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I know this is Buddha Hotei or Pu Tai, but I do not understand if he is giving or receiving a gift or something else is being exchanged ?

Usually Hotei is taking away a person's sadness and woes to put in his sack. But what ever is being exchanged between them seems special and wrapped like a gift.

Does anyone recognize the fable or story that this sculpture is suppose to represent?

Also, can someone describe in detail this young persons clothing, what time period his clothing might be from, and what his clothing tells about him ?

The clothing looks a little bit official but that seems in contrast to his straw hat.

Any help greatly appreciated :)

hi, hotei should not be mixed with buddha. He is because of his lifestyle a rolemodel for chan/ zen buddhists though.
here he is grouped with a boy holding up a fan.

peter

as appendix a painting in boston showing this as a common theme. painting by morikage

Thank you Peter..

I found who Budai (Hotei/Pu Tai) is and made the connection between what is going on with this sculpture..

Budai's tradition and belief about the handing out of sweets as being symbolic for the notion that the more you give, the more you receive.

How his bag represents and was used to gather up the problems all people encounter in life. He would gather them up as he moved from town to town. Believing that instead of clinging to them you should distance yourself from a problem by putting it down and laugh at it, because whether you laugh or cry the problem is not going to change. Thus being known as the laughing Buddha.

I am still trying to be sure about who and what profession the figure is receiving what looks like an especially nicely wrapped box of candy with a tassel attached.

I have narrowed it down to two possibilities.

He is either a soldier opera figure with a prop shield strapped to his back. Or he is an actual soldier, and it is still a shield strapped to his back. The foot ware either hanfu opera shoes, or actual military boots.

What looks like possible protective gear over his shoulders seems more likely a ceremonial collar or piling. It does not look like something that would offer real battle protection compared to other practical battle body armor/plates. His straw hat just adds to my confusion between the two possibilities.

Shiwan potters were very famous for creating opera figurines, especially their figural roof tiles. Virtually all their figural roof tile figural scenes were influenced by Chinese opera, as well as a great many other figural sculptures.

So for the moment I am leaning towards him being a soldier opera figure with a prop shield strapped to the back of his costume.

There is more symbolic meaning to this sculpture as well that I will not bore you with, not to mention a detailed description of the various Shiwan glazes.

What do you or others following along think about the two possibilities for that figure? They are the only possibilities I have can up with so far.

Hi George,

I can only add that I believe that the boy is simply a boy attendant and one of Budai's/Hotei's 'child followers'. Almost all scholars, old men, divinities are attended by young boys who carry their wares from one scenic mountain monastic retreat to another. They are often seen holding things like fans, wine vessels, qin, everything the scholar or divinity needs to live an isolated recluse life. However as this is a figure of Budai the boy is one of Budai's many child followers as stated in the Wikipedia article below - "He would excitingly entertain the adoring children that followed him and was known for patting his large belly happily." Therefore I do not believe this figurine represents anything more than that. If the statue was of a higher quality I could venture to state maybe the boy represented the donor/commissioner and would be fashioned after him. Just my opinion though.

Thank you Dan :)

Dan,

I forgot to ask before posting my last thank you reply.

Any idea what the boy attendant has strapped to his back ?

Hi George,

It seems like it's a bamboo weaved form (like his hat) - could be back protection for carrying something on his back, usually children or student-attendants carried all the needs of a scholar. I haven't seen anything similar so I cannot give a definitive comment. Is there anything on the base? Sometimes there are marks there as well.

D.D.

Thank you Dan.. Really appreciate you replying :)

Nothing on the base, but it was plugged off. No idea what the reason for some Shiwan pieces having that done.

A significant and boldly represented symbolic part of this, is the exchange between the two of a box of candy with a traditional tassel attached.

I am unsure who is giving or receiving, and what the symbolic meaning behind this exchange of candy plays in the fable/folklore trying to be told by the potter. Or if it is simply Budai handing out candy to a child, symbolic of kindness and generosity for which he was so admired.

As mentioned, not an expensive item at all, but I do enjoy looking at and trying to figure out the symbolic meanings behind items like this.

I do not mean to carry on and on, but appreciate you listening and talking with me about it.

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