What Is A Fortune Cat?

The fortune cat is a mascot typically made of ceramics, most of which are white, with one hand raised above the head to make a gesture of beckoning towards a person. Generally speaking, a fortune cat raising the left hand means to gain happiness, while raising the right hand means to attract good fortune. What’s more, raising both hands represents the arrival of both happiness and good fortune. In addition, there are some fortune cats wearing red collars and bells, and the color red symbolizes happiness and good luck in Chinese culture. Due to its cute image and being the symbol of wealth and luck, the fortune cat has become a decoration for many people at home or in stores, in the hope of bringing in wealth and good luck.

In addition to being used in shops and homes, the fortune cats are also very popular in traditional Chinese festivals and celebrations. For example, during the Spring Festival, many people will place fortune cats at home to pray for good financial luck in the new year. At weddings and opening ceremonies, the fortune cat is also considered as a symbol of auspiciousness, and people often hope that it would bring good luck and wealth.

The Origin of Fortune Cat

At present, there are two main theories about the origin of fortune cats. One theory suggests that the origin of the fortune cat dates back to the Tang Dynasty in China. In a book called You Yang Records of a Myriad Things written by Duan Chengshi of Tang Dynasty, it is recorded that when a cat washes its face with its paws, it would be an auspicious sign if it washes above its ears, indicating that there will be guests coming. Another theory holds that the fortune cat originated in the Nara and Heian periods in Japan, during which many Japanese envoys were sent to China to study Chinese culture and exchange ideas. Later in the Edo period, the trend of keeping cats became popular. In the eyes of the Japanese, cats are not only cute, intelligent and virtuous with a little cunning, but also full of mystery and spiritual power. In folklore, cats possess incredible abilities and then later they are perceived as the embodiment of keeping money and earning money, and thus the image of the fortune cat appears.

There are countless myths and legends about cats in Japanese folklore, and the most famous story about their attracting wealth is undoubtedly the cat from Dehao Temple. According to legend, during the Edo period, the lord of the feudal domain, Inoue Naoko, was hunting when he saw a cat coming out of the temple and waving to him. He followed the cat and went into the temple out of curiosity. It was this behavior that helped him to escape a terrifying storm. So in order to thank this cat for helping, he not only rebuilt Dehao Temple, but also honored it as the guardian deity of Dehao Temple. From then on, the temple has been continuously prosperous, and is now also regarded as the origin of fortune cats.

Cats play a significant role in Japanese culture and is often regarded as a mascot by the Japanese people, which has already formed a cultural phenomenon. This phenomenon has gradually become an important component of Japanese national culture over the years. Although the legend of the fortune cat is only a literary form spreading among the public, people use this form to fabricate ideal patterns with the cat as the protagonist, expressing the Japanese nation's love for using cats to express ideals and the pursuit for things that are difficult to achieve in real life.

Whether in China or Japan, fortune cats are widely accepted and have become a symbol of wealth and good luck for many people. Its cute image often appears as a decoration in shops and homes, as well as in traditional festivals and celebrations. The different meanings and symbols of the fortune cat also give it different interpretations in different cultures. In any case, the fortune cat is a mascot that could bring happiness and good luck, and its existence fills people with beautiful expectations for wealth and good fortune.

The Meanings of Different Fortune Cat

Fortune cats with different gestures, colors, and decorative patterns usually represent different meanings. Here are the explainations for them.

Different gestures: The male cat often raises his right hand, symbolizing wealth and good luck while the female cat generally raises her left hand, symbolizing a wide circle of good friends. Plus, the fortune cats with two hands raising means that "fortune" and "happiness" come together.

Different colors: The white represents good fortune; the pink represents relationship going well; the red represents good health and no illness or disaster; the green represents to pass the examination; the gold represents the road to wealth is wide open; the yellow represents a good relationship; the black represents warding off evils and eliminating disasters; the purple represents beauty and health; and the blue represents a successful career.

Different decorative patterns: Treasure boats symbolize wealth; eagles symbolize big dreams; turtles and cranes symbolize longevity; and pine, bamboo, and plum represent auspiciousness. In addition, a fortune cat with a golden bell hanging around its neck represents good luck, wealth, and good fortune.

How to Place the Fortune Cat

Place it in the living room. The fortune cat should be placed in a conspicuous position of the living room, preferably facing the south. It can be placed on the TV cabinet, display cabinet, shoe cabinet, or other places as close as possible to the door, in order to attract more wealth and good fortune for the family. The places for the fortune cat should ideally be visible upon entering, so that it could play a better role in gathering wealth, good fortune, as well as luck. If placed on places such as balcony, unless the balcony is set up in the living room, the fortune cat won’t play a part in gathering wealth, and is also prone to falling, leading to bad luck.

