Japanese Lucky Charm

The Japanese lucky charm: between tradition and modernity

Maneki Neko, Omamori and Daruma: if these terms are foreign to you, you would do well to take an interest in Japanese lucky charms.

Japan is a most amazing country. This nation is known for having managed to preserve its age-old traditions while opening the doors to modernity. If customs have been passed down to us, it is undoubtedly for a reason.

Our team agrees that... Voir plus

The Japanese lucky charm: between tradition and modernity

Maneki Neko, Omamori and Daruma: if these terms are foreign to you, you would do well to take an interest in Japanese lucky charms.

Japan is a most amazing country. This nation is known for having managed to preserve its age-old traditions while opening the doors to modernity. If customs have been passed down to us, it is undoubtedly for a reason.

Our team agrees that there is nothing that persists over time without being effective. In a country that experienced the rigor of the Shogun and samurai, having been able to preserve so many traditions (deities and spirits, traditional ceremonies, etc.) is a real achievement.

The subject that interests us the most, and therefore on which our expertise is the greatest, is that of lucky charms. We might as well tell you that with Japan, we had plenty to do.

From Maneki Neko to fans, and including the Daruma figurine, the Japanese lucky charm holds a central place in the lives of many Japanese people who have remained faithful to their origins.

The cultural roots of the Land of the Rising Sun are multiple. We could cite Shintoism, the influence of Buddhism. .. or even the Sea of ​​Japan, an essential element of Japanese civilization.

All things considered, there is only one thing for sure: the situation of geographical isolation that Japan has experienced has given it a strong and terribly independent culture. In fact, the essence of this civilization is quite simply unique, as are Japanese lucky charms.

Those that we offer you here also meet this criterion. They are original, and all have their own story. Each of these Japanese lucky charms are small parts of the history of this country that we want you to discover.

A rich culture with a thousand-year-old history

The first human beings to set foot in Japan, in fact passing from Asia to the Japanese archipelago via the then icy sea, did so more than 35,000 years ago. We might as well tell you that Japanese culture is not new.

Archaeologists and historians even place the first traces of pottery use there. It just goes to show that from the very beginning, Japanese civilization was very promising! (History later confirmed this).

From Japanese Antiquity to the present day, numerous regimes and dynasties have succeeded one another at the head of the country. We can notably cite the Kofuns, the Asuka, the Heian, the Edo period and finally the Meiji restoration.

Each of these families marked the culture of the country… and therefore the subject of the Japanese lucky charm!

In short, if there is one thing to remember about Japanese history, it is its interrupted nature. We can indeed trace a clear line of transmission between the first emperors and the one who, even today, symbolically reigns over the Japanese people. (Symbolically yes, because Japan is still a democracy with a parliament.)

So let's now take a look at some Japanese lucky charms, some objects and symbols known to bring luck and happiness to those who possess them.

The omamori, a truly iconic Japanese lucky charm!

Just about every shrine and temple in Japan sells omamori (in English, this would translate to something like “ sacred amulet of protection ”). In fact, the word "omamori" comes from another Japanese word, mamoru (meaning "to protect").

It is therefore an amulet, yes, but which has a little something more than those present in this collection.

If you are looking for the first example of these Japanese lucky amulets, you will undoubtedly arrive at the Jomon era, a period in Japan from 3000 to 1000 years BCE.. .. So here we are talking about very (but very) old Japanese lucky charms!

Concretely, an omamori is actually composed of a piece of paper containing prayers, symbols, kanji and other blessings placed in a small, brightly colored and richly decorated pouch.

Nowadays they are mainly prayers or sacred inscriptions in small

Historically, Japanese priests may have thought that putting blessings on paper would allow people to carry them with them at all times, thus creating effective and easy-to-carry good luck charms... Clever!

If you choose to acquire an omamori (which we highly recommend!), you should always have it with you. However, if it's too difficult and you can't do it, you can keep it at home in a clean and healthy place.

In any case, as we said, omamoji is a real institution in Japan. Each place of worship produces its own, each time bringing its own little touch, its little something extra that makes each lucky omamoji different.

Here are some Japanese lucky charms that lend themselves perfectly to collections of all kinds!

The daruma, a figurine that will grant your wishes

Darumas are small wooden lucky dolls produced in the Takasaki region of Gunma Prefecture.

They are an important part of New Year's traditions in Japan, their use having been ingrained in local folklore for centuries.

Quite round in appearance, Daruma dolls represent a sort of red, white and black man with the particularity of not having eyes... or rather of not having pupils.

This choice in design is linked to the legend of Bodhidharma, the legendary monk who brought Buddhism to Japan directly from China.

(Yes, the histories of China and Japan are certainly linked. Just look at these traditional Chinese lucky charms to be convinced!)

