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Surely we've all seen Maneki Neko, literally translated as the lucky cat. It is common to find it in any oriental store, especially near the cashier there. It is a cat with a raised paw waving, being found in white or gold. Many people also adopt this sculpture of different sizes or even this plush cat to decorate their own homes.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will offer you more information about story of the lucky cat Maneki Neko, which you must know to be more aware of its meaning. Does your paw move incessantly for some demonic pact or charge batteries? What is the meaning of being golden? Keep reading to find out.
The origin of the lucky cat
Do you know the story of the lucky cat? Maneki Neko has its origins in Japan and, in Japanese, it means lucky cat or cat that attracts. Clearly, he is a reference to the Japanese bobtail breed. There are two traditional Japanese tales that tell the story of the origin of Maneki Neko:
The first tells the story of a rich man who was caught off guard by a storm and sought shelter under a tree right beside a temple. It was then when at the temple door he saw what appeared to be a cat calling him with its paw, inviting him to enter the temple, so he followed the cat's advice.
When he left the tree, lightning fell splitting the tree trunk in half. The man, interpreting that the cat had saved his life, became a benefactor of that temple bringing with him great prosperity. When the cat died, the man ordered a statue made for him, which would be known over the years as Maneki Neko.
The other tells a slightly more sinister story. One where a geisha had a cat that was her most precious treasure. One day, when she was getting dressed in her kimono, the cat jumped on her nailing your claws in the fabric. Seeing this, the "owner" of the geisha thought that the cat was possessed and that it had attacked the girl and with a quick movement he drew his sword and cut off the cat's head. The head fell on a snake that was about to attack the geisha, thus saving the girl's life.
The girl was so sad to lose her feline companion, considered her savior, that one of her customers, saddened, gave her a cat figurine to try to comfort her.
The Meaning of Lucky Cat Maneki Neko
Currently, the figures of Maneki Neko they are used by both Easterners and Westerners to attract fortune and good fortune, both in homes and businesses. You can see different lucky cat models, so depending on which paw is raised, it will have one meaning or another:
- Lucky cat with right paw raised: to attract money and fortune.
- Lucky cat with left paw raised: to attract good visitors and guests.
- You will rarely see a Maneki Neko with both paws raised, which mean protection for the place where they are.
Color also has an important influence on the Maneki Neko symbolism. Although we are used to seeing it in gold or white, there are many other colors:
- The color sculptures gold or silver they are the ones used to bring a fortune to a business.
- the lucky cat White with orange and black accents it is the traditional and original, the one that is placed to offer travelers luck on their way. She also attracts good things to her tutor.
- O Red it is designed to attract love and drive away evil spirits.
- O green is intended to bring health to those closest to you.
- O yellow helps you improve your personal economy.
- What will help you make all your dreams come true is the blue.
- O black it's a shield against bad luck.
- already the rose will help you find the right/right partner or partner for you.
Apparently, we're going to have to get a legion of Japanese lucky cats of all colors to enjoy all the benefits and protections what they offer!
In addition to colors, these cats can carry objects or accessories and, depending on what they wear, their meaning will also vary slightly. For example, if you see them with a golden hammer in the paw, it's a money hammer, and what they do when they shake it is try to attract money. With a Koban (Japanese lucky coin) he is trying to attract even more good luck. If he bites a carp, he is trying to attract abundance and good luck.
Trivia about Maneki Neko
It is very common for cats in Japan walk the streets and shops, as it is a very appreciated animal, and this may be due to this tradition. If plastic or metal ones work, what can't be a real feline?
In Tokyo, for example, there is at least one coffee shop with dozens of cats walking freely in which customers interact with all the felines in the environment while enjoying the drink.
It is also a widespread belief in the Orient to think that cats are able to see some "things" that people cannot even imagine. This is why many people are tutors for cats, because they are firmly convinced that they are able to see and ward off evil spirits. I illustrate this with another legend:
"They say a demon came to take a person's soul, but he had a cat, who saw the demon and asked him about his intentions. The cat did not object to letting him take the soul of the human who lived in his house. , however, to let him go, the demon would have to count each of his tail hairs.
Not lazy at all, the demon began the difficult task, but when he was close to finishing, the cat flicked its tail. The demon got angry, but started again with the first fur. Then the cat again flicked its tail. After several attempts he gave up and left. So the cat, whether he wanted it or not, saved his guardian's soul."
And one last curiosity: know that Maneki Neko's paw movement is not to say goodbye, but to receive you and invite you to enter.
And while we're talking about the story of the lucky cat Maneki Neko, don't miss the story of Balto, the wolf dog turned hero.
If you want to read more articles similar to The Lucky Cat Story: Maneki Neko, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.