What is themaneki-neko?
Usually made from ceramic or plastic, they depict aJapanese Bobtail cat with its paw raisedin a beckoning gesture.
It features the phrase,sen man ryou(), meaning 10 million gold pieces.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom LoulouVonGlup/Shutterstock
The finger moves repeatedly towards yourself (like a hook) as it attempts to draw someone nearer.
This is why the maneki-nekos hand faces down.
The cats raised arm can be either its left or right, depending on what its owner wants.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock
If itsleft armis raised, the maneki-neko is inviting more customers, while theright pawraised invites wealth and money.
What do the different colors represent?
Where did the maneki-neko come from?
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A wooden mold for a maneki-neko figure from the Edo Period, 18th century.
However, the figurine is believed to have first appeared during the later part of theEdo periodin Japan.
It depicts the Marushime-neko, a variation of maneki-neko, being sold at Senso temple, Tokyo.
A wooden mold for a maneki-neko figure from the Edo Period, 18th century. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright restrictions)
(Photo:Stock Photosfrom Morumotto/Shutterstock)
In Western culture, domestic cats make great pets.
But inJapanese folklore, feline friends have protective powers and symbolize good fortune.
As he moved towards the cat, a lightning bolt struck the tree where he had just been standing.
Utagawa Hiroshige‘s ukiyo-e style woodblock print from the series, “Flourishing Business in Balladtown,” (Jôruri-machi hanka no zu) 1852. The top left corner depicts the maru-shime no neko, a variation of maneki-neko, being sold at a market. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
He helped to repair it and make more space for the poor monk.
And this story is why many people believe the beckoning cats are symbols ofgood fortune.
Thousands of maneki-neko statues displayed in the garden of Gotoku-ji Temple in Tokyo, Japan.
Detail from Utagawa Hiroshige‘s ukiyo-e style woodblock print from the series, “Flourishing Business in Balladtown,” 1852. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Francesco Bonino/Shutterstock
Gotoku-ji Temple.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom AdrianoK/Shutterstock
Where to Find Maneki-Neko
Maneki-neko displayed in a souvenir shop in Kyoto.
The beckoning cats are also celebrated every year in September during theManekineko Festivalin various cities across Japan.
Maneki-neko statue at Gōtoku-ji Temple. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Morumotto/Shutterstock)
And of course, Gotoku-ji Templewhere the legend of the lucky cat beganis home to hundreds of the figurines.
Thousands of maneki-neko statues displayed in the garden of Gōtoku-ji Temple in Tokyo, Japan. Photo:Stock Photosfrom Francesco Bonino/Shutterstock
Gōtoku-ji Temple. Photo:Stock Photosfrom AdrianoK/Shutterstock
Maneki-neko displayed in a souvenir shop in Kyoto. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Eunkyung Park/Shutterstock)
Manekineko-dori Street (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Applepy/Shutterstock)
