Hotei or Pu-Tai is better known as the Laughing Buddha. The image of Hotei is based on a Chinese Zen monk who lived over 1000 years ago. It was due to his large protruding stomach and smile that he came to be known as the Laughing Buddha. His image graces many temples, restaurants, and homes in China and Japan. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the "Laughing Buddha". As he is traditionally depicted as fat, he is also referred to as the "Fat Buddha", especially in the Western world.