#TankaTuesday / poetry

Laughing Buddha

Chris Hall34 Comments

a sculpture in our yard

our lovely fat Budai
he loves to chuckle and grin
he throws happiness and joy
here’s a gift, petals!

~~~~~

The Dodoitsu is a fixed folk song form of Japanese origin and is often about love or humour.

The name, Budai, literally means ‘cloth sack’, and refers to the bag he is usually depicted carrying as he wanders aimlessly. His jolly nature, humorous personality, and eccentric lifestyle distinguish him from most Buddhist masters or figures. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the Laughing Buddha. Budai is traditionally depicted as overweight and having a huge stomach (possibly a symbol of abundance or forgiveness) and many stories surrounding Budai involve his love of food and drink – perfect for us too!

For Colleen Chesebro’s #TankaTuesday #42 – 9 December 2025 where this week’s host Yvette Calleiro’s invitation is to focus on the word gift/gifting, as a noun or verb and to write a syllabic poem.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 42, Gift/Gifting, 12/09/25

34 thoughts on “Laughing Buddha”

  14. I was reading an article that some folks still hang bay leaves by their front door to repell negitivity… other herbs have healing power too – As asprin actually first came from willow bark. 🙂

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