Legends

Legends of the Maneki Neko
There are many fascinating tales of the Maneki Neko's origins, and though they differ in how this "Japanese Beckoning Cat" came to be, they all center around a friendly and heroic cat who brings good luck.
One such legend tells of a feudal lord who was riding through the countryside. He stopped for lunch near a temple and sat down under a tree. He soon noticed that one of the temple cats, a mi-ke Japanese Bobtail, had its paw raised and seemed to be beckoning him to come inside the temple.
Curious, the lord went inside and shortly after a storm came up. The tree he had been sitting underneath was struck by lightning. The feudal lord wanted to pay tribute to the little cat for beckoning him into the temple and thus, saving his life. From this legend, it's easy to see why the Maneki Neko is called the "lucky cat of Japan."
A similar legend of the Maneki Neko's origins comes from the Gotokuji temple in Tokyo. It was 1615 and the temple was dilapidated from years of neglect. Though money was scarce, a kind monk took in a neglected cat who was also in need of care. A large group of samurai passed by the temple, led by Naotaka Li, heir to the Hikone Castle in Shiga. Naotaka was taking shelter from a storm under a tree when he was lured to the temple by the monk's cat, Tama. As soon as he went inside the temple, the ground where he'd stood was struck by lightning. Grateful to the cat for saving his life, Naotaka vowed to support the poor temple and help it regain prosperity. Upon Tama's death years later, the cat was buried at Gotokuji's cat cemetery with due respect.
A third Maneki Neko legend tells of a famous Geisha named Usugumo, who lived during the Edo period and loved cats so much that she kept one with her at all times. Legend has it that one night her cat kept pulling insistently at the hem of her robe. Frustrated by this odd behavior, Usugumo called for help. Thinking the cat to be a goblin, an admirer rushed in and cut off its head. The cat's head flew up to the ceiling and bit the snake that was hovering over Usugumo. The Geisha, deeply saddened by the death of the cat who had saved her life, was given a wooden image of the heroic feline. This was the Maneki Neko, with its paw raised to alert her to the danger.
It's hard to say which, if any, of the legends of the Lucky Cat of Japan are true. However, one thing is for certain - the beckoning cat known as Maneki Neko is revered by the Japanese, by Americans, and by many other cultures around the globe.
****

History of Maneki Neko - short and sweet!       Maneki neko is believed to have existed in Japan around 1800 A.D. while the Samurai ruled in the Edo period. However, there is no documentation that survives from that period which confirms the story. It is not until the modern Meiji period (1870 A.D.) that we see the emergence of what we call Maneki Neko now.       Marujimeneko was a popular figure around 1845 to 1870 in the ukiyoe-prints (Japanese woodblock prints) of Kuniyoshi Utagawa and Kuniyoshi Kitagawa. The latter, in particular, was a cat lover and portrayed many of them in his artwork. Most people believe that Marujimeneko was the ancestor of maneki neko even though it does not have the raised beckoning paw.       It was not until 1870 that a recognisable maneki neko came into being along with historical documentation. The Sumiyoshi-taisha shrine in Osaka began giving out a kimono clad figure called Hattatsuneko at that time. Worshippers believed that their wishes would be fulfilled if they collected 48 Hattatsuneko within in a 4 year timespan. That's a lot of cats!       The name "maneki neko" actually appeared in a newspaper article in September of 1876. This confirms their existance from that point on. By 1885, clay maneki nekos were being produced and has been documented by historians.       With the advent of Christianity in Japan, some of the traditional symbols and statues for good luck were banned, thus paving the way for maneki neko to rise to the popularity it enjoys today.

Many thanks to the Maneki Neko Club for their research on the subject!

Fun facts about Maneki Neko!       Left paw raised, right paw raised... What's it all mean? Here's a maneki neko guide that may help unscramble the mystery!

