~R.J. Lawrence
Do you recognize these cats? I often see them in local restaurants.
Maneki Nekos
photo by Mitsy Mcgoo
Known as Maneki-neko ("beckoning cats"), these sculptures originating in Japan are thought to bring good luck. The earliest mentions/depictions of maneki-neko date from 1852. Their origin story is unclear, but one popular folktale involves a poor shop owner feeding a starving cat, whereupon the grateful cat sits outside and beckons people to come in, bringing customers to the kind owner.
Joruri-machi Hanka no zu
by Utagawa Hiroshige, 1852
Hong Kong - Lucky cat
photo by Stef Lewandowski
Maneki-Neko
by p82 of UTI Crew
photo by Chris Christian
A wooden mold for a Maneki-Neko and Okiagari-Koboshi Daruma figure from the Edo Period, 18th century
Brooklyn Museum
Maneki-Neko - Temple Gotokuji, Tokyo
photo by S.
Japan-Spring-Gotokuji
photo by Annie Guilloret
Maneki Neko at SFO
photo by Patty
Maneki Nekos
photo by Valeri-DBF
2 comments:
I love these! I was so excited to spot them everywhere in Japan the last time I was there. :)
Wonderful cats...especially the last photo with their legs crossed. Very welcoming. :-)
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