You’ve seen them, haven’t you? Everywhere. From the Chinese dairy down the street to that slightly dubious takeaway on the corner. That little cat. Sitting there, with one paw raised, perpetually waving at absolutely no one in particular. So what’s that all about then? And everyone calls it the ‘Chinese lucky cat’, don’t they? But lucky for what?
Well, let me tell you something. You’re wrong. Utterly, completely, hilariously wrong. That little feline isn’t Chinese. Not by a long shot. It’s Japanese. Yes, Japanese! It’s called a Maneki-neko, which, if you translate it from the Japanese, means ‘beckoning cat.’ And it doesn’t wave. It beckons. There’s a difference, you see. One is a rather effeminate flailing of the wrist; the other is a purposeful invitation. A crucial distinction, wouldn’t you agree?
Its origins are as Japanese as sushi and ridiculously efficient bullet trains. The story goes back to some poor monk and his cat in Edo-era Japan. A lord, caught in a storm, was beckoned into the temple by this rather astute feline. Moments later, a bolt of lightning, clearly having missed its target the first time, struck the very spot where the lord had been standing. Saved! And in gratitude, the lord gave the temple a pile of money, which, let’s be honest, is far more useful than a thank you card. When the cat finally shuffled off this mortal coil, a statue was made. And thus, a legend was born.
Now, about that paw. It’s not just for show. Oh no. If the left paw is up, it’s inviting customers. So, if you’re a shop owner, that’s the one you want. More people, more money. Simple. If the right paw is up, it’s beckoning pure, unadulterated fortune. Good for your house. Good for your investments. Good for making sure you never run out of biscuits. And then, because modern life is all about having everything, someone invented one with both paws up. It’s the multi-tasker of the cat world, inviting both customers and cash. Clever, really.
And the colours? They’ve got meanings too. The classic, rather fetching calico is for general good fortune. White for purity. Gold, naturally, is for wealth. Black, for warding off all the bad stuff. Red for protection from illness. And pink, because some people care about romance.
So, if you truly want to make a Chinese visitor rub their hands with a smug glee because they have found a fellow traveller in life that shares their vales, consider placing that damn waving cat on your reception desk or checkout counter. Mayber, just maybe it really will attract some more riches your way.
