Maitreya Buddha

Introduction

The chubby monk at the temple gate — bare belly, eyes crinkled into happy slits — is someone everyone recognizes. This is Maitreya Buddha, the Big-Belly Maitreya, the Laughing Buddha, whom folk tradition simply calls Budai, the Cloth-Sack Monk. What many people don't realize is his formal role: the 'Future Buddha.' The scriptures prophesy that once the teachings of Shakyamuni have faded from the world, Maitreya will descend, be reborn on earth, attain Buddhahood, and deliver countless beings; until then he remains Maitreya Bodhisattva, dwelling in Tushita Heaven and awaiting the right time. Taiwanese love him for the couplet that hangs beside so many of his statues — 'a belly vast enough to hold all that is hard to bear, a smile wide enough to laugh at all the world's absurdities.' However hard life gets, one look at that laughing face and it starts to feel survivable. That's why his crinkle-eyed image turns up everywhere, from temple gates to shop counters.

Legend & Origin

The Maitreya faith springs from the Maitreya Ascent and Descent Sutras, which describe how Maitreya Bodhisattva now dwells in Tushita Heaven and will, in the far future, descend to be reborn and become the next Buddha after Shakyamuni. But that beloved laughing face comes from a real man — Qici, the Cloth-Sack Monk of the Later Liang during the Five Dynasties. This portly monk wandered from town to town, grinning all day, a great cloth sack slung over his shoulder, telling everyone he met: 'I have a cloth sack, empty as space and free of all hindrance.' No one thought much of him — until, just before he died, he left behind a verse: 'Maitreya, the true Maitreya, dividing into a billion forms, time and again showing himself to the people of the world, yet the people of the world do not know him.' Only then did everyone suddenly understand: the slighted fat monk had been Maitreya all along. From that day on, images of Maitreya in China and Taiwan were no longer the crowned bodhisattva of the Indian scriptures but that sack-toting, ever-laughing monk. The story leaves us a gentle reminder: a Buddha may be standing right beside you, and you simply don't recognize him.

Worship Guide

Come to Maitreya with a joyful heart. The offerings are mainly fresh flowers and fruit — keep it simple. Some temples set candy before his statue for visitors to take, a symbol of sharing happiness: take a piece, and remember to walk away smiling. What to pray for? Breadth of heart, an easy mind, the ability to let go. When work is jammed and your chest feels tight, look at that great belly and remind yourself that it can hold anything. Those who formally follow the Maitreya path recite the Maitreya Ascent Sutra and vow to be reborn in Tushita Heaven. His birthday falls on the first day of the first lunar month — New Year's Day itself — so after the New Year's Eve bell-ringing, temples hold his birthday service at dawn on the first morning of the year: the very first lesson of the new year is to keep a smile on your face.

Festivals

Maitreya Buddha's birthday falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month — New Year's Day itself — signifying the idea of greeting each new year with a joyful heart. After the temple bell-ringing ceremonies on New Year's Eve, major Buddhist monasteries hold Maitreya birthday services at dawn on the first day of the year, blessing all who attend with good fortune for the months ahead.

Famous Temples

⛩️ Linkou Zhulinshan Guanyin Temple 🔗

New Taipei City

While primarily dedicated to Guanyin, Zhulinshan Guanyin Temple also enshrines Maitreya Buddha. The temple is one of the most popular religious centers in northern Taiwan, with throngs of devotees visiting year-round.

⛩️ Changhua Baguashan Great Buddha Temple 🔗

Changhua County

Although the iconic hilltop Great Buddha statue depicts Shakyamuni, the temple complex also houses a Maitreya shrine. The Great Buddha is Changhua's most famous landmark, and visitors can climb inside for panoramic views of the Changhua Plain.