Hotei carrying three children across a stream in a bag on his head, Kawanabe Kyōsai

Teaching Gallery Label:
“Eyes on Icons: Exploring Japanese Buddhism at the Spencer Museum of Art,” Apr-2008, Junghwa Park
In this print, Hotei (布袋 Budai in Chinese, meaning “cloth bag”) carries a cloth bag filled with three children to help them cross a stream. Hotei is considered to be a deity of good fortune and happiness in Daoism and Buddhism and is known as one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japan. Originally, Hotei was based on a historical person, Qici (契此, ? - 916). He was a wandering Buddhist monk in China who was said to be the incarnation of Maitreya Buddha (Buddha of the Future).
Hotei is usually depicted with a cheerful facial expression and a protruding belly. He almost always carries a large cloth bag that never empties so he can give generously to the poor and needy. Because of these familiar characteristics, Hotei is an important subject of religious and folk art in East Asia.
In addition, the three children depicted in this print are a parody of the proverb of the Three Monkeys, which became popular after the 17th century in Japan and whose gestures mean “hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil.”

Exhibition Label:
“The Sacred and the Secular: Buddhist Imagery in Religious and Popular Contexts,” Oct-2005, Hillary Pedersen
Hotei, the god of good fortune and the human incarnation of a Buddha, is an eccentric portly figure identified by his large bag and fan, and is known for his laughter and kindness to children. His image has permeated both Asian and Western culture; in Japan he is one of the Seven Lucky Gods, while he is often misidentified as a fat smiling Buddha in Western countries. He is seen here in this secular print helping three small children across a stream. The popular hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil theme is acted out by the three children. See related Hotei imagery in this exhibit.