Lucky Cat - Good Fortune

Good luck amulet in hand-painted papier maché, designed in Japan and made in Vietnam from recycled paper from Japan, height 5 cm.

The meaning of Maneki Neko
In Japan The beckoning cat symbolizes good luck and prosperity. From the Japanese words Maneki 'to invite' and Neko 'cat', it literally means 'the cat that invites you'. Known as the lucky cat, this is one of the most famous lucky charms in the world. It can be seen in businesses, restaurants, shops and homes all over Japan.

Maneki Neko raises one front paw, inviting people to come in, while holding an ancient Japanese coin called koban with the other. It usually wears a necklace with a rattle to ward off evil spirits.

Originally, the Maneki Neko was white, but over the years and with the influence of Feng Shui, other colors appeared, each with a specific purpose: gold for prosperity, black for protection, white for good luck, orange for success, tri-colored for luck in general, the latter being the most popular today.

The Origin of Maneki Neko
Of the many legends that tell the origin of this amulet, the most beautiful is the one that was born in the Gotokuji Temple in the 17th century. At that time, the temple had no money and was in poor condition. The old monk who lived there shared the little food he had with a cat. One day, a rich feudal lord named Ii Naotaka, a samurai from the Hikone domain, was hunting nearby. Suddenly, he was caught in a storm and ran for cover under a tree. He then saw a cat waving its paw, as if to beckon him to come in. Curious, as he approached the cat, lightning struck the tree. The cat had just saved his life! The samurai was so grateful that he decided to make donations to the temple. From that day on, the cat became the symbol of Gotokuji and a famous good luck charm throughout the country. When he died, he was buried with honors in the temple, where hundreds of Maneki Neko can be seen today.

Maneki Neko, a good luck gift
Our Maneki Neko is hand-painted. Models of the same color may have slight variations in design depending on the painter's inspiration. This makes each one unique! Search and find the one that inspires you the most, for yourself or as a gift for someone you care about.