Maitreya is also called Big Belly Maitreya, Laughing Buddha or Calico Sack Monk.He was a disciple of Sakyamuni and entered nirvana before the latter.

• 弥勒佛也称大肚弥勒佛、笑佛和布袋和尚，他是佛祖释迦牟尼的弟子，先于佛祖涅磐，由于释迦牟尼佛预计他将下生人间，继之为佛，因此他又被称为未来佛。