I did a little searching on the laughing Buddha. It appears that he is based on a wandering monk with a beautiful, friendly way of living that made him loved wherever he went. One story says he caught poisonous snakes. defanged them and set them free. Another story is that he loved children and gave them sweets.Both versions are a little non pc for this day and age. How did the snakes eat after they lost their fangs? Perhaps they changed their diet.
And what about giving candy to children you meet on the road?
I can't remember any description of this monk saying he was fat, but if people liked him I'm sure they showered him with tasty food.
I did see one picture labeled "Laughing Buddha" which showed a slender, serene looking personage. It might have been on eBay. I suspect mislabeling.
Anyway, here is a laughing Buddha, actually smiling, but it's hard to do a laugh with a Zen brush that doesn't look insane. He is always depicted with a bag on his back. Either for snakes or sweets, or perhaps for snacks to take him down the road.
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