All about cats
Waving cats , also known as lucky cats , beckoning cats , welcome cats , fortune cats , money cats , and happy cats , are a popular symbol of good luck and good fortune that originated in Japan. The Japanese name for them is maneki-neko .
The key interaction is between a permanent magnet mounted to the end of the waving arm/pendulum and a many-turn wire coil attached to the body. As the magnet swings over the coil, its movement induces a voltage. The end effect is that it “senses” the magnet passing by and gives it a little push to keep things moving.
For people using Maneki Neko in their homes, the fortune cat must be placed in the south eastern corner of the house which is traditionally associated with the wealth area. For people having a home office, Maneki Neko must be placed as close to the office as possible preferably in a southeast corner.
Maneki Neko can often be seen either holding a banner or with a banner stuck right on their front. One common banner reads “Sen Kyaku Man Mai” (千客萬来); this means, literally, “1000 customers come” and is commonly seen in businesses.
The original white colour is to get good luck and overall good fortune, while black is to ward off evil, red is for good health, yellow or gold is for wealth, and pink is for romance.
Once again, this folklore tale dates back to ancient times when cultures around the world associated cats with witches, wizards and more. Many believed that looking into a cat’s eyes for too long would bring bad luck . Here are a few other interesting superstitions about cats : One white hair on a black cat is good luck .
The Significance of the Raised Maneki Neko Paw If it’s the left paw, this is supposed to attract customers. If the right paw is raised, this invites good fortune and money. They both sound pretty good to me, which is why sometimes you can find a Fortune Cat with both of its paws in the air.
The grey cat is often associated with mystery, harmony, good luck, and silence. It also represents emotional stability, peace, and love.
Why the obsession? In Japanese folklore, cats have protective powers and symbolize good fortune. Today, business owners put “maneki neko” (beckoning cat ) statues in front of their shops, in hope that the moving paw will bring in customers.
The south east of any room, home , office or garden is the universal wealth corner . And to find this feng shui wealth corner you need to stand in the center of your home with a compass. Also the north is regarded as the secondary feng shui wealth corner .
The Japanese term for “ lucky cat ” is 招き猫 or spelled in Latin letters as ‘Maneki-neko ‘. The cat figurine may have some inspiration from Chinese folklore, yet it apparently is Japanese in origin.
In some cultures, black cats are seen as good omens for pending nuptials. In Japan, owning a black cat was once believed to attract more suitors to a young woman seeking a husband. And in the English Midlands, giving a black cat as a wedding gift was believed to bring the bride good fortune and happiness.
Manekinekoworld.com is an online store that selling Maneki Neko lucky cats inspired by Japanese and Chinese culture.
In Japan , black cats are upheld as symbols of good luck , especially for single women, as they are revered for attracting fine, potential suitors. The ancient Egyptians worshipped ALL cats , black ones included. They even worshipped a cat goddess, called Bastet, who was known for her protective spirit.
Put your hands up for luck ! A lucky cat’s first tool to bring luck or good fortune to its owners is its raised paws. If its left paw is up, the lucky cat’s working on happiness and luck . And if the lucky creature has its two paws up, bingo! It’s supposed to bring you both money and luck .