# Laughing Buddha Hotai on Coins Miniature Figurine, Antique Red and Gold, 3.5 in

## A Smile for Your Pocket: the Laughing Buddha Miniature

Hotai grins broadly on a pile of coins, with a round belly and a bag of candy. This Laughing Buddha miniature has an antique red and gold finish. It makes the tiny figure easy to spot on a shelf. It stands 3.5 in tall and weighs 0.3 lbs. That is small enough for a locker, a lunch box, or a desk.

### Product Details

-   Material: Crushed stone and resin
-   Finish: Antique red and gold
-   Dimensions: 3.5 in H x 2.5 in W x 2.5 in D
-   Weight: 0.3 lbs
-   Product number: O-048GR

## Who Is Hotai?

The Happy Buddha is called Budai in China and Hotei in Japan. Spellings also include Ho Tai and Hotai. A Happy Buddha figurine often goes by all of these names. The name Budai means cloth sack. Tradition describes him as a Chinese monk of the Later Liang Dynasty, which ruled from 907 to 923 AD. He wandered with a sack and was loved by children.

## A Monk Who Became Maitreya

A note dated 917 AD names the Ho Tai monk as an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha. That belief gave his laughing image a place in temples. Monks of the Chan school carried his story to Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. In Japan he is Hotei, and he appears among the Seven Lucky Gods.

## Coins, Candy, and a Big Belly

His big belly stands for contentment. He sits on coins of prosperity, a sign of the wish for good fortune. The candy bag recalls the gifts he gave to children. This Laughing Buddha miniature turns those ideas into a small, cheerful figure. The coins of prosperity beneath him make the message easy to read.

## A Laughing Face Takes Time

The Princeton University Art Museum holds a rubbing of a stone carving dated 1088. It shows Budai with a sad grimace. The laughing version came later. A Happy Buddha figurine like this one belongs to that later, cheerful tradition. The Ho Tai monk of today is almost always smiling.

This Laughing Buddha miniature fits in a pocket, a locker, or on a desk. It weighs only 0.3 lbs, so it travels easily. Dust it with a soft dry brush. See more of our [Asian Art Collection](https://www.museumize.com/collections/asian-art), including the [reclining Ho Tai miniature](https://www.museumize.com/products/happy-buddha-ho-tai-reclining-statue-miniature-gold-and-red-o-088gr).

Small figures are easy to give a place of honor. Set this Laughing Buddha miniature where you see it each morning. The coins of prosperity make a cheerful start to the day. The Happy Buddha figurine invites a smile from the Ho Tai monk himself.

## For More Reading

-   Read how the laughing monk became Maitreya in popular belief. [Budai - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai)
-   See the early rubbing of a sad faced Budai from 1088. [Rubbing of a stone carving of Budai - Princeton University Art Museum](https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/57546)
-   Compare a smiling soapstone Budai from London. [Budai Heshang - Horniman Museum and Gardens](https://www.horniman.ac.uk/object/1990.79/)

## Details

- **Price:** 12.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Ancient Treasures
- **Type:** Statues
- **Tags:** collection-ancient-treasures, culture-asian-oriental, in-stock-museum-gift-store, interest-asian-happy-buddha, size-mini-under-4-in, statues

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default | 12.95 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Mini Figurine - Hotai Laughing on Coins Gold and Red Miniature 3.5H - Museumize.com
- Mini Figurine - Hotai Laughing on Coins Gold and Red Miniature 3.5H - Museumize.com
- Mini Figurine - Hotai Laughing on Coins Gold and Red Miniature 3.5H - Museumize.com
- Mini Figurine - Hotai Laughing on Coins Gold and Red Miniature 3.5H - Museumize.com
- Mini Figurine - Hotai Laughing on Coins Gold and Red Miniature 3.5H - Museumize.com

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> Source: [Museumize.com](https://www.museumize.com/products/laughing-buddha-miniature)
> Updated: 2026-10-19