Hotei - a figure of prosperity in Feng Shui

Feng Shui meaning

God Hotei is a symbol of many similar concepts in Feng Shui:

1. Jewels and coins laid out around, as well as a large amount of jewelry on the man himself, indicate wealth and prosperity.
2. A belly indicates a calm and measured life without problems or adversity, and a wide smile indicates a constant good mood.
3. Almost always, Hotei’s torso and stomach are bare, and there are no shoes on his feet, which symbolizes life in a hot country with a good climate.
4. The status of a god speaks of honor and respect from mortals.

Figurine of Hotei

In addition to these well-established symbolic meanings, the laughing Buddha is associated with such concepts as fun, idleness, tranquility, good financial position with a minimum of effort, and the like.

What does Hotei bring to people?

The legend about the god Hotei has survived to this day. He was a friendly young man with a good sense of humor and good looks. Earthly girls, seeing him, fell in love with a wonderful man. But there were so many fans that God could not reciprocate all of them. One after another, the girls' hearts were broken. Many committed suicide because they could not cope with grief. And those to whom Hotei nevertheless paid attention did not want to hear about other men.

Old women and mothers began to complain, and young men began to challenge God to fight. Pity for people, and especially for young representatives of the fairer sex, took over, and Hotei decided to radically change his appearance. The luxurious outfit was replaced by a simple cape, thick hair - by a bald head, a beautiful body - by a fat and limp one. Only the character traits remained the same. To make amends to people, from time immemorial he gave them wealth and happiness. It is still believed that the figurine of Hotei gives the owner capital and a wonderful life without big problems or unfortunate changes.

Expert opinion

Melnik Dmitry

feng shui master

In addition, the god of abundance will ensure the happiness of the owner and honor from others. This is only a small part of what the cheerful god can bless people with. In fact, if you choose the right place in the house, Hotei will fulfill almost any desire.

Figurine of Chinese God Hotei

In the modern world, which is largely fascinated by Buddhism, Hotei is one of the most popular deities that bring happiness to the home. It is used as a kind of talisman; the figurine of Hotei is widely known in Feng Shui.

This man himself is, first of all, known as the god of carelessness and fun. And in this material we will talk about where Hotei and the netsuke that depicts it came from.

Oddly enough, this deity has a completely real prototype. Once upon a time in China there lived a monk whose name was Tse-Tsy. Like many like him, this monk wandered throughout the country. He was no different from the others in almost any way, except for the large bag on his back. Actually, because of this bag he was nicknamed Hotei (the word translates as “canvas bag”)

However, the story would not have received even a hundredth of its popularity if it were just about a harmless monk with a bag; everything is much more interesting.

For some reason (history, unfortunately, is silent about why), Hotei became a symbol of happiness and fun for many. No matter what village Tse-Tsy came to, an atmosphere of carelessness and joy immediately set in, and as if everything began to flourish by itself.

When the monk was asked about the contents of his bag, Tse-Tsy simply answered that he carried with him... the whole world. One way or another, the fame of the extraordinary monk and his miraculous luggage spread first to China, and then to the rest of the world.

As a result, the craftsmen made a figurine of Hotei (this nickname was firmly assigned to the monk), or rather netsuke. The figurine remains unchanged to this day, only the motifs change. The photo shows that in the form of a figurine, for example, Hotei can be depicted on a toad, or with a staff or with coins in his hand. Sometimes there are even Hotei with children, and each version of netsuke has its own meaning.

Worldwide recognition of Netsuke Hotei

This very symbolism of a fat monk with a bag gained so much popularity that in the seventeenth century it was recognized even in Japan. As a result, today Hotei is considered one of the deities who bring happiness. And for many Chinese and even Japanese it is of great importance.

For one reason or another, Hotei is considered to be one of the emanations of Maitreya (although outwardly these two personalities are absolutely not alike, at least compare photos from the Internet). And it's all about the legend. According to it, once in his old age Tse-Tsy was sitting near a temple. Passers-by walked past him, and at some point Hotei suddenly declared: “Eh, you don’t notice that I am the future Maitreya!”

It must be said that in the east, Maitreya is revered as one of the Buddhas, and symbolizes prosperity, well-being and contentment.

