Budai literally means 'cloth bag', a reference to his hemp sack. Also known as 'Laughing Buddha', he was the incarnation of Maitreya, the 'Buddha of the Future'. He was renowned for his unkempt, obese appearance, and love of children. He is usually depicted seated, holding a rosary in the right hand and a hemp sack in the left, which always appears to be full. This figure has finely incised features, typical of the Dehua potter's concern for quality regardless of size. Here, he is clothed in a flowing robe revealing his enormous belly. The revival of Chan Buddhism during the late Ming dynasty (1368-1644) resulted in Budai's great popularity.Dehua, located on the southeast coast of Fujian province, is well known for its production of white porcelain, known to Europeans as 'blanc de Chine'. The earliest Dehua porcelain was produced as early as the 14th century but the production and quality of these porcelain peaked around the 17th and 18th centuries.
