Lucky Maneki Neko Cat Welcome Plaque
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from extreme or
harsh weather conditions
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An American version
of the classic Asian Cat Collectible
cast stone from an original carving
by world renowned sculptor,
Peter
Tyber
The raised paw gesture invites good
fortune and graciously welcomes guests.
9" tall x 8 1/2" wide x 1
1/2" deep Wt. : 5 Lbs.
Metal Hanger embedded in back.
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Regular
$49.99
$ 32.99
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What is Maneki Neko?
"The Cat of Goutoku Temple"
Around 1650, in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo,
there was a temple called Goutoku, which was
very poor.
The monk who took care of the place, lived
there with his beloved cat. One day he told
it, "I wish you could
return the favor for my having taken care
of you so well." A few days later, the
wealthy samurai
Naotaka Ii, Lord of Hikone Castle, and his
hunting party ventured into the temple's compound.
He told the monk, "We were walking by
when a cat at the front gate beckoned us in
with its paw.
May we rest here?" Soon after that, a
fierce storm came but Ii and his party were
spared from it.
While waiting for the storm to pass, the warrior
became impressed with the monk's nobleness
and the
cat's spiritual attitude, and decided to be
the temple's patron, thus rescuing it from
poverty.
Years later, when the cat had died, the monk
buried it within the compound. In memorial
to his beloved
lost pet, he constructed a stone replica of
it. Afterward, rumors spread throughout the
surrounding
community that prayers made to the image,
actually came true.
Thus, the traditional belief of the maneki
neko began.
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