carved wooden Chinese figurine
Object numberI286
Titlecarved wooden Chinese figurine
DescriptionWooden carved figurine of Hong Tze, or the Laughing Buddha, with Money Frog.
The Laughing Buddha emerged from Chinese folktales of the 10th century. The original stories of the Laughing Buddha centered on a Ch'an monk named Ch'i-t'zu, or Qieci, from Fenghua, in what is now the province of Zhejiang. Ch'i-t'zu was an eccentric but much-loved character who worked small wonders such as predicting the weather.
The tales of Ch'i-t'zu spread throughout China, and he came to be called Pu-tai (Budai), which means "hempen sack." He carries a sack with him full of good things, such as sweets for children, and he is often pictured with children. Pu-tai represents happiness, generosity and wealth, and he is a protector of children as well as of the poor and the weak.
Today a statue of Pu-tai often can be found near the entrance of Chinese Buddhist temples. The tradition of rubbing Pu-tai's belly for good luck is a folk practice, however, not a Buddhist teaching
Money Frog (also called Three Legged Toad or Frog) is the divine version of the frog, in which it has three legs only. It is considered as the most significant emblem of prosperity and wealth. It was said to have lived in the moon and its power became very pronounced during the time of the eclipse. Chinese legends say the Money Frog was originally the wife of a legendary figure who stole the Elixir of Immortality from Hsi Wang Mu, the Goddess of the West. She was punished by the deities of heaven and they transformed her into a three-legged frog, sending her to stay in the moon. Since then, wherever people see the Money Frog, there is a bed of money surrounding her because of her craving for wealth. The Money Frog is therefore the holy creature that protects against misfortune and also brings wealth to households who revere her.
Production period19th century
Object namefigurine, Chinese
Dimensions
- height: 15.6 cm
width: 7.7 cm