For many visitors to Vietnam, it is common to notice people wearing pendants carved in the shape of a smiling, round-bellied monk. Some wear them around the neck, others carry them as small talismans, and many choose them as meaningful gifts for loved ones.
This figure is known in Vietnam as Phật Di Lặc, also known as Laughing Buddha, Happy Buddha or Smile Buddha and even Fat Buddha. While he is often associated with Buddhism, his popularity extends far beyond religion. Nowadays, wearing a Happy Buddha pendant has become a cultural tradition embraced by people from many different backgrounds, regardless of age, gender, or faith.
More Than a Religious Symbol
Outside of Asia, many people assume that a Buddha pendant is reserved only...