Antique sculpture of the god Hotei with gumbay. Ceramics, painting. Japan, XX century

Hotei is one of the seven eastern gods of happiness, the god of fun, communication, in whose canvas bag luck and good are hidden. The figure of the "laughing Buddha" is called upon to fill the house with wealth, its appearance is always expected with hope. After all, with him comes the long-awaited well-being. Here Hotei is depicted with a gunbai (gyoji fan) which is used to give signals, previously such battle fans were used only by high-ranking officials and to deflect enemy arrows.