This Reddit Thread Is Here to Set Straight Common Beliefs That Are Misconceptions

The original Buddha wasn’t nearly as rotund as the one we know today. It was a tall, slim figure more reminiscent of a Greek statue than a jolly older man. His hair had the “snail shell” look that Greeks employed for curls, though there is no evidence of any collaboration.

Budai was reportedly a monk in the 10th century that resembles the Buddha we see today. He carried around a cloth sack, called a budai, and is believed to be the future Buddha, so the mix-up makes sense. He was the champion of mortals, and his jolly nature and round belly made him beloved by many.