Japanese Lucky-Fortune Cat
HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT FORTUNE/LUCKY CAT FOR YOU.
The white cat is the only cat known as the mane ki neko = beckoning cat.
White = For Fortune/Luck
Black = Prevent Disaster
Red = Prevent Sickness (Especially for Children)
Gold = For Luck of Gold
Left Hand Up = Greet Guests/get a good employee
Right Hand Up = For Fortune or Wealth
Hand Above The Head= Get Fortune From Afar.
Hand Below The Head= Get Fortune Close-by.
Legend of the Lucky Cat
This particular piece is translated from Chinese.
A wealthy town-chief was on his way back from hunting when he passed by a small temple. A small kitten waves its paw to the chief. The chief felt kind of strange, but decided to walk towards the kitten. Suddenly the sky turned dark and a bolt of lightning hit the spot where he was standing. The town-head thought the kitten save his life, so he decided to rebuild this small temple into a huge and brillant one. Afterward, people spread this story of a kitten that saved the chief's life down to their children. And on and on.... The temple still remain located in Tokyo, Japan.
If you are interested in finding more about the Japanese Lucky/Fortune Cats....visit the these links.
Fun lucky cat coloring activity and e-cards.
