CHINE, DYNASTIE MING, XVIIÈME SIÈCLE

Budai, known as the "Laughing Buddha," is cherished in Chinese culture for embodying happiness, prosperity, and the wisdom of contentment. Modeled after the tenth-century monk Qici, who was revered by followers as a Buddha figure, Budai gradually came to be worshipped in his own right. He is commonly portrayed with a generous smile and joyful expression, dressed in loose robes that reveal his plump belly, a symbol of his carefree spirit and fulfillment.