Interesting thing about the cat statue ‘waving’ money into the house

Tourists can see the fortune cat at countless shops in the land of the rising sun next to the cashier desk or in front of the door.

Lucky cat Maneki-neko – fortune cat in Japan. Fortune cats with raised claws, red ears, often hanging coins or gold bars, are believed by many to have the ability to bring luck and prosperity through the centuries. It is also considered as one of the typical cultural products of the land of the rising sun. Here are some interesting facts about this famous statue. The origin is confused Fortune cats are usually white or made of gold, sold in Asian souvenir shops or Chinatowns around the world. This makes many people think that they are of Chinese origin, but in fact they are of Japanese origin. The lucky cat is called Maneki-neko, which in Japanese means “beckoning cat”. Foreign guests may mistakenly think they are saying goodbye. However, in Japan, unlike Western cultures, the way to greet is with the palm facing forward, the finger pointing down, which means that the fortune cat is “calling customers” into the store. The genius cat travels the world It remains unclear how these iconic statues spread beyond the Japanese islands to become famous throughout Asia and the rest of the world. According to a research project led by Bill Maurer, a professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine, the fortune-telling cat statues date back to the Meiji period (1868-1912). In an effort to polish its image with Westerners, the Meiji Government issued the Public Ethics Ordinance in 1872. Accordingly, charms that were not displayed in prostitution, and fortune cats were prohibited. Use as an alternative decoration. From there, they began to be popular in Asian countries and communities. Then, the explosion of Japanese popular culture during the “Cool Japan” era in the 1980s and 1990s, which coincided with the second wave of Chinese immigration to the US, further helped the cat’s popularity. more worldwide. Appears everywhere in Japan In the land of the rising sun, fortune cats are popular and can be found everywhere. The Manekineko Museum of Art in Okayama displays a collection of more than 700 fortune-telling cat statues from across the ages. Cat statues are also honored every year in September when the Manekineko festival is held in many cities across Japan. In Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, there is even a street named Manekineko, where dozens of ceramic cat statues are on display. In Tokyo, you can go to Gotokuji Temple or Imado Shrine. And of course, you can see the genius cat at countless shops, restaurants… in the land of the rising sun. The meaning of the cat statue Over the centuries, the genius cat has had many different versions, serving many human purposes. The statue is blue to pray for peace when participating in traffic. Pink to pray for charm, yellow to pray for fortune and prosperity. Cats wag their right paws to “call” money and luck, but cats wag their left paws to “call” friends and customers. Cat ornaments such as ryo (an oval Japanese coin) represent wealth, and bibs or bells show the Japanese people’s affection and care for cats.