Left paw raised: invites visitors or in business, customers                   Right paw raised: invites money and good fortune                   Both paws raised: protects home or business                   White neko: stands for goodness and purity                   Black neko: wards off evil (growl, hissss!)                   Tri-color or calico: luck, luck, luck (ask Katbeary about that...)                   Pink or red neko: brings love and happiness (purrrs!)                   Gold neko: invites wealth and prosperity                   Neko with coin in paw: invites financial gain (hear that, day traders?)                   Neko with fish in paw: another invitation to prosperity

HISTORICAL NOTES

It is commonly believed that the Maneki Neko became popular in the latter half of the Edo Period (1603 - 1867), although this lucky cat is rarely mentioned by name in era documents. By the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912), however, it begins to appear with great regularity in publications and business establishments.

One of the most plausible reasons for its rapid rise to popularity in the Meiji Period involves the sex industry. In the secluded Edo Period, during which Japan closed its doors to the outside world, an indigenous "amusement" culture grew side by side with the expanding power of the merchant class.

Special zones called Yūkaku 遊廓 (soap land in modern parlance) sprang up to provide female companionship (prostitution) and other forms of merriment. Many "houses of amusement" were equipped with a "good-luck shelf" on which were displayed lucky charms in the shape of the male sexual organ. Even today, various localities in Japan still hold an annual fertility festival, during which a gigantic wooden penis is paraded through the streets as an offering for good harvests and prosperity.

But with the opening of Japan by the West, and the establishment of the Meiji government in 1868, Japan's reliance on agriculture declines, and the country turns aggressively toward modernization. In its drive to establish a modern nation state, and in a ploy to minimize the negative image of Japan among the largely Christian Western world, the Meiji government prohibits the production, sale, and display of the artificial male sexual talisman beginning in 1872.

These charms soon disappear from the good-luck shelf, but there disappearance coincides with the rapid spread of Maneki Neko charms. In the Yūkaku zones, poster images from the era show women beckoning like a cat. Restaurants soon pick up the habit, and the cat is out of the bag (so to speak)!

Says Katherine M. Ball, author of Animal Motifs in Asian Art (1927): “While the cat,  with many nations, has been associated with women, particularly old women, in Japan, the geisha, ‘singing girl,’ appears to have been selected for this distinction, doubtless due to the witchery she exercises over the opposite sex.” <end quote, p. 154>. Says author F. Hadland Davis in Myths and Legends of Japan (1913): “B.H. Chamberlain write in Things Japanese: ’Among Europeans an irreverent person may sometimes be heard to describe an ugly, cross old woman as a cat. In Japan, the land of topsy-turveydom, that nickname is colloquially applied to the youngest and most attractive - the singing girls.’ The comparison seems strange to us, but the allusion no doubt refers to the power of witchery common alike to the singing-girl and the cat.” <end qu

Types of Maneki Neko
I have compiled what I think is an accurate description of the description of the meanings and significance of the different colors and poses of fortune cat figurines that are now available, but please bear in mind that many of these, especially the modern ones, have meanings that are mostly dependant on the manufacturers or sellers, so it is by no means complete, or absolute.

Right Paw inviting money and good fortune.		Both Paws protecting home or business.		Left Paw inviting customers or people.
Bib and Bell wealthiness and material abundance.		Calico Cat traditionally the luckiest cat of all.		White Cat purity, positive things to come.
Black Cat wards off evil and stalkers		Golden Cat intense wealth and prosperity.		Red Cat love, marriage and personal matters.
Pink Cat love, relationships and romance.		Green Cat sometimes health or educations/studies.

If you are interested in learning more about the significance of items often posed with Maneki Neko, please visit the Maneki Neko Lexicon.

5 Interesting Facts About Fortune Cats (Maneki Neko)

Ever wonder about the paw-waving kitties you see in Asian restaurants? Here's the story behind them.

If you’ve ever visited a Chinese or Japanese restaurant, Asian supermarket, or any Chinatown shop for that matter, you've probably noticed a little cat figurine perched quietly by the cash register. 

This Fortune Cat is a lucky charm that’s very popular in Japanese and Chinese cultures. It’s a talisman that is believed to attract good luck and fortune for its owners. Thus, it’s very common to find one on display in stores, restaurants and other businesses. 

Aside from finding it really cute, I never knew the meaning behind the “Fortune Cat” other than it was supposed to be lucky. Being a curious cat, I decided to delve further and uncovered five interesting facts about this cheeky little fellow.

