As one arrives in Japan, does not go so long before he met a Maneki-neko . What may seem to many find a business, turns out to be a long tradition of superstitions, legends and popular culture in Japan.
Before the birth of the legend of Maneki-neko , cats had a reputation for being bad or similar to the devil. In Japan, the animals were lucky both native tanuki (raccoon) that Inaki (the fox goddess of harvests). Both were recognized as bearers of good luck for business, shopping and often discuss their statues and / or images, the same way, which now exposes the Maneki-neko . It was thought that originally the
Maneki-neko was nothing but a cat washing your face, because in an old Chinese proverb says that "a cat washing its face is a sign of good luck"
The validity of such stories about the supernatural powers of this cat may be doubted, but the fact is that people will purchase and / or offers. There are many legends around the Maneki-neko, but all have the same theme, "well treated a stray cat that brings good luck and good fortune to the person who was a friend."
The origin of this tradition is not safe, perhaps beginning in the sixteenth century in Osaka or Edo (now Tokyo).
Before the birth of the legend of Maneki-neko , cats had a reputation for being bad or similar to the devil. In Japan, the animals were lucky both native tanuki (raccoon) that Inaki (the fox goddess of harvests). Both were recognized as bearers of good luck for business, shopping and often discuss their statues and / or images, the same way, which now exposes the Maneki-neko . It was thought that originally the
Maneki-neko was nothing but a cat washing your face, because in an old Chinese proverb says that "a cat washing its face is a sign of good luck"
The validity of such stories about the supernatural powers of this cat may be doubted, but the fact is that people will purchase and / or offers. There are many legends around the Maneki-neko, but all have the same theme, "well treated a stray cat that brings good luck and good fortune to the person who was a friend."
The origin of this tradition is not safe, perhaps beginning in the sixteenth century in Osaka or Edo (now Tokyo).
However it appears that the true story of a legend was born from Monaco and the temple of Gotoku, which was in a poor district of Edo, surrounded by Zen gardens, now overwhelmed by nature. The temple, which was decadent and devoid of any sign of splendor, but in front of his altar of wood, were always fresh and offered incense. The old
monaco guarded it and deal with it and was very poor. Three times a day facing the altar, reciting prayer after prayer. The former Monaco had not lost hope that one day her prayers were to restore the temple.
One evening, while she was cooking rice for his dinner, he noticed a mangy cat and minutes sitting in the hall. He took pity on the animal and offered him half of his dinner. The cat after a meal, he rubbed against Monaco in gratitude and purred gently. Since that day, at the same time, every night the cat came back and shared with him his monaco dinner.
One evening, the Monaco, suffering for the desperate state of the temple, he complained talking to the cat: "if only you were a man and not a cat, then maybe you could help me," the cat looked at him, and rubbing her head against his leg, he answered with a "miaooo."
Soon after, a violent storm broke out, and passed near the samurai, Ii Naotake was their leader and had the rich landowner Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture and was returning to Edo, victorious after the siege of Osaka.
were looking for a shelter but could not find one. Ii, while crossing the pouring rain, he saw a cat on the roadside looking curious. The cat, sitting on his back, he was waving a paw in the air as if saying goodbye. "What a strange thing for a cat to sit it out in this rain" Ii thought and came to observe him and as he was stooping to stroke the cat walked away a few steps, sat down and began to say hello. Ii, curious, and followed the cat, however, disappeared in a narrow path, unfortunately there was no lighting and it soon went. But just as was about to abandon the search he found himself in front of the temple of Gotoku decadent, and there, on top of the stairs, there was the cat that was rubbing around the legs of Monaco. The
Monaco offered the shelter of the temple II and his men where they were able to dry out. Ii was struck by the kindness and wisdom of Monaco and so decided to make this decadent temple, his family temple in Edo. And so from that night onwards, the temple of Gotoku prospered under the patronage of Naotake Ii. The Monaco
never forgot that night when, in answer to her prayers, he led the cat II, which leads then good luck to the temple.
When the cat died, Monaco erected in the gardens of the temple, a statue in the shape of a cat who greets, always good to wish good luck.
Over the centuries passed, the reputation of the cat, was transformed from wandering hunter to that of the bearer of good fortune, happiness and health, and so began the legend of Maneki-neko , the cat greets.
