Gold Leaf Brass Thai Songachai Fat & Happy Buddha Statue Holding Belly with Both Hands 12"

The lovable fat, happy, laughing Buddha represents the ideals of good health, wealth, happiness, prosperity and longevity. He is known as Budai (Chinese) and Hotai (Japanese). He is lovingly referred to as the Happy Buddha, Laughing Buddha or the Buddha of Wealth. The Laughing Buddha is based on an historical figure of an obese Zen monk who wandered China during the Laing Dynasty. He was known for carrying a sack of candy, which he gave to children on the street. People believed that he was an incarnation of the Maitreya Buddha.
 
In sculpture the Laughing Buddha is depicted with a large, exposed belly carrying a hemp sack, which is filled with gold, health and happiness. Buddhists do not see wealth as being only material but spiritual wealth as well. Both his belly and the large sack convey this concept of abundance.
 
The laughing Buddha of Wealth is always depicted in a relaxing posture, exuding happiness to all who are near Him. His smile and jovial nature is infectious, reminding you that there is more to life than just worldly possessions. His large Belly is always bursting out of his robes. Sometimes he wears red colored robes that represent good fortune and blessings.
 
He usually carries a gold ingot (sycee) or a small hemp sack in his hand.  He sits or stands upon a hemp sack of wealth under him. Around his neck, he wears auspicious mala beads as well as a large, round medallion that bring blessings to the surrounding. He sometimes holds a stick known as a wish stick, which he uses to grant people boons. Many people believe that rubbing his belly will grant anyone their wish.
 
He is often seen surrounded by children or carrying children on his back.  Children naturally flock to him, not just because he gives them candy but because his joyous nature is so childlike that they see him as an equal.  Some people believe a statue of the laughing Buddha is good to have around newborns as well as those wanting to have children.

Brass statues from Thailand do not need much maintenance. The best way to maintain the statue is to simply dust the piece periodically to keep any dirt from accumulating. They can be used for both indoor and outdoor use.

You can use soap, warm water and a cotton cloth to periodically go over the statue to remove any dust or dirt buildup. If you are really interested in making the statue shine you can use some natural oil, like coconut oil or olive oil, and a cotton rag to wipe down the metal portions of the piece. You can use a toothbrush as well to get into the small crevices of the statue like the hands and hair.

Thai brass's durability makes it perfect for cold winters and hot summers of any climate. The metal can stand up to the harshest conditions of heat and bitter cold. We suggest you bathe the sculpture every couple of months so that dirt does not collect on the sculpture and then use a cotton cloth with some natural oil to give the statue a shine.

If you have any questions concerning your brass statue please email us at [email protected] or call us at 1(760) 994-4455.

USA Shipping

This sculpture is in our Oceanside, California store and ready for immediate shipping. The shipping charge is automatically calculated by UPS for shipping within the United States. Each sculpture is usually shipped within 24 hours of the order with the exception of the weekend.
You can obtain a shipping quote for any statue by clicking the link, Calculate Shipping beneath to the Add To Cart button on every statues' page.  Besides the shipping price, the results will also display the date the statue will arrive at your home. Lotus Sculpture uses Instapak foam injection packing system or bubble wrap and recycled peanuts to ensure that all our pieces arrive undamaged. Click here to learn more about Lotus Sculptures packing.

International Shipping

This sculpture is in our Oceanside, California store and ready for immediate shipping to anywhere in the world. ​International shipping charges will be calculated automatically upon checkout. ​
You can obtain a shipping quote for any statue by clicking the link, Calculate Shipping beneath to the Add To Cart button on every statues' page.  Or you can email [email protected] or call us 760-994-4455 to receive a shipping quote. Please include the item number of the statue you are interested in purchasing as well as your country and postal code.​ Lotus Sculpture uses Instapak foam injection packing system or bubble wrap and recycled peanuts to ensure that all our pieces arrive undamaged. Click here to learn more about Lotus Sculptures packing.