How Much is That Kitty in the Window?

Ever wonder what that porcelain kitty in the window is at the sushi bar or the bubble tea shop? Did you ever stop and ask yourself why there’s a giant ceramic cat, with its paw curled and over its head, in a Chinese gift shop? Can the community of smiling kittens lined up on a shop’s checkout counter really mean something besides a serious feline fetish? Well wonder no more!! These clay kitties, called maneki neko, are a popular Japanese symbol of good fortune, good health and profitable business.

My first encounter with maneki neko was at a Southern Illinoisan flea market four years ago. I was looking through a dealer’s tacky collection of Asian “inspired” knick knacks when I saw a cat figurine with its paw curled and raised over its head. I had no idea what it was but it intrigued me since I’m a big fan of all things kitty. I convinced myself that I could buy the lil’ dust-collector and still not be a “crazy cat lady” (you know, the one who wears the embroidered sweatshirts with cat iron-ons appliquéd to them) on merit of the fact that it probably had some connection to Japan.

I brought my new kitty home and started investigating whether or not it did, in fact, have some connection to Japan. Here’s what I found:

The maneki neko, aka “welcoming good luck cat”, aka Good Fortune Cat, aka Beckoning Cat, has been a symbol of luck and good fortune in Japan for over 130 years. These clay felines were first documented in Japanese writings around the late 1800’s with the modernization of Japan. There are suggestions that maneki neko have been around since the 1700’s but there aren’t any literatures or drawings to substantiate the claim.

How the maneki neko has become so popular in modern times is a bit sordid. Japan of olden days had red light districts, called yuukaku, which did booming business. Each pleasure house had a good luck shelf on which were displayed knick knacks in the shape of male organs. These were thought to bring luck and customers to the business.

The reverence that was paid to the miniature penises wasn’t just reserved for the brothels; peasants and farmers also worshiped the private part in hopes of a bountiful harvest. With the modernization of Japan, however, came the influx of Western ideas and ideals. Such Western ideals included a more conservative approach to sex and the human body. Thus, the penis charms were booted off the good luck shelves and the maneki neko became Good Luck’s new spokescat.

But what does a cat with its paw up and curled into a kitty fist have to do with luck? The Japanese believed that when a cat washes its face, visitors will come calling. If you watch a cat wash its face, you’ll notice that they make the same gesture as the maneki neko. This gesture is in fact the Japanese version of “come here” (the American version is the underhanded gesture we’ve all used when trying to help a friend parallel park.)

So the act of a cat washing its face became associated with visitors, i.e. customers and customers mean business which means money which means you can go down to the yuukaku and get lucky. Not really, but one can see the connection between visitors coming to call and luck if you squint really hard.

There are various details on the maneki neko which have different meanings. First there’s the position of the paw. If the feline raises its right paw, it’s a sign that welcomes in money and good fortune. The left paw raised means that the neko is welcoming customers and business. The height of the paw is in direct correlation with the amount of luck the neko will attract.

The color range of the maneki neko nowadays is vast. Traditional colorations though, include a tri-colored male cat which is considered the luckiest by far. Apparently male calico cats are very rare in real life. Perhaps the male calico’s rarity explains the enormous popularity of the spotted maneki neko. Black maneki neko are believed to dispel evil and illness, placing them right up there behind the three colored neko in desirability. Red cats ward off evil spirits while white are a symbol of purity. Some of the newer neko colors include pink, to attract love, and gold, to attract immense wealth.

The bells, coins, and bibs of the maneki neko also have a history but are not as meaningful as the paw position and the coloration. The bell and red collar are holdovers from when rich women living during the Edo period fussed over their pets and adorned them with red flowers and bells. The bib is a bit more of a mystery. Some say it’s a Buddhist symbol, some say it’s just decoration. The coin the kitty sometimes holds is a symbol of the cash the neko is supposed to draw.

There are several legends associated with the origin of the first maneki neko. The most common legend can be read here.

Even though the maneki neko is still used today in business establishments to attract customers and wealth, its popularity is growing among young people. Today it’s used as symbols of luck in various things; including love, school, sleep, travel ect. The vibrant new colors, shapes, positions, and groupings, of the maneki neko are also appealing to people as collector’s items. There are now neko with wings and halos, neko with kimono, and neko with crystal balls. The color variations are staggering and the material used in their manufacture is diverse.

I collect maneki neko whenever I see a truly unique kitty or if I’m at a place or event I want to remember. Several shops on Olive Street in Saint Louis’ Chinatown have some quite nice examples of modern and traditional maneki neko. I don’t have nearly as big a collection as this guy or this guy, but I’m on my way and I hope you are too!