Did you know the laughing Buddha isn't Buddha at all? He's actually modeled after a 10th-century Chinese monk named Budai. It's believed that Budai wandered from village to village with a large sack (in Mandarin Chinese, “bu dai” translates as “cloth bag”), handing out rice and sweets to children and the poor.

Each position of the laughing Buddha or Budai figurine has a different meaning. Budais holding a gourd are believed to absorb negative energy. Budais sitting on a pile of coins or ingots, holding a bag, or holding up pearls or ingots symbolize wealth, prosperity, and abundance. You can also rub a Budai belly for good luck!

• Height: 2.5 to 3 inches
• 6 figurines per set