The Laughing Buddha, known as Cloth Bag, is not the historical Buddha but a figure evolved from a 10th-century Zen monk symbolizing generosity and joy.
Cloth Bag wandered sharing treasures, embodying ideals of compassion and joy, which led Chinese Buddhists to see him as a human incarnation of Maitreya.
His depiction as a plump, laughing figure arose from cultural interpretations, where his round belly symbolizes generosity and abundance compared to wealth in a traditional context.
The transformation and popularity of the Laughing Buddha illustrate how Buddhism has been adapted to various cultural contexts throughout history, serving different societal needs.
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