Why is the Buddha always depicted as fat?

First of all, the Buddha (Gautama Buddha) isn't fat - the laughing Buddha (the Budai) is fat.

Well, the Budai was probably just naturally born with being fat..

Or he could've just gained weight easily..
 
We are inundated with images of monks that actually originate in China, and people think they are all Buddha.
The Chinese have twelve gods that are often depicted in their art, and some of them look like they could be "Buddha." Generally they carry a staff or a sack, one even carries a three-legged frog.
In the Chinese culture, being fat translates as good luck; you are lucky if you have the continued prosperity to eat well and gain weight.
They also will depict rats in their art, generally on grain sacks, and that means prosperity. The thinking is that if the farmer who stores the grain tolerates the rats, he must have so much grain that he doesn't care if they eat what spills.

Buddha himself ate very little, and almost ruined his health denying himself food at one point.
 
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You question? Dunno.
 
Hes not. There is the fat buddha and the skinny buddha. Both are the same buddha in different stages of him attempting to reach enlightenment. Fat buddha is when he tried to fulfill himself with physical pleasures considering he was a prince and skinny was when he was doing moderation.

i might be wrong but i heard that before... dont take my word for it since i got it second hand
 
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