A maneki-neko, or beckoning cat, is a Japanese figurine that is believed to bring good luck to its owner. The figurine depicts a cat, usually a calico Japanese Bobtail, with a raised paw in a beckoning gesture.
Legend starts with a cat born at the Gōtoku-ji temple in Edo period (1603–1868). According to temple historians, while hunting with falcons, the daimyo (regional ruler) Ii Naotaka was saved from a lightning bolt when the abbot’s pet cat Tama beckoned him into Gōtoku-ji. Grateful to the cat for saving his life, the ruler made it a patron of the temple where it has been venerated in its very own shrine ever since. Damiyo: Ii Naotaka (1590-1659), the lord samurai of the Hikone domain.
The meaning also changes depending on which paw is raised: the right paw attracts money and good fortune; the left invites friendship and customers. Other additions include a ryō (an oval-shaped Japanese coin) to represent wealth, as well as historically true-to-life accessories, such as a bib or bell, that point to how pet cats were regarded and cared for in Japanese society.
Maneko_Neko