I've been collecting Happy Buddhas for a few years now.
Happy Buddhas derive from Chinese and Japanese history; China's Pu Tai became interlaced with Japan's Hotei (meaning glutton) when Chinese Buddhists made their way in to Japan. Pu Tai was famed for his benevolent nature as well as his protrunding stomach. He was said to travel everywhere with a hemp bag (a pu tai) carried over his shoulder on a stick. He is sometimes said to have carried the wealth of the world in his sack (often children) or to have placed people's cares and woes in the bag and carried them away.
Rubbing the ears of a Happy Buddha is said to bring you wisdom, rubbing his stomach will bring you happiness and rubbing the gold will bring you wealth. Placing a Happy Buddha opposite a door or window will keep evil spirits away and bring well being to the room.
I now have a growing collection of Buddhas, perhaps the most unusual of which is my tattoo.
Back To Mandy's Interests