Japanese or Chinese Cat

[Delcia]

Can you tell us about our Prosperity cat.
He was given to us by a Japanese visitor a who's son was living with while in school here. He or she has its right hand raised. We believe that either the right or the loft hand raised can mean to different things. One attracts wealth and the other brings prosperity or business I think.
Where should he be placed in the home?

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Anon,
I did a search for you and found this link:
http://home1.gte.net/iiws/gl.htm
1. The above page has a picture of all Four Cats.
2. This store called `The Good Luck' Store has this to say about the Prosperity Cats:
------- Quote : -------
"Our top seller"
Give the gift that invites Prosperity, Happiness and Good Health. From ancient times in Asia there are many stories about the Lucky Cat. The Golden one brings you
riches. The Black one protects you from illness. The one raising its left hand invites customers to a business.
The right hand one invites prosperity. All sizes, all prices from $18.00.
----- End -----
Do note that as usual, I like emphasie that the above is not Feng Shui. But a belief.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 3/6/00 8:52:00 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Can you tell us about our
Prosperity cat.
He was given to us by a
Japanese visitor a who's son
was living with while in
school here. He or she has its
right hand raised. We believe
that either the right or the
loft hand raised can mean to
different things. One attracts
wealth and the other brings
prosperity or business I
think.
Where should he be placed in
the home?

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Anon,
This link has a short write up of the origins of the Japanese Cat:-
http://www.bekkoame.or.jp/~ys-trade/CAT.HTM
Source and credit: (The above site)
The Origin of Happy Cat(Fortune cat)
The origin of the Happy cat (fortune cat) dates back to the end part of 1780's in Edo(Tokyo). The happy cats have been considered to beckon and welcome customers to the shops by rising its hand (Please note, in Japan, the gesture such as happy cats do means beckoning somebody forward.) and thanks to this, shop, especially restaurant, must do a goods business with so many customers. On the other hand, at the firm village, happy cat was sometimes placed at farmers house as a guardian deity to keep off rats.
Now, there are several types of happy cat. Typically, the cat rising its left hand beckons money and the cat rising its right hand do customers.
--- End of Quote ---
Overall, based on the pictures from the earlier site and this, it would seem that the Happy Cat has its origins in Japan rather than China.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 3/6/00 8:52:00 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Can you tell us about our
Prosperity cat.
He was given to us by a
Japanese visitor a who's son
was living with while in
school here. He or she has its
right hand raised. We believe
that either the right or the
loft hand raised can mean to
different things. One attracts
wealth and the other brings
prosperity or business I
think.
Where should he be placed in
the home?