So, it is not surprising that many consider Hotei to be the natural embodiment of a happy life that comes into the home along with netsuke. Many people call him that - Buddha Hotei.

But in fairness, it must be said that Buddhists from several countries disagreed with this version. Oddly enough, the whole point turned out to be Hotei’s appearance - Buddhists are accustomed to seeing their enlightened leader (that is, Buddha) slender and handsome, while the Chinese Hotei is frankly ugly and fat (photos of netsuke confirm this).

But an answer was quickly found to these indignant reproaches: Hotei’s appearance has its own meaning. According to another legend, in one of his incarnations, Buddha turned out to be so beautiful that he could not rest from the girls who went crazy about him. As a result, the Buddha decided not to confuse the impressionable female minds and turned into an elderly and fat man so that everything would fall into place again and everyone would mind their own business.

Wish Granter - Buddha Hotei

God Hotei is a talisman that brings a lot of luck, joy and wealth to the house. And if you rub it on your stomach three hundred times, you will not only polish your figure to a shine, but also charge it to fulfill your cherished desire. There is only one condition: throughout the entire “ritual” of rubbing the figurine, the desire must be kept in mind. This condition is of great importance.

The Chinese are generally convinced that the day of any decent person who wants everything in his life - from health and luck to material wealth and success in his endeavors - should begin with touching Hotei's belly. The most curious thing is that almost every Chinese businessman considers this belief to be true. And if you rub the belly of the Hotei figurine with children, you will find family well-being.

In addition, there is a legend that Hotei, with a bag on his back, collects all the misfortunes that come his way into his simple container.

Apparently, that’s why when the monk came to the villages, prosperity came there. It was as a result of this interpretation that the Hotei figurine was adopted by the science of Feng Shui, which is known as the doctrine of happiness and harmonization of the surrounding space.

When purchasing a Hotei figurine for your home, you first need to know that it needs to be activated (otherwise you can wait a very long time for the arrival of wealth and happiness). Actually, like any other amulet, Hotei needs to “get to know the new owner.”

The procedure itself has already been described above - you need to rub the belly of the ancient monk three hundred times, simultaneously holding in your head the desire that you so passionately dream of fulfilling. It can be anything - work, personal life, it doesn’t matter.

By the way, just before purchasing this figurine, you should try on the material from which Hotei is made. It is clear that you will receive the greatest amount of happiness and wealth from the figurine that is made of wood, stone, metal that suits you. As for the color in which the Hotei figurine should be painted, it must certainly be golden or white.

The meaning of popular figures in Feng Shui:

• Figurine Cup of Plenty
• Maneki Neko figurine
• Elephant figurine
• Mandarin duck figurine
• Money toad figurine

Mascot material

Naturally, the ideal option is gold. However, the cost of such a figurine will be very high. The souvenir market offers the purchase of figurines made from the following materials:

• plastic;
• wood;
• glass;
• polystone;
• marble chips;
• amber;
• bronze;
• natural or synthetic stone;
• precious rocks such as sapphire, emerald and so on.

Preference should be given to one or another mineral, based only on the requirements of the owner. This cannot affect the effect.

How is God portrayed?

The god Hotei with a bag in his hands is considered a trivial image. Today, manufacturers are ready to offer customers figurines in various poses and with various objects. The choice of one or the other depends on the wishes of the future owner. It is worth paying attention to the following:

1. A figurine with a lot of money lying around Hotei: for those who want to get a big income. The option with a money bag on the shoulder or in the hands is also perfect for them.
2. Sitting or lying down and smiling: for those who want to get rid of life's difficulties and adversities.
3. The Buddha of Abundance with a lot of jewelry around the figurine and on himself: for those who strive for a luxurious and lush life.
4. Hotya with a cane: for those who want to regain lost health.

If the buyer does not have a clear goal of what kind of help he wants to receive, then he just needs to buy the Hotei statue he likes. In any case, the bulk of the trinkets are accompanied by an abundance of jewelry or coins, as well as a wide smile on the god's face.

Hotei figurine made of mahogany

The meaning of the Hotei figurine

Almost every person has heard about netsuke - miniature figurines that bring wealth and well-being to the life of the owner. And to this day, many believe in the power of images of deities, because the same Hotei is one of the seven gods who bring prosperity and wealth to the house.

