Lucky cats are often placed on office desks, in living rooms, or in businesses. However, there are different types of lucky cats, each with its own unique meaning. Let’s explore the significance of each type of lucky cat!
1 What is a Lucky Cat?
What is a Lucky Cat?
Lucky cats, also known as Maneki Neko, are popular Japanese figurines depicting a beckoning cat. These figurines are believed to bring good luck and are often called maneki neko, lucky cats, or money cats.
Lucky cats are typically made of ceramic or porcelain and feature a short-tailed cat with one paw raised, as if beckoning or inviting people.
What is a Lucky Cat?
How Many Types of Lucky Cats Are There?
There are numerous types of lucky cats, each with its own unique meaning. Here are some of the most common types:
- Lucky Cat with Koi Fish
- Lucky Cat with a Fan
- Lucky Cat with Fortune and Luck
- Daruma Lucky Cat
- Lucky Cat with a Wind Chime
- Reclining Lucky Cat
- Lucky Cat with a Long Tail
- Lucky Cat Holding a Gold Coin
- Lucky Cat Raising Both Paws
- Lucky Cat Raising its Right Paw
- Lucky Cat Raising its Left Paw
- Lucky Cat Couple
- Lucky Cat with Two Ceramic Coins in its Right Paw
2 The Special Meaning of Each Type of Lucky Cat
Lucky Cat with Koi Fish
In Japanese culture, koi fish symbolize abundance, good luck, wealth, and success. Additionally, the koi fish is associated with the legend of “carp turning into dragons,” symbolizing perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles to achieve one’s goals. Therefore, the lucky cat with a koi fish is often favored, especially by families with students preparing for exams.
Lucky Cat with a Fan
Lucky Cat with a Fan
There are two types of lucky cats with fans: those holding a red fan and those holding a white fan.
The red fan symbolizes good luck and is associated with power and wealth in Eastern culture. Therefore, the lucky cat with a red fan is believed to attract luck, wealth, and prosperity to its owner.
On the other hand, the white fan symbolizes happiness, purity, and peace. It is believed to bring tranquility and harmony to the owner’s family.
Lucky Cat with Fortune and Luck
Lucky Cat with Fortune and Luck
This type of lucky cat is characterized by pink mouth, ears, whiskers, and decorative flowers.
The Lucky Cat with Fortune and Luck is not only believed to bring good luck but also to attract love and romance. Single women in Japan often keep this type of lucky cat in their rooms.
Daruma Lucky Cat
Daruma Lucky Cat
The Daruma Lucky Cat is a combination of the traditional Daruma doll and the lucky cat. It is believed to bring prosperity, success in exams and careers, good health, and overall happiness and luck to its owner.
Lucky Cat with a Wind Chime
The Lucky Cat with a Wind Chime typically features a pink color scheme, symbolizing love and romance. It is believed to bring good luck in relationships and foster harmonious social connections.
Lucky Cat with a Wind Chime
Reclining Lucky Cat
The Reclining Lucky Cat depicts a cat in a relaxed and reclined posture, symbolizing the wish for good luck and happiness to always be with its owner.
Reclining Lucky Cat
Lucky Cat with a Long Tail
The Lucky Cat with a Long Tail is depicted as a reclining cat with its long tail upright and curved at the end, resembling a question mark.
Lucky Cat with a Long Tail
The tail often has a talisman with the characters “cầu tài,” which translates to “attracting wealth and luck.” For business owners, this lucky cat is believed to attract a steady stream of customers, while in love, it symbolizes smooth sailing and a complete relationship.
Lucky Cat Holding a Gold Coin
This lucky cat is depicted holding a large gold coin, symbolizing a wish for abundance and financial prosperity for its owner.
Lucky Cat Holding a Gold Coin
One of the cat’s paws typically has the characters “tài vận tám phương,” conveying a wish for health, wealth, fame, career success, knowledge, marital bliss, children, and beneficial relationships.
Lucky Cat Raising Both Paws
It is believed that the higher the raised paw, the more luck and prosperity the lucky cat brings to its owner. Therefore, the Lucky Cat Raising Both Paws is thought to protect the family, attract good luck, and bring financial abundance and success in business ventures.
Lucky Cat Raising Both Paws
Additionally, the gold ingot or bell held by the cat symbolizes the invitation of good relationships, wealth, and prosperity.
Lucky Cat Raising its Right Paw
The Lucky Cat Raising its Right Paw is believed to attract positive energy and is more commonly placed in homes. It helps to foster harmony among family members, bring peace and joy, and resolve conflicts.
Lucky Cat Raising its Right Paw
The raised right paw is believed to invite health, wealth, and prosperity to its owner. It also helps businesses attract potential customers, leading to increased profitability and success.
Lucky Cat Raising its Left Paw
The Lucky Cat Raising its Left Paw is believed to attract customers and wealth to businesses. Therefore, it is commonly displayed in shops and by business owners.
Lucky Cat Raising its Left Paw
This type of lucky cat often features a red collar with a bell, which originates from the Edo period (1603-1868) when cats were expensive pets. The bell was used to prevent them from running away.
Lucky Cat with Two Ceramic Coins in its Right Paw
This lucky cat holds two ceramic coins in its right paw. The top coin has the character “福” (fortune) surrounded by the words “four seasons of wealth.” The bottom coin has the character “旺” (prosperity) surrounded by the phrase “money flowing in like water.”
Lucky Cat with Two Ceramic Coins in its Right Paw
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