Lucky Cat Carrier

Have you ever seen a statue of a white cat that one of his hands up and down as if to invite you to come closer? Do you know the name, origin, and also the reason many people put in their stores?

The statue's name is Maneki Neko cat. Maneki Neko is a figure of a cat 'Welcome' is believed to bring luck and prosperity. Maneki neko are from Japan, is a statue of a cat is believed to bring luck to its owner.

This sculpture describes a local cat from Japan (Japanese Bobtail) with one front leg raised, as if waving. Maneki Neko are usually displayed in stores, restaurants and other establishments.

This cat figure has produced a variety of tools and forms such as key chains, piggy banks, air freshener, etc.. Various materials are also used, from the cheapest such as plastic, wood and paper to the expensive like jade or jade. Various shapes, colors and additional ornaments believed to have a specific function.

Beliefs about where the raised foot, vary the time and place. The most common belief is usually when the left foot is raised serves to attract customers, while the right foot aimed at attracting prosperity and luck.

Sometimes there is also a leg-up. There is also the state lifted the left leg, perfect for a bar or a place to drink sake, while the right foot is suitable for the store.

Trust, the higher your feet up, the greater the luck or prosperity to come. Some forms of Maneki Neko is equipped with a battery or solar cells in order to move the legs forward and back, as if waving constantly.

Although the original color is white, Maneki Neko was made with different colors and attributes. Each color is believed to have different benefits. Maneki Neko is also usually have a few extra ornaments on her neck. Can be a complete necklace with a small bell or it could be a cloth tied around the neck (scarf).

The most popular is the red necklace made ​​of hichirimen (red flowers) equipped with a small bell. This decoration is an imitation of what is normally used by the cats that are kept by the royal family in the Edo period.

Cloth tied around dileher related to its function as a protector. A similar decoration found on the statue Bodhistwa Jizo, the protector which is often found at the gates of the temple or cemetery.

Maneki Neko are sometimes depicted holding a coin called a victim. Koban is the money used in the Edo period. The figure sculpture is believed to bring luck and prosperity, so it is often used as a piggy bank.

Many Japanese legend which tells of the origin of Maneki Neko. Of the seven legends who are well known, there is one of the most famous legends of the Old Lady Imado.

Telling an old lady who lived at the end of EDO era (19th century) in Imado, eastern Tokyo. The situation of women is very poor, so that he could no longer care for her cat. Then he said to her cat, "I'm sorry I had to menelantarkanmu because this poverty."

Apparently at night the cat was present in his dream and said, "Make me of clay sculpture, the statue will bring good luck."

And indeed, after the old woman made​​, many people who came to buy it. Finally the old woman regardless of poverty because of the statue of Maneki Neko is a cat.

This type of cat World's Largest Prehistoric

1. Smilodon

Smilodon is one of the most famous prehistoric predators, and also one of the most formidable. At least three species live in the North and South America; the smallest species, Smilodon gracilis, the size of a modern jaguar, while Smilodon fatalis for the lion.

However, the species Smilodon Populator weighs 300 kg and an average of up to 500 pounds when mature.

Smilodon is not so nimble as modern cats, but he is very strong, with strong legs too thick neck, and especially long nails for gripping prey.

Fangs can reach 30 cm in length, and perfect for ground squirrels cause fatal injury, large animals, even mammoths.2. Pleistosen Tiger

Pleistocene tigers an 'early version' of the same tiger we see today. Tigers evolved somewhere in Asia about 2 million years ago, a large herbivorous prey, various types of living on the continent at that time.

Tiger is currently the largest cat, the Bengal and Siberian large males weighing up to 300 kg or more. During the Pleistocene era, a larger food supply, so that the tiger had also grown larger, with a weight of 490 kg.3. American lion

American lion or Panthera Atrox, perhaps the best known of all prehistoric cats after Smilodon. He lived in North and South America (from Alaska to Peru) during the Pleistocene era, and became extinct 11,000 years ago.

Lion Americans are the largest cats in North America during the Ice Age, weighing up to 470 kg, 500 kg and may even be able to prey on large animals.4. Machairodus Kabir

Machairodus, may seem like a giant with a sabertooth tiger, although it is impossible to know if the skin is striped, speckled or other type of mark feathers.

Machairodus rarely mentioned as a giant cat, but a fossil found in Chad, Africa, (and classified as new species, Machairodus kabir), suggesting that this creature is one of the biggest cat weighing 490 kg or 500 kg possible.5. Homotheirum

Also known as 'cat's sword', Homotherium is one of the most successful cat in prehistoric times, are found in North America and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He was a good hunter, adapted to the quick feet running and active, especially in the daytime so as to avoid competition with other nocturnal predators.

Very long front legs and hind legs are shorter, which gives the appearance of a little like a hyena. Although Homotherium not known for its size, but the fossil remains of a cat a few swords, recently discovered in the North Sea shows that they can reach a weight of 400 kg, larger than the modern Siberian tigers.6. Cave Lion

The cave lion is a subspecies of giant lion, weighing up to 300 kg or more. This is one of the most dangerous predators and strong during the last Ice Age in Europe, and there is evidence that he feared, and may be worshiped by prehistoric man. Many cave paintings and some sculptures have been found depicting the Lion Caves.

Interestingly, this suggests that it almost does not possess the lion's neck feathers, as in the modern tiger. This is confusing, some are also cave paintings showed the Lion Caves has faint stripes on the legs and tail. This has led some scientists to conclude that perhaps the real Lion Caves is more related to the Tigers.7. European Jaguar

Unlike the giant Jaguar, jaguar Panthera gombaszoegensis European or not of the same species as modern jaguar. Europe is the jaguars large predators, weighing up to 210 kg or more, and probably at the top of the food chain in Europe, 1.5 million years ago. Fossils have been found in Germany, France, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.
8. Giant Jaguar

Jaguar is now smaller stature compared to the lions or tigers, their average weight is usually 60-100 kg. But in prehistoric times, parts of North and South America is home to the giant Jaguar.

Still the same species as modern jaguar. He exceeds the size of a lion or tiger adult, and probably several times more powerful as well as with bite9. Xenosmilus

Xenosmilus fangs short, thick, but quite sharp. All teeth (not just canines) have serrated edge for cutting meat, and more like a shark or a carnivorous dinosaur teeth, the teeth than modern cats.

With a weight of 180-230 kg, Xenosmilus not strangle their prey like modern cats do, he just bite a big piece of flesh from the victim, and waiting for its prey bleed to death.10. Giant Cheetah

Giant Cheetah (Acinonyx pardinensis), derived from the same genus with our modern cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), and may seem very similar, but much larger. With a weight of 120-150 kg, he was able to prey on animals larger than her size.

But there is some debate whether he could run as fast as modern cheetah, because a greater weight, but according to some experts, Giant Cheetah has longer legs and heart and lungs larger, allows he was able to run as fast or even faster than a cheetah today's modern flight capability could reach more than 115 km / h.