Why is Buddha fat? All about the big buddha

When searching the Internet for buddha , there is one question that almost always comes up. : the one to know why buddha is fat ? Although this is a question that may seem trivial at first; it is of crucial interest to followers of Buddhism .

Indeed, contrary to certain beliefs where only one representation is used as a model; Buddhists are entitled to several different statues . Therefore, we decided to take an interest in this subject in order to take stock.

In other words, in this article we propose to answer the most asked questions about the appearance of the Buddha. In particular, why are there several representations in Buddhism? What are the most popular images of the Buddha and what do they mean? As a bonus, we will answer the “fetish” question who is the “real Buddha”?.

Why are there several representations in Buddhist temples?

There isn't one reason why there are many representations in Buddhism, but many. Indeed, what you should know is that the statues present in Buddhist temples and places of prayer do not represent the "god". Rather, a role model !

Therefore, the model may vary depending on the geographical area and also depending on the message that you want to convey. For those who don't know, every statue in a temple conveys a message, or teaches a lesson.

To take an example, we can cite the different representations of the model whether in Thailand, Japan, or China. Sometimes, some cultures use different representations of the Buddha depending on the circumstances (the fat, the thin ...).

Note : It is also important to note that the difference between the positions of the Buddha is not only in its weight. Sometimes these are the positions of his feet; with his arms; or his fingers which determine the meaning of the statue.

What are the most popular images of the Buddha and what does each one mean?

There are many representations of the (awakened) Buddha around the world. However, only two of them are popularized and almost always observe each other. : Siddhartha Gautama (the historic slim Buddha) and Chan Butai (the fat Buddha).

The slim Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama, or the historical Buddha, or the founder

If one simply wonders why buddha is fat , disregarding his thin version, which one does not know enough about this belief. Indeed, Siddhartha Gautama remains the most popular figure of the Buddhist religion and more precisely of Theravada Buddhism (version of Buddhism widespread in South East Asia).

As an indication, he is also the founder of this movement which has become global today. Hence its name of founder, historical or by abuse of "true Buddha". In other words, he was the first to obtain the title in Buddhist belief.

In most of her postures, her weight refers to that of her real life, and her clothes are reminiscent of her noble class. Likewise, since her main teaching was moderation, a slim waist fits this logic.

The fat Buddha, or Chan Butai, or the laughter

Unlike Siddhartha Gautama, Chan Butai or the big buddha is potbellied his representations with a big smile.Generally, it is used to symbolize wisdom; the joy of living and prosperity In some regions, the legend says that rubbing on your stomach can give us happiness.

If he's fat, it's mainly to represent abundance, and his smile complements happiness. However, the way this figure is big is a bit peculiar. If we carefully observe his posture, we realize that the belly is slightly bigger than the rest of the body. The cause? Some thoughts view the stomach in the womb as the seat of the soul. Therefore, having a big belly for the Buddha shows immense wisdom and also great kindness.

For the record, Chan Butai is nothing more than a Chinese monk born in the 10th century. That is to say many centuries after Siddhartha Gautama . As a peculiarity, the latter was a rather amiable man; big fan of endless sharing; of joy, he was distinguished by his wisdom.

The other Buddhas

That's not all! A little rarer and less popular, certain statues of Buddha have nothing to do with the two that we have mentioned previously. Usually, one can observe an effeminate representation of the ascetic or even a younger one. In the majority of cases, the latter have a very specific meaning and serve much more as a decorative piece .

Among all his representations, who is the "real Buddha"?

After all the versions we have seen above, it is quite legitimate to wonder why there are so many statues and which is the real one. To answer it, first know that the Buddha in its direct definition means the awakened . In other words, you get this title when you achieve nirvana or awakening .

After this definition, you understand that it is possible to have several Buddhas without usurpation of title. However, when we talk about " true ", we are most often referring to the first character who obtained it: Siddhartha Gautama.

Why Buddha is fat: what to remember

It’s finished for this article which was about the height of the Buddha and its different versions. As a lesson, know that all the statues of this character that you see exist for a very specific reason. If you are a fan of Buddhism, you can get each one and use it as a decoration piece . Likewise, installed in your home, they remind you of the path to follow in order to reach Nirvana.