Once upon a time, there’s a wealthy man who just got back from hunting and was caught in a rainstorm. He came near a temple and took shelter under the tree. A cat beckoned him to enter the temple, so the wealthy man did. After a while, the tree that he came from got struck by a lightning. The man was saved, thanks to that cat. As a return of favor, the wealthy man became the patron of that temple. Since then, the temple prospered. When the cat died, a statue was built for its honor.
That cat was believed to be the Maneki Neko. However, it is only one of the many legends that had been told about the lucky cat.
Maneki Neko is a Japanese cat figurine that is believed to bring good luck to its owner. It is also known as The Lucky Cat, The Welcoming Cat, The Beckoning Cat. The first Maneki Neko appeared during the Edo Era (1603-1868) but have been widely produced on the Meiji Era (1868-1912). It is sought after by store owners, placing the lucky cat near the store entrance to attract more customers.
There’s a meaning behind the raised paws of the lucky cat. When its left paw is raised, it beckons customers, while the right paw beckon money and fortune.
The original white Maneki Neko is white but nowadays, there are plenty of colors which have different meanings:
1. White - Happiness and purity.
2. Gold - Wealth and prosperity.
3. Black - Casts out bad spirits.
4. Green - Good health.
5. Red - Successful relationships.
The lucky cat carried its prominence throughout the world. Chinese and Western countries now have their own versions of it. While it may differ in appearance and style, all of these lucky charms were believed to bring fortune and luck to its owners.
Go get your Maneki Neko now and attract good luck in your life.
Photo by John Gillespie. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
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