Hotei - bag and stick

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I came across the wonderful Zen painting below (the first image) in a book called 

'The Art of East Asia' by Gabriele Fahr-Becker (Editor) (isbn 978-3-8331-4982-5), 

which got me investigating Hotei/Budei history...

Hotei (also known as Budai) was one of the great sages of Zen lore. An eccentric, 

he roamed the land carrying a stick and bag. With children, his image is like that 

of Santa Claus in the West, but his rather buffoonish and unkempt appearance 

hid a man who had a profound understanding of Zen.

- wikipedia

Hotei's Bag and Stick,
Obaku Kosen (1633-1695),
Collection of J.E.V.M. Kingado

Hotei Watching a Cock Fight, Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)

Hotei, School of Katsushika Hokusai, Ink on paper, 27 cm  x 19 cm

Hotei, Fugai Ekun (1568-1654),
Ink on paper, 24.4 cm x 57.4 cm,
Collection of J.E.V.M. Kingado

The primary story that concerns Budai in Zen (Chán) is a short kōan.[7] In it, 

Budai is said to travel giving candy to poor children, only asking a penny from 

Zen monks or lay practitioners he meets. One day a monk walks up to him and 

asks, "What is the meaning of Zen?" Budai drops his bag. "How does one realize 

Zen?" he continued. Budai then took up his bag and continued on his way.

-wikipedia