By: Alex
Originating in Japan, the Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) is now also commonly seen in Chinese-speaking regions. It turns out that Maneki-nekos are not only divided into male and female, but also into those raising their left or right paws, each symbolizing different meanings: a male cat raising its right paw is meant to attract wealth, while a female cat raising its left paw is meant to welcome customers. Additionally, a paw raised high signifies attracting distant fortune, while a shorter raised paw attracts nearby fortune.
▲ Located in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, Gotokuji Temple is regarded as the birthplace of the Maneki-neko.
Regarding the origin of the Maneki-neko, the most widely known version is that it originated from Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. The story goes that about 400 years ago, Ii Naotaka, the feudal lord of Hikone Domain (now Shiga Prefecture), was passing by this dilapidated little temple when he saw a white cat waving at him. Driven by curiosity, he entered the temple, only to find that a sudden thunderstorm had begun. The lord believed the cat had saved him from the storm and, feeling grateful, decided to donate rice fields and farmland to the temple. From then on, the temple flourished. Later, when the cat passed away, the monks of Gotokuji enshrined it as a guardian deity, and people gradually came to believe that this beckoning cat would bring good luck.
▲ The Maneki-neko is said to originate from the legend of a temple cat that waved to the feudal lord.
▲ Visitors to Gotokuji Temple who make wishes leave Maneki-nekos at the temple.
▲ Maneki-nekos of all sizes pile up inside the temple.
Today, Gotokuji Temple displays thousands of Maneki-nekos of all sizes, all left behind by visitors. People who come to the temple to pray treat the Maneki-nekos like ema (wooden prayer plaques), writing down their wishes and leaving them at the temple so their prayers can reach the heavens. However, temple staff say they now hope that visitors will buy a Maneki-neko from the temple and take it home, as the temple no longer has enough space to accommodate more.
▲ Due to limited space, visitors have to get creative in finding spots to place their Maneki-nekos.
▲ Visitors write their wishes and names on the Maneki-nekos as prayers to the deities.
Source: SoraNews24, from Japan