Budai at The Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario

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Budai or Pu-Tai, known as 布袋 (Hotei) in Japanese, Bố Đại in Vietnamese, is a Chinese folkloric deity whose name translates literally to "Cloth Sack," derived from the bag that he conventionally carries. He is commonly associated with Maitreya, the future Buddha, and is often depicted as an incarnation of him, making Budai's image one of the primary forms in which Maitreya is represented throughout East Asia. Typically shown smiling or laughing, Budai earned his Chinese nickname, Laughing Buddha, due to this characteristic expression. In Western cultures, the image of Budai is frequently mistaken for Gautama Buddha. This intricately decorated wooden sculpture, featuring gold lacquer, originates from Henan Province and dates back to the 16th-17th century during China's Ming dynasty era. Since the Song dynasty (960-1278), the Monk with a Cloth Bag has been equated with Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. Statues of the robust-bodied Budai can often be found in the entrance halls of Buddhist temples. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access free of charge. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby that you'd like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.