You've probably seen this guy around, but what does he mean? Photo: Japanese lucky cat by Shutterstock

1. The Aliases

Fortune Cat is known as Maneki Neko in Japanese, which means “beckoning cat.” The cat has its paw raised as if it’s waving in good fortune for its owners. Other common monikers include Lucky Cat, Money Cat, and Welcoming Cat. 

2. The Legends

No one can quite agree as to how the first Maneki Neko came to be. However, most will agree that Lucky Cats first appeared during the Edo period in Japan (17th century to mid-19th century).

There are a couple of popular legends about the origins of the Lucky Cat. The first tells of a wealthy man who took shelter from a rainstorm under a tree next to a temple. He noticed a cat that seemed to be beckoning to him, so he followed it inside the temple. Shortly thereafter, lightning struck the tree he had been standing under. Because the cat had saved his life, the man was so grateful, he became a benefactor of the temple and brought it much prosperity. When he passed away, a statue of the cat was made in is honor.

Another common legend is a really peculiar one. A geisha had a pet cat that she adored. One day, it was tugging at her kimono and the owner of the brothel thought the cat was possessed, so he sliced off its head with a sword. (Yeah, gruesome! No cats were harmed in the writing of this article.)

The flying cat head landed on a snake about to strike and the fangs killed the snake and saved the woman. The geisha was so distraught by the loss of her cat that one of her customers made a statue of the cat to cheer her up.

There are lots of legends surrounding the origins of the Maneki Neko. Photo: White cat on the path by Shutterstock

3. The Significance of the Raised Paw

There’s actually a meaning behind which paw the cat is holding up. If it's the left paw, this is supposed to attract customers. If the right paw is raised, this invites good fortune and money.

They both sound pretty good to me, which is why sometimes you can find a Fortune Cat with both of its paws in the air. Two paws up can also represent protection.

4. The Symbolism Behind the Colors 

 While you’ll most commonly see a white Maneki Neko with orange and black spots, there are  quite a few color variations and they each have a special meaning.

Calico: Traditional color combination, considered to be the luckiest

White: Happiness, purity, and positive things to come

Gold: Wealth and prosperity

Black: Wards off evil spirits

Red: Success in love and relationships

Green: Good healt

The Maneki Neko is supposed to bring good luck and fortune. Photo: Asian beckoning cat meant to bring success in business by Shutterstock

5. The Meaning Behind What the Cat Is Wearing and Holding

Maneki Neko is a finely dressed cat usually adorned with a bib, collar, and bell. In the Edo period, it was common for wealthy people to dress their pet cats this way; a bell was tied to the collar so that owners could keep track of their cats' whereabouts.

Fortune Cat figurines often holding other things in their paws. These include:

A koban worth one ryo: This is a Japanese coin from the Edo period; a ryo was considered to be quite the fortune back then.

The magic money mallet: If you see a small hammer, this represents wealth. When shaken, the mallet is supposed to attract wealth.

A fish, most likely a carp: The fish is symbolic of abundance and good fortune.

A marble or gem: This is another money magnet. Some people believe it’s a crystal ball and represents wisdom.

May the Beckoning Cat bring you good fortune in 2013! Photo: "Maneki Neko" isolated on the black background by Shutterstock

Lucky Cats can also be found holding gourds, prayer tablets, daikon radishes, and ingots. These items also represent wealth and good luck.

Regardless of the name, legend, raised paw, color, or item in its paw, you basically can’t go wrong with a Fortune Cat perched by your side.

