Rich and Happy

In the past few years, a lot of interesting findings in the field of happiness research have surfaced. Some researchers now claim that we can make ourselves happier regardless of the circumstances in our lives, and most studies have come to the conclusion that there is no correlation between money and happiness. This figure of Budai, the Chinese folkloric deity, on a taxi dashboard with a gold ingot in his hand, however, sends out a completely different message. In a not-so-subtle way, it suggests that costly treasures will bring a permanent smile to our face.