If you wear it as a talisman, it will help you not only in financial matters, but will also collect all your troubles and illnesses in a small bag, giving you fortitude and endurance at the right time. The main thing is to choose your god, taking into account what this or that miniature promises - this will help solve many problems in the home and relationships.

Hotei with children

This figurine should be chosen by a young couple or a woman who wants to conceive and give birth to a baby. If a couple fails to conceive a baby for a long time, but what they are striving for together, it is worth putting this particular figurine in their home. It not only promotes successful conception, but also helps in the treatment of many gynecological diseases. It is optimal to place it in the living room, which faces west or southwest.

Hotei with a fan

The image of a hotei with a fan will protect you and your home from negativity, bad influence and deception, and the envy of humanity. In addition, the symbol itself will bring positive changes to your home, as if inviting them into the house with its fan - air flows will renew the space in your home and around you, attracting goodness and positivity. It is optimal to place the figurine on the bright side of the apartment, to the south, thereby attracting positive changes.

Hotey with rosary

The image of Buddha with a rosary in his hands is a symbol of spiritual purity and a person’s growth above himself and his needs, his growth upward to the Divine. It was not without reason that the monks of eastern monasteries, during the period of meditation and communication on the astral level, held and hold them in their hands, fingering them slowly and methodically. Moreover, if he also holds a scroll in his hands, this is a pointer to help in science and knowledge of everything new and unusual.

Hotei with pearl

If the god holds a pearl in his hands, this is an indication that he will give his owner prosperity and wealth. To activate the talisman, it should be placed in the house on the northeast side.

Remember! In the classic version of the image of the deity, Hotei is a fat man with a smile on his face and a bag behind his back, which attracts wealth to the house.

In the practice of depicting deities in miniature, there are many variants of netsuke, and each of them has its own sacred meaning and symbolism. And starting from this, select what exactly you want to receive from higher powers.

How to place a figurine in your home?

The answer to the question of where to place the Hotei figurine depends on the person’s desires. You need to position the figure depending on the purpose:

1. Face the front door if a person wants to achieve honor and respect.
2. In the south-eastern side of the office, if the owner’s goal is wealth and well-being.
3. Opposite the bed if you want to find family happiness.
4. Next to a jewelry box, if a person strives to possess a large amount of treasures.
5. In the zone of wisdom, if there are few children in the family.

It is worth paying special attention to the attitude towards the figurine. Although this is not a real idol, it also requires special attention. It is necessary to periodically wipe the figurine, especially the plump belly of the god. The spiritual state of a person is also important: without true faith in the benefactor Hotei, nothing will happen.

Types and meaning of Hotei figurines

Images of deities are produced all over the world in white or gold. The material of manufacture does not matter. Figurines can be made of wood, metal, stone chips, plaster, and clay. Dimensions for production are arbitrary. There are strictly defined types of this god. The figurine of Hotei can sit on a frog, hold a fan in his hands, in a pyramid, with a rosary, a pearl, surrounded by children and many others.

The most common versions of the talisman:

1. Sitting on a three-legged toad. The three-legged frog is the most powerful symbol in the teachings of Feng Shui, which serves to attract cash flows. If God sits on a toad, this means that such a fetish attracts finances to a house, apartment, or office much more strongly than a simple figurine. This amulet will greatly help those categories of people who want to get rich quickly.
2. Sitting on a dragon turtle. The symbol attracts financial flows well. It effectively helps people create connections and partnerships necessary for successful business promotion. With his presence, contracts, agreements and profitable deals are concluded much more successfully. Thanks to the amulet, it will be easier to gain the patronage of influential people. It promotes profitable placement of cash investments and obtaining multiple profits.
3. In a pyramid with golden sand and coins. With this amulet, entrepreneurs and owners will build a successful career. It will help you focus on the most profitable business, not rush around and shy away in search of a suitable business, without wasting your money on trifles.
4. With a pearl. Pearls symbolize financial success, wealth and prosperity. The amulet attracts money like a magnet. It has one more property - to promote the spiritual growth of a person, opening up for him the shortest path to learning everything new and progressive.
5. With a fan. Netsuke attracts money and good luck. The talisman promotes life changes for the better.
6. With gourd, bamboo, peach, ginseng staff. Fetishes with such additions prolong life and attract money.
7. With rosary. They open the way to knowledge and bring wealth.
8. With a bowl, gold bars or coins. At the same time, they attract finance and also contribute to their wise and effective investments.
9. With a rocker on which hangs a basket of gold bars and a lucky coin. Attracts prosperity, luck, happiness, wealth.
10. At least with children. The amulet helps married couples have children. Additionally, it attracts money for their successful development, growth and sustenance.

