Here you can see the origin of 10 very known good luck charms.
Maneki-Neko
Literally translated as “the beckoning cat,” a maneki-neko is a Japanese good luck charm in the form of a cat with its paw raised. Originating in Japan sometime between the 16th and 18th centuries, a maneki-neko is usually placed in shop windows or storefronts because it is said to bring business and prosperity. Many of them are also depicted with coins in their paws.
The classic mythical origin of the maneki-neko is that a downtrodden businessman happened upon a starving cat. Even though he had no money, he nursed it back to health, and his business picked up shortly after because the cat would sit in front of his store and wave at passers-by. Various superstitions arise when describing the elements. For example, when the left paw is raised, it usually means fortune is the purpose, and when the right paw is raised, it means health is what the owner is after.
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