Upon entering a store, it's not exactly unusual for us to see a waving golden cat perched on the cashier's table or on some place that's highly visible.
I've been taught that it was a symbol of good luck for businesses, but I never really delved into why this was so, and if it really was true, then how did it came to be?
The origin and real meaning of this cat is something I only figured out once I opened up my own store and had to ask elders who knew more than me for guidance.
What is that waving cat called?
I always associated those waving cats with the Chinese, but it turns out that the waving cat is a common Japanese figurine that is believed to bring good luck to its owner.
It is called the maneki-neko (Literally: the beckoning cat).
It's quite a common sight in restaurant and small businesses. What more, the cat is usually battery-powered and moves its paws in a forward-backward motion, as if calling you in.
It comes in different colors and sizes, with gold being the most common here in the Philippines.
Upon further research, I was pleasantly surprised to note that this was also called the "Chinese lucky cat" because of its popularity with Chinese merchants.
What is the waving cat for?
The waving cat is meant to be placed for good luck and wealth to its owners, but more than that, it also serves as a protection.
Its best feng shui placement is at the entrance of the business establishment, where it would beckon potential customers in.
You should also be aware which paw is raised--the left, or right, or both of them at once. It varies with the time and place.
Left-raising paws are meant to be placed in drinking establishments while right-raising paws is for all other places of business.
However, others believe that the left raising paws are meant for your business, while the right ones are meant for your homes.
Two paws, raised simultaneously can also mean protection.
What do the differences in cats stand for?
Each color variance of the maneki-neko has 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 health
They also differ by the items that they hold in their paws.
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.
Lucky Cats can also be found holding gourds, prayer tablets, daikon radishes and ingots--all of these items also represent wealth and good luck.
Why are they so popular? Where did the belief come from?
The actual origin of how the maneki-neko came to be cannot be pinpointed down to a specific date.
All we have are common folktales and legends involving the maneki-neko. Here are some of them:
1. There was a wealthy man who took shelter from a heavy rain under a tree beside a temple. He saw the cat and it was beckoning him in. Dazzled, he ran out of the tree's protection and into the temple. Seconds later, he saw lightning strike the tree he was sheltering in. He believed the beckoning cat saved his life.
From then on, he made generous donations to the temple and had a statue of the cat built.
2. The operator of an impoverished shop takes in a starving, stray cat despite barely having enough to feed himself. In gratitude, the cat sits in the front of the store beckoning customers, thus bringing prosperity as a reward to the charitable proprietor. Ever after, the "beckoning cat" has been a symbol of good luck for small business owners.
Now, modern Japanese folklore suggests that keeping a talisman of good fortune, such as the maneki-neko, in bedrooms and places of study will bring about favorable results and life successes.
Wherever you might need a little bit of protection and luck, the maneki-neko is a good symbol for it :)
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