Chinese cat hand waving

Dating back to 17 th Century Chinese cat hand waving, the beckoning cat or lucky cat, is a symbolic figurine that is often seen displayed in Chinese and Japanese shops and homes. It has also become popular around the world as a sign of friendship, good luck, and wealth.

Cats have a long history of being considered lucky animals in East Asian folklore. They are associated with bringing good business and fortune to people. And if you have ever been to a Chinese restaurant or shop anywhere in the world, you may have come across statues of often golden cats that seem to be beckoning you inside. Those who watch Japanese anime or play Japanese video games may have also come across depictions of this beckoning cat. But did you know that the beckoning cat, or maneki neko, has its origins in Japan?

Chinese cat hand waving

In Japan , unlike in Western cultures, the way to beckon someone over to you is palm forward, fingers pointing down. With a raised paw, pointy red ears, and coins and other accessories, maneki-neko have been bringing in luck and prosperity for centuries—and while the iconic statutes have varied origin stories, they all begin in Japan. Grateful to the cat for saving his life, the ruler made it a patron of the temple where it has been venerated in its very own shrine ever since. Visitors come to see the array of white cats—commonly shaped as a Japanese bobtail, a breed that makes frequent appearances in local folklore—and pray for luck. The statues can be purchased at the temple and are usually left behind as an offering, although many take them home as a souvenir. In , an old woman living in Imado was so poor she could no longer feed her pet cat and was forced to let it go. The cat kept his promise, and the ceramic figurines quickly became very popular, saving the old woman from poverty. In the same year, pre-eminent printmaker Hiroshige Utagawa illustrated the cats being sold at a market in his acclaimed woodblock print the oldest known image of the fortune cat. The reason for their prevalence seems to be linked to their real-life analogs. Cities embrace feral cats to control the growing rodent population. The meaning also changes depending on which paw is raised: the right paw attracts money and good fortune; the left invites friendship and customers. It remains unclear how these iconic statues spread outside the islands of Japan to become so well-known throughout Asia and the rest of the world. According to an undergraduate research project led by Bill Maurer, professor of anthropology at the University of California, Irvine, the figurines date back to the Meiji Period — In an attempt to appear more polished to conservative Westerners, the Meiji government enacted the Public Morals Ordinance in The law banned phallic charms that were often on display in places of prostitution.

Rebecca Saunders is a travel and food writer based in Japan. Retrieved 30 December

In modern times, they are usually made of ceramic or plastic. The figurine depicts a cat, traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail , with a paw raised in a beckoning gesture. The figurines are often displayed in shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, dry cleaners, laundromats, bars, casinos, hotels, nightclubs, and other businesses, generally near the entrance, [1] as well as households. Maneki-neko come in different colors and styles and vary in degrees of detail. Common colors are white, black, red, and gold. In addition to statues, maneki-neko can be found in the form of keychains , piggy banks , air fresheners , pots, and numerous other media.

In Japan , unlike in Western cultures, the way to beckon someone over to you is palm forward, fingers pointing down. With a raised paw, pointy red ears, and coins and other accessories, maneki-neko have been bringing in luck and prosperity for centuries—and while the iconic statutes have varied origin stories, they all begin in Japan. Grateful to the cat for saving his life, the ruler made it a patron of the temple where it has been venerated in its very own shrine ever since. Visitors come to see the array of white cats—commonly shaped as a Japanese bobtail, a breed that makes frequent appearances in local folklore—and pray for luck. The statues can be purchased at the temple and are usually left behind as an offering, although many take them home as a souvenir. In , an old woman living in Imado was so poor she could no longer feed her pet cat and was forced to let it go.

Chinese cat hand waving

Dating back to 17 th Century Japan, the beckoning cat or lucky cat, is a symbolic figurine that is often seen displayed in Chinese and Japanese shops and homes. It has also become popular around the world as a sign of friendship, good luck, and wealth. The history of Maneki Neko dates back to the 17 th Century but while the cat is sometimes referred to as the waving cat, it is actually beckoning visitors to approach. Maneki Neko is a well-known symbol of good fortune displayed in restaurants, cafes, shops, and homes around the world, but especially popular in Chinese and Japanese culture. They are traditionally white cats, made of porcelain, and decorated with gold paws, big yellow and black eyes, and patches on the arms. Such is the belief in the good fortune that these lucky cats bring, they are also left on shrines. The exact origin of Maneki Neko is somewhat disputed, but one of the most endearing and enduring tales is that local ruler Ii Naotaka was saved from a lightning bolt while visiting the Gotoku-ji temple in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.

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Most maneki neko are made of ceramic, but there are also cats that are made of plastic, wood, or even expensive materials such as jade or gold. Archived from the original on 31 January Archived from the original on 7 December At most shrines and and temples throughout Japan you will find some animal statues. Maneki Neko is also referred to as the lucky Chinese cat. The story of the maneki neko goes back to the Edo Period. If you enjoy hearing interesting background stories about the places you travel to and the culture you are discovering on your trips, booking a private guide on one of your travel days is a great idea. In the same way you can see different colors and cats carrying different items, you may have also noticed that some cats raise their left paw, some raise their right , and some raise both. Black is meant to represent good and is used to ward off evil. In honour of the cat that brought prosperity to the temple, maneki-neko was created in later generations. Buda Gris-gris Sampy Sleeping child.

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The figurine depicts a cat, traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail , with a paw raised in a beckoning gesture. But, different colors represent different meanings. Read Edit View history. Although many people describe Maneki Neko as the waving cat, he is actually beckoning. Archived from the original on 1 June When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Once every two weeks we will introduce you to our latest content. Red cats are said to bring success in relationships. Common colors are white, black, red, and gold. Search for: Search. Today, Maneki Neko is seen globally as a sign of good luck and is supposed to bring good fortune to those who display it. In the Edo period, potters from the Mikawa Province moved to Imado in Asakusa and further developed Imado ware, and in the Genroku era — , Imado dolls were made, which is thought to have given rise to maneki-neko.