For the record, one day, Bodhidharma removed his eyes to punish himself for having broken a meditation lasting several decades.

In the end, whatever the reason, what interests us with all this is how this Japanese lucky charm works.

Concretely, when you receive a daruma, you must paint one of its eyes and make a wish. When your wish comes true, you can then paint the second one.

This way of doing things has a real advantage: you will be able to easily distinguish the working lucky dolls (those with two painted eyes) from the others.

Regardless, the daruma doll is now a real institution in Japan, with some even seeing it as the country's mascot.

Kokeshi dolls, other figurines for little ones

Kokeshi dolls are another model of wooden doll traditionally designed for children.

Very simple in their manufacture, these Japanese lucky charms are made of a large wooden stick for the body, above which is a ball to make the head. Really, a child could have imagined it.

Created in the Edo period, the original purpose of the kokeshi doll was to give workers something to do during the winter to keep them from getting bored. They could then cut these easy-to-make lucky figurines and offer them to the little ones in their family.

Over time, a more magical meaning has attached itself to kokeshi : nowadays, it is in fact said that it protects the little ones, bringing them health and preventing them from getting hurt when they play.

In certain regions of Japan, it is even said that kokeshi dolls are inhabited by benevolent mountain spirits who pass through them to watch over our children.

Some tales and legends tell how, by taking control of these Japanese lucky dolls, they fight demons and ward off curses.

Regardless, kokeshi today has a fantastical tinge, making it an ideal gift for anyone who wants to bring a little bit of authentic Japan into their lives.

The Maneki Neko, an adorable Japanese cat

The Maneki Neko, also known as the “fortune cat” or “lucky cat” in English, is undoubtedly the Japanese lucky charm that has conquered the world the most.

This is understandable: with its little paw that seems to beckon to us, it is undeniable that the Maneki Neko is fun, even downright adorable.

In Japanese, “Maneki” literally means “beckoning” while “Neko” translates to cat. So it’s quite easy to understand what this little figurine is!

However, all this does not tell us why this cat has become such a popular Japanese lucky charm.

In fact, the Maneki Neko is believed to bring luck and fortune to those who place it in their home. Restaurants, stores, businesses: many merchants choose to place a copy next to their cash register for its effects on the prosperity of their establishment.

If you think carefully, you have probably already seen Maneko Neko : most Asian restaurants have one somewhere in their dining room.

Okay, but in reality, why could a beckoning cat bring good luck?

The reason is simple.

According to legend, a merchant was one day caught in a terrible storm, the kind you only see a few times in your life. Passing near a tree, he wanted to find refuge there until the rain stopped.

It was then that he saw an astonishing cat pass by who seemed to be waving at him with its paw. Curious, the man followed the animal to a temple located nearby. When he went out once the good weather returned, he saw his tree charred, hit by thunder a few moments earlier.

Since that day, the Maneki Neko has been a very popular Japanese lucky charm.

Origami, folding with thousands of senses

We couldn't talk about Japanese lucky charms and miss out on origami.

The principle is to fold from a single sheet of paper, without any cutting, to form shapes and figures.

Origami is an art and a true institution in Japan, to the point that this practice has become one of the symbols of Japanese culture.

During the Japanese feudal period, origami was studied as a real science, in the same way as geometry or mathematics.

Historians believe that these little lucky folds appeared on the archipelago more or less at the same time as the invention of paper in China. However, the art of origami really became popular during the Edo period (17th, 18th and ^19th centuries in Japan).

When practiced according to the rules of the art, origami is a form of meditation that allows you to clear your mind, feel better energy and increase your levels of well-being.

If certain folds are considered lucky charms in Japan, this could well come from the state in which the practitioner is when they create them...

In short, today, millions of people around the world (of all ages and from all countries) practice this age-old art, benefiting from the many virtues of calming and relaxation that it brings them.

A little additional information: there is a famous legend in Japan which says that whoever folds a thousand paper cranes will see one of their wishes come true.

A thousand Japanese lucky charms to achieve yourself in exchange for a wish? The bet is tempting.

Omikuji, small thoughts to receive in temples

Quite similar to omamoji, omikuji are pieces of paper containing blessings… or sometimes even curses.

Yes, there is a huge element of chance in the tradition of omikuji. Concretely, you cannot know in advance whether you will come across a good or bad thought.

However, if you want to try the game, you will have to go to one of the many temples in Japan that offer omikuji.

Once there, you will pick a small piece of bamboo from a huge bag containing dozens of them. On the wood will be a number that corresponds to a locker.

Then open the locker and you will find your blessing (or your curse, are you following?).

In this sense, some compare omikuji to a kind of big lottery. It is in fact impossible for you to know in advance whether you will come across a Japanese lucky charm capable of changing your life or a powerful spell that could destroy it.