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Execution affects the meaning of the talisman. The Hotei figurine is purchased depending on the dream or desire of the owner.

Activation of the Hotei talisman

The activation process will take several days. For some it takes four days, for others it takes a week. First of all, after purchasing a figurine, you need to put it in a beautiful place or decorate it yourself. Chinese coins, embroidery, fresh or dried flowers are suitable. If I like it, my wishes will come true faster.

It is then recommended to rub the belly of the deity. For the first time, five or six revolutions will be enough, and with each subsequent approach you need to increase the number of circles. This should be done without haste, keeping a specific thought in your head. On average, it is recommended to do 300 spins, then the talisman will be activated. But you shouldn’t rub the figure’s belly so many times in one approach. It is better to do several revolutions periodically, then everything will be successful.

If a person unconsciously comes into mental contact with Hotem, it means that the figure has completely mastered the powers of the deity.

How to enlist the help of Hotei?

After a person has learned to contact the Buddha of Abundance on the spiritual and material levels, and the figure has finally become active, one can proceed to the next step. It includes mastering the ability to quickly turn to Hotei for help and receive it without interference.

Hotey with a bag

To do this, they enlist the support of a deity. This can be done with a little trance. It is recommended to stay in the room alone with the figurine, take off your clothes and jewelry and sit opposite. It is important to clear your head of extraneous thoughts and tune in to communication. Then you should rub the bald head of the figurine three times, bow three times and touch the belly of the laughing Buddha.

Next, they advise speaking out loud to Hotei and saying something nice to him. This deity loves flattery, so after kind words he will quickly make contact. This completes the communication process. In the end, you need to catch the wide smile of God and smile back. After such a trance, it is important to show signs of attention to Hotei every day, then God will be pleased and will be happy to help the owner in every possible way.

A small ritual for God Hotei to give wealth

Nowadays, there are several simple rituals that will bring Hotei’s wishes closer to fulfillment. Below are simple and effective ways to appeal to the deity of prosperity and happiness.

If you rub the figurine’s tummy every day, then soon the person will find peace and prudence, and happiness will come with them.

This ritual is not performed immediately after purchasing the figurine. It is better to wait a few days for Hotei to get used to the room and its owner. All you need to do is write your request on paper. It is important to clearly state your thoughts and make a neat inscription. Use a humorous tone, since the laughing Buddha loves perky people. Then fold the note into a small envelope and tie it with two threads. Red and gold silk ropes work best. Next, you need to perform the offering ritual itself. First, light scented candles around. Secondly, sit opposite and relax. Thirdly, offer food to Want. Dried fruits, rice grains or nuts are suitable. There is no need to be greedy, otherwise God will not hear your requests. Then place notes in front of the figurine and mentally call upon the laughing Buddha.

Belief in the power and kindness of Hotei has accompanied humanity since ancient times. Over the past few centuries, God has shown his generosity more than once. Who knows who will be lucky next time.

History of netsuke

The prototype of Hotei was the monk Tsitsa, who lived in China. It was believed that he was very kind, sociable, and often traveled with a bag and rosary. There was laughter and fun all around him. If he came to visit someone, then after he left, money would appear in that house. Since then he has been called Hotei. Then they began to create figurines with his image; they were a symbol of wealth and good luck.

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According to Feng Shui, Hotei is the Buddha-Maitreya. His appearance was unusually beautiful. He was popular among women; none could resist his appearance and charm. Buddha did not reciprocate, and this upset the female sex. He was worried about this and that is why he made himself ugly and fat. And for consolation he brought them happiness and good luck. People were hired to create figurines with his image. He is also called the laughing Buddha.