Hotei

Accession Number
2006/2.19

Title
Hotei

Artist(s)
Old Man Kôgetsu

Object Creation Date
circa 1620-1643

Medium & Support
ink on silk

Dimensions
40 3/16 in x 17 ½ in (102.08 cm x 44.45 cm);40 3/16 in x 15 ⅜ in (102.08 cm x 39.05 cm);11 7/16 in x 14 ⅜ in (29.05 cm x 36.51 cm);x 17 ½ in x 44.45 cm

Credit Line
Gift of Ellen and Richard Laing

Subject matter
Hotei, in Japanese mythology, one of the Shichi-fuku-jin (“Seven Gods of Luck”). This popular figure is depicted frequently in contemporary crafts as a cheerful, contented Buddhist monk with a large exposed belly, often accompanied by children. Tradition relates him to a Chinese monk called Pu-tai, who because of his benevolent nature came to be regarded as an incarnation of the bodhisattva (the future Buddha) Maitreya (Miroku in Japanese) but whose large protruding stomach led to his being caricatured as the “Laughing Buddha.”

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hotei

Physical Description
Hotei is dressed in a kimono with his chest and large belly are exposed and is sitting on a large sack. To the left of him are a couple lines of calligraphy.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
hanging scroll

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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2 Related Resources

Ink and Realisms
(Part of: Artist Associations and Art Movements)
Silk
(Part of: Exchange and Influence on Global Trade Routes)

& Author Notes

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