Place it in the store. The frequency of using a fortune cat in a store is much higher than that in a home, as the former requires more use of it to attract wealth. When placing it in a store, it is best to place in the entrance because the fortune cat plays a significant role in attracting customers. If you place a fortune cat with its left hand raising, it means more customers and more wealth. If you place a fortune cat with its both hands raising or holding a treasure bowl, it means both money and fortune. What’s more, it would be better to place a male fortune cat with its left hand raising in store or office, as it can help to attract wealth and prosperity.

Wear it with you. The fortune cat can be worn as an ornament, can be placed in the car, and can also be be hung on the mobile phone, which can help us to improve our fortune and have the effect of attracting wealth.

Other precautions: It is necessary to bear in mind that the fortune cat in your house can not get wet in the rain. If the fortune cat is dripped with rain, it will bring you bad luck. In addition, once the fortune cat is placed, it is best not to touch or move it. The fortune cat is considered as a spiritual item that needs to be kept in a fixed position to play its role. If you need to clean or move the fortune cat, try to avoid touching it directly with your hands and use a tissue or cloth to do so.

The Implied Meaning of Fortune Cat

Wealth and Good Luck

The main implied meaning of a fortune cat is wealth and good luck and its waving posture symbolizes the ability to attract wealth. In Chinese culture, the cat is perceived as a mascot, representing good luck and happiness. Therefore, the fortune cat is also considered as a mascot that can bring wealth and good luck.

Business Success

The fortune cat is often thought as a symbol of commercial success. In China, many businessmen would place fortune cats in their stores to attract wealth and good luck and therefore the fortune cat is also considered as a mascot that is capable of bringing business prosperity and success.

A Beautiful Future

The fortune cat has also been endowed with the meaning of symbolizing a better future. Its image reminds people of a cute cat, making them feel the beauty of life, so the fortune cat is also considered as a mascot that could bring a beautiful future.

Family Happiness

The fortune cat has also been endowed with the meaning of symbolizing family happiness. In Chinese culture, cats are perceived as animals that could bring happiness to families. Therefore the image of the fortune cat makes people feel warm and happy, so it is also considered as a mascot that could bring family happiness.

As an important symbol of good luck and wealth in traditional Chinese culture, the fortune cat has been endowed with many different meanings. It not only represents wealth, good luck, business success, but also indicates a bright future as well as family happiness. In modern society, the image of the fortune cat is constantly being innovated and developed to meet the needs of the times and different people.

The Function of Fortune Cat

To Bring in Wealth and Good Luck

The main function of a fortune cat is to bring wealth and good luck. According to Chinese tradition, the waving gesture of the fortune cat means that it will attract wealth and bring good luck to people. Individuals often place fortune cats on their desks or store counters, hoping to bring in more business and wealth.

To Protect Family from Misfortune and To Success in Career

In addition to bringing wealth and good luck, the fortune cat is also considered as the symbol of protecting family from misfortune and a successful career. In China and Japan, it is widely believed that fortune cats are capable of warding off evil spirits and misfortune, as well as protecting families from disasters. What’s more, the fortune cat is also seen as a symbol of commercial success, thus placing a fortune cat in stores represents the prosperity and smoothness of one's career.

To Wish for Happiness and Health

The fortune cat also represents happiness and health. In both traditional Japanese and Chinese culture, cats are considered as a symbol of good luck and happiness. As a special type of cat image, the fortune cat is endowed with the ability to attract good wealth and people who place fortune cats also hope to receive blessings of happiness and health.

To Serve as the Symbols of Art and Culture

The fortune cat is not only a symbol of auspiciousness, but also contains profound artistic and cultural meanings. Its creating process is generally exquisite, and its image is pretty vivid and lovely, often regarded as a kind of artwork. Besides, the fortune cat also represents traditional Chinese culture and folk customs, becoming one of the most important symbols of Chinese culture.

To Serve as the Comfort and Relief of the Soul

The image of the fortune cat brings joy and comfort to people. Its cute appearance and waving posture often make people feel happy and relaxed. In today’s busy life, people often need some simple and small items to make them feel happy, and the fortune cat perfectly meets this need. Therefore, fortune cats have also become a source of comfort and relief for people's souls.

As a traditional handicraft, the fortune cat not only symbolizes wealth, good luck, family safety, but also indicates career success, happiness as well as health. Apart from that, it also contains profound artistic and cultural meanings. The image of a fortune cat brings both happiness and good luck to people, becoming a comfort to their souls. Whether you believe in the meanings of the fortune cat or just regard it as a decoration, it is undeniable that it plays an important role in people's lives.