Lucky Cat Carrier

Have you ever seen a statue of a white cat that one of his hands up and down as if to invite you to come closer? Do you know the name, origin, and also the reason many people put in their stores?

The statue's name is Maneki Neko cat. Maneki Neko is a figure of a cat 'Welcome' is believed to bring luck and prosperity. Maneki neko are from Japan, is a statue of a cat is believed to bring luck to its owner.

This sculpture describes a local cat from Japan (Japanese Bobtail) with one front leg raised, as if waving. Maneki Neko are usually displayed in stores, restaurants and other establishments.

This cat figure has produced a variety of tools and forms such as key chains, piggy banks, air freshener, etc.. Various materials are also used, from the cheapest such as plastic, wood and paper to the expensive like jade or jade. Various shapes, colors and additional ornaments believed to have a specific function.

Beliefs about where the raised foot, vary the time and place. The most common belief is usually when the left foot is raised serves to attract customers, while the right foot aimed at attracting prosperity and luck.

Sometimes there is also a leg-up. There is also the state lifted the left leg, perfect for a bar or a place to drink sake, while the right foot is suitable for the store.

Trust, the higher your feet up, the greater the luck or prosperity to come. Some forms of Maneki Neko is equipped with a battery or solar cells in order to move the legs forward and back, as if waving constantly.

Although the original color is white, Maneki Neko was made with different colors and attributes. Each color is believed to have different benefits. Maneki Neko is also usually have a few extra ornaments on her neck. Can be a complete necklace with a small bell or it could be a cloth tied around the neck (scarf).

The most popular is the red necklace made ​​of hichirimen (red flowers) equipped with a small bell. This decoration is an imitation of what is normally used by the cats that are kept by the royal family in the Edo period.

Cloth tied around dileher related to its function as a protector. A similar decoration found on the statue Bodhistwa Jizo, the protector which is often found at the gates of the temple or cemetery.

Maneki Neko are sometimes depicted holding a coin called a victim. Koban is the money used in the Edo period. The figure sculpture is believed to bring luck and prosperity, so it is often used as a piggy bank.

Many Japanese legend which tells of the origin of Maneki Neko. Of the seven legends who are well known, there is one of the most famous legends of the Old Lady Imado.

Telling an old lady who lived at the end of EDO era (19th century) in Imado, eastern Tokyo. The situation of women is very poor, so that he could no longer care for her cat. Then he said to her cat, "I'm sorry I had to menelantarkanmu because this poverty."

Apparently at night the cat was present in his dream and said, "Make me of clay sculpture, the statue will bring good luck."

And indeed, after the old woman made​​, many people who came to buy it. Finally the old woman regardless of poverty because of the statue of Maneki Neko is a cat.

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