Maenki Neko literally means "beckoning cat". Also called the Lucky Cat, the Maneki Neko is one of Japan's most common lucky charms. These porcelain or ceramic sculptures are perched in shop windows everywhere with its paw bent as if beckoning shoppers to enter.
As in other cultures, many Japanese believe that cats are magical. One saying goes that if a cat washes its face in the
parlour, company is coming. This may be based on the 9th century Chinese proverb: "If a cat washes its face and and ears, it will
rain."
The tri-colored Maneki Neko is said to be the luckiest. The White ones and black ones are also very popular. White is thought to
represents purity and black cats are a ward against evil and can heal children. And apparently, the black Maneki Neko is recently being used by women to ward off stalkers!
Buddhism teaches that spiritually evolved souls may find a temporary resting place in the the body of a cat.
Sources
• Japanese Buddhist Statuary
• Wikipedia - Maneki Neko
To take home this lovely Maneki Neko plaque created by Shanti Ashoka,
copy the codes in the textarea box and paste them onto your homesite.
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Posted Oct 24, 2006 - 06:04 , Last Edited: Oct 24, 2006 - 12:37
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