Have you heard of Maneki Neko, the lucky cat? This Japanese sculpture, depicted as a Japanese bobtail, can often be seen in shops, restaurants, and many other places throughout the country.
It is made of porcelain, ceramic or plastic, and it is so curious that depending on the leg it has raised or the color it has, it will have a unique meaning.
What is a Maneki Neko? Origin and history
"Maneki-neko" are two Japanese words that, together, mean " beckoning cat ." Maneki comes from the verb maneku , which in Japanese means "to invite in"; and Neko is the term used to refer to a cat. Today, this message is so popular, and the figurines are so adorable, that there are thousands of versions. Even Hello Kitty has created her own.
But its origin is not clear, but we can get an idea if we read the three most accepted versions. To understand this, one must first know that Asian culture has always been an "important cradle of legends," so to speak. The large number of gods they had, all of them related to nature and what they could find in it (not only animals and plants, but also the wind, the sun, etc.) stimulated the creativity and imagination of the humans who created stories that, many of them, have survived to this day.
That said, we are now going to tell you about the three versions of the Maneki Neko:
Tama, the lucky cat
During the Edo period, in the 17th century, there was a temple in Tokyo that, although once wealthy, was now in dire straits. A very poor priest lived there with his white, black, and brown cat, Tama , whom he fed with whatever little he could find.
One day, a wealthy feudal lord named Naotaka Li was caught in a storm while hunting and ran for shelter under a tree near the temple. While waiting for the weather to clear, he saw Tama beckoning him closer . So surprised was he that he didn't hesitate to obey.
Then, lightning struck the tree that had sheltered him . As a result, the feudal lord and the priest became friends, so much so that neither the priest nor Tama ever went hungry again.
After she died, the cat was buried surrounded by love and respect in the cat cemetery of Gotokuji Temple, from where the Maneki Neko was created in her honor.
The old woman who got rich
In Imado (east of Tokyo) lived a very poor old woman who, despite loving her cat very much, was forced to sell it. One night, the furry friend appeared to her in a dream and told her to make its image out of clay.
Of course, she obeyed. He made it just as his cat had told him, and he had no trouble selling it. So he set about creating more statues and selling them when he saw that people liked them. So much so, that it is said that the woman soon became rich.
The cat and the snake
NOTICE: May injure sensitivities.
This legend tells the story of a courtesan, called Usugumo, who lived in Yoshiwara (east of Tokyo) with a cat that she adored and loved very much. However, one night the feline began to play in his kimono. The woman, no matter how much she told him to stop, could not get the furry to pay attention to her.
The brothel owner thought it was haunted , so he decided to cut off its head. The head flew up to the ceiling, where a snake, apparently about to strike, was killed instantly by the impact.
Usugumo was very hurt by the death of her cat. To cheer her up, one of her clients made her a wooden portrait of the feline, and gave it to her as a gift. This image is said to have become known as Maneki Neko.
Lucky cat meaning
While many of us might think the Maneki Neko is just a decorative figure like any other, it's actually laden with symbolism. In fact, its color is believed to have a specific meaning . Let's find out what it is:
- Tricolor: attracts luck.
- Green: attracts health and safety at home and good results in studies.
- Blanco: symbolizes purity.
- Silver or gold: symbolizes luck in business.
- Blue: symbolizes the desire to make dreams come true.
- Red: symbolizes success in love.
- Yellow: symbolizes the economy.
- Pink: is the one that is given to the person with whom you want to marry.
- Black: avoid bad luck and increase happiness. As a curiosity, it must be said that when it is given it is a sign that that person feels something special for you.
And not only that, but its paws will also tell us something . Furthermore, if it greets you with its two front paws, it will protect the place where it is; if it does so with its right paw, it will bring prosperity and good fortune; and if it does so with its left paw, it will attract visitors.
Where to buy a Maneki Neko?
You can find it for sale here:
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What do you think of the Maneki Neko?