Thursday, August 11, 2011

Goutokuji - The Maneki Neko Legend

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko
The Maneki Neko ( 招き猫 = The Beckoning Cat ) is a Japanese cat sculpture, usually made of ceramic, which is believed to bring good fortune and wealth. If you come to Japan, you will be able to see Maneki Neko in shops, restaurants, pachinko, banks, offices, houses, etc. The Maneki Neko is also one of the famous souvenirs from Japan. You could also found Maneki Neko as piggy banks, keychains, straps, and other miscellaneous ornaments.

招き猫は日本の猫の彫刻です。招き猫は福を招くとして商家、銀行、事務所などで飾る縁起物です。招き猫は有名な日本のお土産です。彫刻だけでわなくて招き猫の貯金箱、キーホルダー、ストラップなどもある。

There are many stories regarding the origin of Maneki Neko. The three famous legends are the Goutokuji, Imado, and Yoshiwara.

招き猫の由来はいくつ説があるけど豪徳寺と今戸神社と吉原説が一番有名です。

Maneki Neko District
Goutokuji Maneki Neko district
豪徳寺の招き猫街

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko At the beginning of Edo period, there was a rundown temple in Setagaya. One day, a Japanese lord named Naotaka Ii ( 井伊直孝 1590 ~ 1659 ) was getting home from hunting hawk. He was walking in front of the temple when he noticed a white cat beckoning to him from inside the temple. Tempted by the cat's gesture, he followed the cat. As soon as he approached the cat, there was a sudden heavy rainfall and the place he stand before was struck by lighting. His life was saved by the white cat. The cat's name was Tama, and Tama was the temple priest's cat.

江戸時代、世田谷に祖末寺があった。ある時、彦根藩第二代 藩主・井伊直孝 (1590 ~ 1659) が鷹狩りの帰りに豪徳寺の前にさしかかった。そのときこ白い猫が門前で手招きするような仕草をしていた。つれて入ると、にわかに雷雨が降りはじめた。前の直孝がいた場所に雷が落ちた。猫が直孝を助けてくれたのだ。その白い猫の名前はタマです。タマの飼い主はその寺の和尚です。

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko
Naotaka Ii became closed to the priest of the temple. The temple became Ii's family temple and the temple was named Goutokuji ( 豪徳寺 ). The temple became prosperous.

直孝は和尚と仲良くになって、後日荒れていた寺を建て直すために多額の寄進をし、豪徳寺は盛り返したという。この縁でこの寺は井伊家の菩提寺となって豪徳寺と言われている。

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko
After it's death, Tama was buried at Goutokuji and the first Maneki Neko was made to honor Tama.
タマが死んだとき、豪徳寺に墓を建てて弔った。そして、世界一番目の招き猫が作られたという。

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko
There is another version of the story which tells that Naotaka Ii was standing under the tree when a cat beckoned at him. When Naotaka was approaching the cat, the tree was struck by lighting. Feeling grateful, Naotaka gave a lot of donation to the temple.

また、豪徳寺に別の説がある。直孝が豪徳寺の一本の木の下で雨宿りをしていたところ、猫が手招きをしていた。直孝がその猫に近づいたところ、先ほど雨宿りをしていた木に雷が落ちた。それを避けられたことを感謝し、直孝は豪徳寺に多くの寄進をしたというものである。

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko
Tama !
タマ!

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko
Goutokuji - Maneki Neko

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko
29 September is Maneki Neko's day. At this day, Maneki Neko festival will be held at various place such as Mie Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, and Nagasaki Prefecture.

9月29日は「招き猫の日」に制定されている。この日の前後の土日を中心に、三重県伊勢市、愛知県瀬戸市、長崎県島原市などで来る福招き猫まつりが開催されている。

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko

Goutokuji - Maneki Neko

2 comments:

kodomut said...

I wanna bring a kitty home!

Teddy said...

@こ: You can buy the kitty there. :D

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