And here ends the legend
CURIOSITY '
Did you know that are modeled annually in huge quantities of Maneki-neko , also using material imaginable, from wood, iron, porcelain to papier mache, while the shape is the same, a cat sitting with a bib and a bell tied around his neck and one paw raised in greeting. The
Maneki-neko with the left paw raised are more common than those with right paw raised, the exact reason for the difference is not clear. Some say that the left foot raised means money and luck, while the right means good luck and health. Others argue that the left conducive business and the right family. The
Maneki-neko is represented in different colors, each of which has its own meaning. The most common is the white , which means good fortune in itself. Black provides protection against diseases, the golden yellow door money and make dreams come true, propitious love the yellow, green success in examinations and finally the blue Safety staff.
think that all these requirements are born of stores specializing in Maneki-neko . There is also an association of about 800 members "collectors" who are scattered all over the world.
From September 29 to October 10 every year in the Temple of Ise, held a party called Kuru Fuku Maneki Neko Matsuri, which is the feast of gesticulating cat that brings good luck.
monaco guarded it and deal with it and was very poor. Three times a day facing the altar, reciting prayer after prayer. The former Monaco had not lost hope that one day her prayers were to restore the temple.
One evening, while she was cooking rice for his dinner, he noticed a mangy cat and minutes sitting in the hall. He took pity on the animal and offered him half of his dinner. The cat after a meal, he rubbed against Monaco in gratitude and purred gently. Since that day, at the same time, every night the cat came back and shared with him his monaco dinner.
One evening, the Monaco, suffering for the desperate state of the temple, he complained talking to the cat: "if only you were a man and not a cat, then maybe you could help me," the cat looked at him, and rubbing her head against his leg, he answered with a "miaooo."
Soon after, a violent storm broke out, and passed near the samurai, Ii Naotake was their leader and had the rich landowner Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture and was returning to Edo, victorious after the siege of Osaka.
were looking for a shelter but could not find one. Ii, while crossing the pouring rain, he saw a cat on the roadside looking curious. The cat, sitting on his back, he was waving a paw in the air as if saying goodbye. "What a strange thing for a cat to sit it out in this rain" Ii thought and came to observe him and as he was stooping to stroke the cat walked away a few steps, sat down and began to say hello. Ii, curious, and followed the cat, however, disappeared in a narrow path, unfortunately there was no lighting and it soon went. But just as was about to abandon the search he found himself in front of the temple of Gotoku decadent, and there, on top of the stairs, there was the cat that was rubbing around the legs of Monaco. The
Monaco offered the shelter of the temple II and his men where they were able to dry out. Ii was struck by the kindness and wisdom of Monaco and so decided to make this decadent temple, his family temple in Edo. And so from that night onwards, the temple of Gotoku prospered under the patronage of Naotake Ii. The Monaco
never forgot that night when, in answer to her prayers, he led the cat II, which leads then good luck to the temple.
When the cat died, Monaco erected in the gardens of the temple, a statue in the shape of a cat who greets, always good to wish good luck.
Over the centuries passed, the reputation of the cat, was transformed from wandering hunter to that of the bearer of good fortune, happiness and health, and so began the legend of Maneki-neko , the cat greets.
And here ends the legend
CURIOSITY '
Did you know that are modeled annually in huge quantities of Maneki-neko , also using material imaginable, from wood, iron, porcelain to papier mache, while the shape is the same, a cat sitting with a bib and a bell tied around his neck and one paw raised in greeting. The
Maneki-neko with the left paw raised are more common than those with right paw raised, the exact reason for the difference is not clear. Some say that the left foot raised means money and luck, while the right means good luck and health. Others argue that the left conducive business and the right family. The
Maneki-neko is represented in different colors, each of which has its own meaning. The most common is the white , which means good fortune in itself. Black provides protection against diseases, the golden yellow door money and make dreams come true, propitious love the yellow, green success in examinations and finally the blue Safety staff.
think that all these requirements are born of stores specializing in Maneki-neko . There is also an association of about 800 members "collectors" who are scattered all over the world.
From September 29 to October 10 every year in the Temple of Ise, held a party called Kuru Fuku Maneki Neko Matsuri, which is the feast of gesticulating cat that brings good luck.
Maneki-neko But this is fact or fiction?
Whatever may be the answer, the belief in its powers remains strong. The images of these "lucky cats" even appear in the classified ads of the major Japanese newspapers, as very few small businesses would feel complete without the image of the lucky cat. It is said that a
Maneki-Neko at home, at work, the website, in short, wherever they want to bring you lots and lots of luck, as that man!
's so bizarre story of a cat, now is an integral part of Japanese culture.
Whatever may be the answer, the belief in its powers remains strong. The images of these "lucky cats" even appear in the classified ads of the major Japanese newspapers, as very few small businesses would feel complete without the image of the lucky cat. It is said that a
Maneki-Neko at home, at work, the website, in short, wherever they want to bring you lots and lots of luck, as that man!
's so bizarre story of a cat, now is an integral part of Japanese culture.
