Hotei Card

Description: A trading card sold by the Tenshodo. On one side is a plump monk wearing fancy Far Eastern garments.

Historical Background
During the New Year Rivalry Event (for New Years 2005), there were 7 Rare/Ex Tenshodo trading cards that could be obtained by checking the Overturned Soil. They were: Benten Card, Bishamon Card, Daikoku Card, Ebisu Card, Fukurokuju Card, Hotei Card, Jurojin Card. These cards are all named after the Seven Lucky Gods/Seven Fortune Gods (Shichifukujin) from Japanese folklore. It should be noted, some of these are imports from India and China. Daikokuten, Bishamonten, and Benzaiten were imported and translated from India, while Hotei, Jurojin, and Fukurokuju were imported and translated from China. Ebisu is the only one indigenous to Japan. Each of the Seven Lucky Gods has a traditional feature or group they are attributed to. They were often depicted sailing in the Takarabune (the "Phantom Treasure Ship"). According to tradition, this ship would sail into towns on New Years Day and give amazing gifts to people worthy of receiving them. In Japan, children are given red envelopes with the Takarabune depicted on it containing money.

Hotei was the god of abundance and good health. He is depicted as fat man with a shaven head and a large belly. Hotei is known as the Laughing Buddha to the Western world. He is usually depicted carrying a sack of food that never empties and a fan. He is always happy and cheerful.