Maitreya Buddha

｜Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜

Maitreya Buddha is the disciple and successor of Gautama Buddha. When the right time comes, Maitreya Buddha will return to the mortal world as the successor of Gautama Buddha, so he is also called the Future Buddha. Maitreya Buddha always wears a smile, and he holds a satchel in his hand, so people worship him as god of wealth. However, he is not without a temper. When worshipping Maitreya Buddha, you need to first touch the gold nugget, follow by the satchel, then the cane to attain his blessing in abundant wealth and good health. You must touch the items in the right order to receive his blessing!

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Fun Facts

｜Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜

According to folk legends, Maitreya Buddha has not yet become a Buddha, so he is a bodhisattva, also known as the future Buddha. During Five Dynasties, there was a monk by the name of Qici. He held a satchel and begged for food. No matter where he went, he would preach Buddhism, so people called him the satchel monk. After he died, he was worshipped as god of wealth. His statue nowadays is one with a huge smile and a big tummy. Most of the famous Maitreya Buddha statues in Taiwan are erected by Yiguandao, and some shops also have statues of Maitreya Buddha.

Text and pictures: Candy Lin｜Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜
Reference：National Religion Information Network