My Tiny Page O'
Maneki-Neko
I first met Maneki-Neko when I was not much older
than my own children are now. I met her again at a local tropical fish
store a few years ago--she was sitting in the window, beckoning customers.
Recognizing her immediately, I told the shop
owner that I would write up her history and bring it to him on my next
visit.
So, I dug up my old book, where I had first
discovered her, and re-read
the history of this special little cat, and I fell in love all over again.
I have been watching for her ever since, and have seen her in 2 more local
businesses. Her image also
graces the temple Gotokuji in Tokyo, which is dedicated to cats.
Statues of Maneki-Neko also keep watch over the cemetery, where
faithful Buddhists bury their beloved pets.
Why is she special? If she has her right paw
raised, she is said to bring money, wealth, and good fortune. If her left
paw is raised, she is said to attract customers to your business or guests
to your home. There are many theories on how she came to
be. The most popular story says that a feudal lord (or samurai) was out
walking one day
and was caught in a rainstorm. Maneki-Neko beckoned to him from the door
of a run-down temple, and as soon as he went to her, a bolt of lightning
hit the very spot where he had been standing. In gratitude, the lord
gave the temple financial help, and it was re-dedicated to cats.
Maneki-Neko has
been a Japanese symbol of good luck and fortune ever since.
All of the images on this page--including the
background--are copyright 1996 Fukuhara Masaru. Fukahara graciously
offers
these images--and many others--for free, with no strings attached. I
personally feel that the least I can do is give a link and a copyright
notice; if you wish to copy any of the images on this page, I would please
ask you to do the same in consideration of Fukuhara.
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