Don't worry, however: if you have fallen you can (against payment to the monks of the temple) abandon it in a box provided for this purpose. This tradition is therefore ultimately more fun than risky.

Conversely, the lucky omikuji will be taken home, where they will protect the lucky person who received it.

The ema, so that the gods grant our wishes

If you've ever visited a temple or sanctuary in the Japanese archipelago, you're already in luck.

Then, you must have seen ema.

We are talking about small wooden plaques marked with prayers, wishes or thoughts which decorate the walls of certain places of worship by the thousands.

Concretely, emas are Japanese lucky charms which allow these messages to be “carried to the four winds”, spreading throughout the world.

This funny idea comes from what is on the back of the ema. If you look closely, you will indeed see a horse there.

Considered in Japanese tradition as the vehicle of the gods, the presence of this animal allows the essence of the tablet (basically, the words written on it) to spread and beautify the world.

In general, visitors make these lucky charms the vector of their desires, asking for love, health or success.

The carp, a lucky charm between kite and Japanese national fish

In Japan, the carp is a great symbol of luck and success, particularly associated with perseverance and self-sacrifice in the face of adversity.

Truly, the values ​​carried by this lucky charm are among the most beautiful.

According to Japanese legend, if a koi carp manages to swim up the rivers until it reaches a place called "the Dragon Gate", it can then transform into a dragon.

It is undoubtedly this story which made the Japanese carp the symbol of perseverance that we know today.

Originally from China, this often brightly colored fish arrived in Japan and Korea a few centuries ago. However, it was under the influence of emperors, shoguns and other leaders that their culture took off, with owning koi being seen as a sign of wealth.

If you ever have the chance to visit Japan on Children's Day (one of the most emblematic holidays in the country), you will see strange Japanese lucky kites in the shape of carp floating a everywhere.

Known as " koinobori ", these toys are actually hung in streets and gardens to attract luck and blessings to boys in families.

Other Japanese lucky animals

Japan is a country with an extremely rich culture, and describing the symbolic meaning of each animal found there would take months (at least). We will still focus here on the best known.

The Japanese consider butterflies to be the bearers of the souls of the dead. When a butterfly flies into the sky, it is a symbol of joy and the lightness of life.

Frogs, too, are considered lucky animals in much of Japan. Concretely, farmers associated them with rain, fertility and fecundity. This undoubtedly comes from the impressive number of eggs (1000 to 2000) that their females lay.

In Japanese, the word “frog” is “kaeru”, which is pronounced the same way as the word “flip”. Thus, the frog has also become a Japanese lucky charm linked to returns (of loved ones, success, prosperity, etc.).

The raccoon dog (an animal close to the raccoon) is known to be a particularly mischievous and amusing species, but also to master the art of discretion and disguise to perfection.

There is also a Japanese deity with the features of a raccoon dog, the Tanuki, who can color our destiny with luck and happiness if the heart tells him to do so.

The last iconic Japanese animal, the crane is a symbol of happiness and life throughout Asia.

In Japan, the crane (then called tanchozuru) is also associated with longevity, undoubtedly because of a legend which says that this impressive bird can live for a thousand years.

Otherwise let's think carefully, each of these animals has its place in a very particular spirituality: Japanese Zen.

So, is the track launched? It's up to you to do with it what you want.

The Gods of Luck in Shinto Tradition

Another major element of Japanese culture is the impressive amount of deities they worship.

Through the Shinto religion, they in fact follow a kind of animism where many places or objects in nature (such as mountains, rivers or valleys) have a soul associated with a spirit, with a kind of god.

As such, there are many (probably hundreds) Japanese gods of luck.

The main one, however, remains the Fukusuke, a legendary creature that can be found absolutely everywhere in Japan.

With his childish features, gruff face and disproportionately large ears, Fukusuke's name literally translates to “ lucky man ”… and that pretty much describes what he is!

Sold in the form of small lucky figurines throughout Japan, this god can be found in millions of businesses and homes.

The Shichifukujin form a more eclectic group of seven Japanese deities.

According to legend, they group together on New Year's Eve to travel together on their Takarabune (treasure ship), bringing luck, happiness and prosperity wherever they go.

These seven Japanese lucky deities are very different from each other, each being linked to one of the seven “Buddhist treasures”.

One of these seven Shichifukujin is still more associated with luck than the others. This is Daikokuten, also known as Daikoku.

Symbol of wealth and prosperity (especially for the agricultural world), Daikoku is one of the most revered gods in the Japanese countryside.

There is no shortage of stories in which he appears, helping a merchant make the deal of his life, or telling a farmer where to plant to obtain miraculous harvests.