Megan Bryson: I'll often explain to my students that cross-cultural encounters produce new understandings and images of gods.The name Hotei is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese "budai," which means "cloth bag." Zen texts portray Hotei as a wandering monk who is content to live a humble, simple life. He carries a large sack full of odds and ends and shares his "treasures" with children. Hotei's object is his bag that magically remains full, and his virtue is generosity. Hotei is known for being fond of food and drink, and even serves as the patron deity of bars and restaurants.Accounts of Christmas in Japan often emphasize Hotei's role as Japanese Santa Claus, and describe Hotei with eyes on the back of his head so that he, like Santa, can constantly observe children to determine whether they truly deserve presents.Some texts even identify Hotei as a buddha. Buddhism teaches that there were multiple buddhas in the past, and there will be more buddhas to come in the future. The most recent buddha – the buddha most Westerners think of when they hear the word – was called Siddhārtha Gautama or Shakyamuni, and lived about 2,500 years ago. The next buddha will be Maitreya, or Miroku in Japanese. 🎅🎄
Serenity Salon: The mound of salt is called "mori-shio" (盛り塩, heaped salt) and is placed there to bring good luck and to purify the guest. You might also find a small mound of salt placed on one or both sides of an entrance way at a traditional Japanese restaurant. Some say that the origin of mori-shio piles outside restaurants was to encourage the arrival of rich and noble customers such as a "daimyo," who would come on horseback. Since horses love salt the horses would be attracted to that restaurant and the daimyo would then stop and eat there! 🧂