Maneki Neko

Image via Wikipedia

Maneki Neko:  The meaning behind the waving cats
Full confession: When we first saw golden lucky cats in a catalog, we thought they were—ahem–a little tacky. We ordered a few as a joke, but somehow they captured our imagination and our hearts, and now it’s now hard to imagine Mimosa without a half dozen waving cats. Customers ask us about the symbolism, so here’s the scoop on the kitties:
Lucky cats often go by their Japanese name, Maneki Neko, which means “beckoning” or “welcoming cat.” They’re traditionally stationed near doors and windows of shops and other public places, to welcome customers and bring good fortune. While the ones with the moving arm are a lot of fun, Maneki Neko predates double-A batteries by several centuries. Non-moving ceramic models are the most traditional, often with a slot in the top for coins.
The cat has one paw up, while the other holds an ancient coin called a koban, inscribed with the characters “10,000,000 ryo,” which is a whole lot of money. Some cats have the right paw raised to beckon people, while others lift their left paw to beckon money and general good luck. (At Mimosa we hedge our bets by keeping a few of each around.)
Cats of various colors and have specific symbolism, with the blessings on their coins chosen to match. The color correspondences come from the Chinese Feng Shui tradition: gold for wealth, white for creativity, black to ward off evil, green for home and family, blue for mental abilities, pink for relationships, yellow for health, purple for prosperity, and red for just about anything.
There are many stories about who the first Maneki Neko may have been. One, from Edo-era Japan, goes like this:
At a time when the capitol was plagued by intrigue, there was a loyal courtier who did his best to go about his honest business and fulfill his duties to the emperor. One day, he was summoned to the offices of a certain nobleman. On his way there, he noticed a cat that seemed to be beckoning to him. Curious, he turned off the road to go and see what the cat wanted, stopping for a moment to scratch its ears. Some noise made him turn back toward the road, and he noticed that he had been about to walk into a trap that the evil nobleman had set to kill him; had he not stepped off the path, he would have been killed. The wise courtier saw that the cat had saved him–and probably saved the emperor too, by revealing the nobleman’s treachery. So he ordered the first Maneki Neko statue to be made, and it brought him luck for the rest of his life.
I found some of the information for this article at the website of the Lucky Cat Museum, which, if you’re interested, has a lot more information and some truly awesome pictures: http://donaldmoon.tripod.com/neko/

Lucky Cat

1 Oct

What does it mean when a beckoning cat has its right paw or its left paw raised? What do the different cat colors mean? What about the coin the Lucky Cat holds, or the bib?  The meanings can vary from region to region within Japan, and some meanings have changed over time, but here is a general summary:

Tri-color Cat: (modeled after the Japanese bob-tail breed, this is a popular & traditional color for lucky cats, beckoning general good luck, wealth, prosperity)
White Cat: purity, happiness
Black Cat: safety, wards off evil and stalkers
Golden Cat: wealth and prosperity
Red Cat: protection from evil & illness (especially illness in children)
Pink Cat (a more modern color): love, relationships and romance
Green Cat (also a modern color): educations/studies

Right Paw raised: invites money and good fortune (usually to businesses)
Left Paw raised: invites customers or people
(Some suggest the right & left paws both invite business-related prosperity, but that the left paw is for businesses of the night, such as bars, geisha houses & restaurants. Use of lucky cats in homes is more recent)
Both Paws raised: invites protection of home or business
Coin: wealth and material abundance
Bib and Bell: may relate to protection, as well as wealth and material abundance

While the Beckoning Cat originates in Japan*, it has also become a popular good luck figure in Chinese businesses. Among these businesses, gold beckoning cats seem to be particularly popular (gold being associated with the desired wealth and prosperity of the business). One of our blog readers pointed out the meaning of some of the writing on the coins of the Chinese Lucky Cat at left (see areas circled in red). On the cat’s right paw (to the left of the photo) is a typical Chinese phrase of hope for good fortune (something like “the source of money spreads widely”). The middle is billion in simplified Chinese (another reader suggests the Chinese character circled in the middle is “5” or “go” in Japanese, which means “50,000” when paired with the character underneath). Another reader suggests the character on the right (under the left paw) means “open fate/destiny”, or “kai un” in Japanese. Japanese kanji is based on Chinese writing, and the meaning of the writing on Japanese lucky cat coins is similar (readers of Chinese and Japanese, please feel free to verify or comment). Maneki Neko collector, Don Hargrove also provides some more info on the coins in his comment in our “About” section.

The kanji at right is quite common on Japanese Maneki Neko coins (the coin is called a koban). It reads “sen man ryo”, which means 1,000 X 10,000 ryo.  So that is 10,000,000 ryo.  A ryo is the name of a gold coin that was used in Japan in the Edo period, and 10,000,000 of them was a huge fortune at that time.