Fat 'Buddhas'
The fat body is, as we know, an indication of lots of food; therefore of blessings in the form of prosperity.
One statue found in Chinese and Vietnamese commercial establishments is Jambhuvala the guardian king of prosperity, Mi Fo. He may be seated on a sack of treasure holding in his left hand, a gold ingot shaped like a boat or hat. He is associated with the jewel-spitting mongoose often misunderstood as a mouse, rat, or a shrew. He may also be depicted with a fan or a walking stick, and a mala in his left hand.
In the Tibetan tradition, his counterpart is Namtoseh
Then there is a Chinese form some think is an aspect of Maitreya*, the future Buddha.
Hotei is the chubby figure with children crawling upon him, and/or animals before him. He is called Huashang in Tibetan. He is the Chinese emissary sent to invite the Buddhist teachers to that land.
