months and see if the dye is stable.

If it is, I will add on a gold hoop and chain of 18 to 22k Au. The machined work on the stone is excellent, and the gold with turquoise should be stunning. The work is of greater value than the stone of course.

Real Jade when held up to the light is not multi-fractured from heating to accept a colour - beware.
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Post  Khaimraj Seepersad Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:15 pm

Historically, depending on how you think, most people need many - elements - to keep their sanity in an ever changing world. See the Romans of old, they had door / hearth and kitchen gods as well.
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