The potbellied Maitreya Buddha, like a kind-hearted, always smiles, but vividly represents the purpose of Mahayana Buddhism's generosity and compassion. Maitreya with a big belly is a real Buddha in the history of China. Born in Fenghua, Zhejiang Province in the Five Dynasties. His real name is Kai Zhe, and he became a monk in Fenghua Lin Yue Temple.
Because of his obesity, he often carries a cloth bag on his shoulder. He cherishes food very much. When he saw the grain fall to the ground, he picked it up and gave it to the poor. He is called "the cloth bag monk".
The common statues of Maitreya with a big belly are mostly round heads and big ears, with bare breasts and smiles. According to his unique smile and big belly, later generations wrote many interesting and meaningful couplets in temples full of statues of Maitreya.
Maitreya is the Buddha of the future.
Maitreya with a big belly has a large amount of blessings and can tolerate things that are intolerable in the world. As soon as he opens his mouth, he laughs at the ridiculous people in the world. In Mahayana Buddhist classics, it is often called Ayutthaya Bodhisattva Mahasa.
It is the successor of Sakyamuni, the world's first Buddha, and will be born and cultivated in her mother-in-law's world, becoming the next Buddha (also called the future Buddha) in her mother-in-law's world, that is, the fifth Buddha among thousands of saints who robbed her, and is often called "Maitreya Buddha will worship Buddha when he comes next".
In some temples in China, statues of Maitreya Buddha are often smiling, based on monks who signed agreements in the Five Dynasties. Because it is said that he is the incarnation of Maitreya Buddha, later generations have widely shaped statues for worship. Maitreya belief has a wide influence in ancient China, which can be divided into two branches: belief in the previous life and belief in the next life. It preaches that Maitreya Bodhisattva is famous for its "harmony and joy" and extensive knowledge.