Information, Resources and Articles;
The legend of the Maneki Neko Lucky Cat
Maneki Neko is Japanese for “Beckoning Cat” with a raised paw to gesture; “Please come in you are welcome”. The cat is usually depicted as a Japanese bobcat.
As with most legends there are many versions that have evolved over time and I like this version especially of how the Maneki Neko;
In 17th century Tokyo, there was priest who looked after a poverty stricken temple. The priest though poor and hungry was still kind and looked after his pet cat, Tama. The priest shared what little food he had with Tama.
However the priest’s situation was becoming worse as the temple was becoming more dilapidated and there was a terrible storm approaching. Tama the cat sat on the temple’s porch while the storm broke. Near by stood a wealthy important noble man, who was trying to shelter from the lashing rain. The noble noticed the cat and was startled to see the cat waving to him. He went to investigate the beckoning cat. As he approached the temple a bolt of lighting descended from the black clouds and hit the tree he had been sheltering under.
The noble man’s life had been saved and so the noble man became friends with the priest and his cat Tama. The temple became prosperous and the priest and his cat never went hungry again.
After living a long and happy life the priest buried Tama in the temple’s cat cemetery and to show his love and respect the Maneki Neko was made in Tama’s honour.
From that time on it is customary to have a Maneki Neko in your place of business or home to bring visitors and good luck.
Colour schemes for your Maneki Neko Lucky Cats;
Calico Cat/tri colour - traditionally the luckiest cat of all.
White Cat - promotes good health in the home
Black Cat - wards off evil from the premises
Golden Cat - encourages intense wealth and prosperity.
Yellow cat - promotes prosperity
Red Cat - brings prosperity for business
Pink Cat – for love, relationships and romance.
Purple cat - a modern colour and is linked closely with pink for love and romance
Green Cat – for health & success in education
Symbols that go with your Maneki Neko Lucky Cats;
Crystal balls - this can represent wealth and wisdom as crystal balls are used by psychics to see into the future. These are found on the more modern cats and have been added for their decorative value as crystals are becoming more popular in Feng Shui.
Daikon - a giant white radish used in Japanese culinary dishes. The radish, a big perfect vegetable represents bounty and good fortune. This symbol is still quite an unusual decorative item for Maneki Neko cats.
Daruma - the Japanese name for Bodhidharma who brought Zen Buddhism to china from India. Daruma is considered to be lucky.
Koban - is a gold coin used in the Edo period in Japan. The Koban was worth one ryo or approximately 1000 Japanese dollars in the early Japanese monetary system. Now, modern Maneki Neko cats, to keep up with inflation today, hold Kobans representing 10 million Ryo.
Ema - are prayer tablets. These are written by people as messages of gratitude or to convey their inner wishes. The tablets are then placed on shrines.
Carp fish - representing abundance of wealth and good fortune. The carp is associated with strength, courage and determination. The symbol could be added to by gold coins falling from the fishes mouth to add to the abundance.
Hyotan - a hollow dried gourd. This is a symbol of good luck and protection. Traditionally the Japanese used the gourd for storing sake and other beverages.
Gold ingots - these are of Chinese origin and as they are boat shaped and represented an easy journey to wealth and prosperity.
Uchide Nokozuchi - a magic money mallet which brings good luck to anyone who shakes it. This is normally seen in the hands of the money god Daikou Mantra, the god of wealth and farmers.
It is considered that a cat with the right paw raised brings prosperity, while a cat with the left paw raised invites people and happiness into your business and life.
Moreover; the higher and bigger the paw the better.
Cast iron tea pots
If you are lucky enough to be the proud owner of a range style cooker then it could soon be home to one of many cast iron tea pots that come as part of a splendid selection. The cast iron tea pots look cultured within culinary areas and they’ll make welcome additions to many range cookers. Many of the cast iron tea pots come in the Japanese Tetsubin styles and are delightful to look at and are capable of adding charm to your kitchen.
Originally, cast iron tea pots were used predominantly in China but in the 17th century the Japanese started to use them. They transformed what was once just a functional item and gave it an exquisite exterior which can enliven its surroundings.
You might be reluctant to use one of the cast iron tea pots for fear of causing it damage but they are extremely hard wearing and are capable of boiling water on a daily basis. Boil water in one of the cast iron tea pots and when you drink a cup of tea you’ll appreciate the taste even more than you usually do.
The ranges of cast iron tea pots make striking features when placed on range cookers and they are certainly more pleasing to look at then mass produced kettles.
There is something special about tea that has been made in the cast iron tea pots as it certainly is more refreshing than your usual brew. Use one of the cast iron tea pots to make your morning cuppa and you can sit and reflect whilst being refreshed by the perfect cup of tea.
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Your cast iron teapot & kettle
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Cast iron teapots were originally created in ancient china. They were then adopted and developed by the Japanese in the 17th century into practical as well as decorative handicraft items sold under the name of “Tetsubin". The cast iron teapots & kettles symbolise the everlasting strength and unity of the world and the more intricate are often given as gifts and kept as status symbols.
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Kettles;
The more traditional handmade Japanese cast iron kettles are normally bigger than the teapots and are not enamelled on the inside. These units are made based on the old tradition of boiling water separately in a Tetsubin and pouring the water onto tealeaves in a separate teapot. These units therefore made from cast iron and do not come with a strainer as this is a later adaptation to western customs.
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Teapots;
Through special treatments, impurities are removed from the cast iron during the production process. A coating of misty black enamel is then applied to help prevent the formation of rust. Due to their strength of construction these teapots may be used as kettles (to boil water) or as tea pots (to brew tea). Most sizes come with a stainless steel mesh infuser for brewing loose tea. If using the pot to boil water this infuser should be removed before doing so.
Instructions for use:
- Before using, boil a pot of water and pour it out to prepare the pot for use.
- Then, boil water with a cup of green tea to allow the tannins to clean and protect the inside of the pot.
- You may also want to wipe the outside with a damp cloth soaked in green tea.
- After each use, make sure that the pot is clean and dry to prevent the formation of rust.
- If water is left in the pot, chemicals from the minerals in the water may eventually erode the enamel coating.
- Tea should not be left in the pot overnight.
- In the unlikely event of rust, the pot can still be used. After cleaning the area with a soft brush, boil used teabags or tealeaves in the pot for 15 minutes. The tannic acid from the tea will react naturally with the iron producing a coating over the area.
- Store your pot in a cool, dry place or put it on display.
These cast iron teapots and kettles have a flat base suitable for Range style Cookers.
Enjoy a tranquil moment…
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Japanese sake sets
The culture and wisdom of the orient has begun to influence the Western World and we now benefit by having many Japanese and Chinese inspired products within our society. One such oriental product that western folk enjoy is sake or rice wine that’s been produced in Japan.
At one time sake was the primary alcoholic drink in Japan but the introduction of other types of wines, spirits and beers gradually saw to a decline in the consumption of sake in that country. However, sake has become more popular in western society over recent years and more and more homes now enjoy a cup or two of the beverage.
To best enjoy sake it’s worth investing in Japanese sake sets so you can fully appreciate the experience of drinking the wine.
Typically, Japanese sake sets consist of a sake jug that’s accompanied by a number of cups. You can buy Japanese sake sets that come with just two cups which are ideal for intimate evenings, or other types of sets that come with four cups for when you are entertaining friends. The delightful designs on the Japanese sake sets are beautiful to behold and when they aren’t being used they’ll make fine features in your home.
Why not invest in a little piece of the orient and purchase Japanese sake sets to enjoy wonderful wine from?
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Japanese and Chinese white and green teas
We are well renowned for being a nation that likes a nice drop of tea but that doesn’t mean to say we sample all types of tea on a daily basis. We might like our tea but the majority of us opt for tea that comes in bags direct from the supermarket shelves. This is a shame because there’s a World of teas out there just waiting to treat our taste buds to a drinking sensation of the highest order. Take Japanese and Chinese white and greens teas for instance.
The refreshing varieties of Japanese and Chinese white and green teas not only make a nice cuppa, they are good for our bodies too. In fact, it has been claimed that by drinking Japanese and Chinese white and green teas our digestive system can be much healthier.
Years ago it was quite difficult to obtain varieties of Japanese and Chinese white and green teas but in our modern society and with the advent of the World wide-web it now is a simple process. Moreover, there are suppliers to be found on the internet who have plenty of the Japanese and Chinese white and green teas in stock so customers can always have plenty of these products in their kitchens.
The varieties of the Japanese and Chinese white and green teas vary in composition while they all benefit by having antioxidant agencies. For anyone who likes a refreshing cup of tea but would like to switch to more healthy varieties, ranges of Japanese and Chinese white and green teas can make splendid alternatives.
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