Well this time my #ThroughbackThursday is to see the beckoning cat again.
I'd like to pick several beckoning cats of Imado Shrine, which is located in Imado, on the outskirts of Asakusa, a tourist spot in present-day Tokyo.
Let's start with those on the left.
The left one is holding a magic mallet of luck in the left pow and raising the right pow.
The magic mallet is a lucky item that can retrieve anything, even money, similar to the Greek myth of cornucopia. On its belly is the Chinese character "金運来福 " (Kin-Un-Raifuku). It says "Money luck" in English. It has almost same meaning as the right pow up by Sumiyoshi Taisha.
The one in the middle shows joy with a banzai in both pows. On it's belly you would read in Chinese characters "満願成就 " (Mangann-Jyohjyu).
The right one is holding a sea bream with its right pow and raising its left pow. Sea bream is said to be a lucky fish in Japan. On its belly is the Chinese character "千客万来" (Senkyaku-Banrai). It has almost same meaning as the left pow up by Sumiyoshi Taisha.
Don't you think that even their butts are somehow popped?
There are other types of lucky charms that go banzai at both pows.The variation seen on the left has "Shofuku" written on its belly in Japanese hiragana. The meaning in English would be Good Luck.
Those little ceramic statues are less than an inch long, but they are cute.
In the system of beckoning cats at Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine, when a wish is fulfilled, the statue becomes one size larger, but the one at Imado Shrine remains small and expresses joy with a banzai with both pow. Ever since the time of the shogunate, there has been an easy-going, casual way of thinking in Edo Tokyo.
The beckoning cat's modeling has a friendly smile and a human expression. It is produced by copy-exactly by means of a mold. Its modeling and coloring do not have the handmade feel of those of Sumiyoshi Shrine, but it has a precise and clear finish. It shows the will of a ceramic company that is trying to make better products.
The one at Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine and the one at Imado Shrine are CURIOUS THING’s to me.
Three beckoning cats side by side. From left to right, these beckoning cats are from Imado Shrine, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, and Gotokuji Temple, a Buddhist temple. The smallest one from Imado Shrine is Pop. The one from Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and the one from Gotokuji Temple are more formal and traditional.
The beckoning cat may have its roots in China, but in Japan, Gotokuji Temple or the Imado area of Asakusa are said to be the roots of the beckoning cat. The beckoning cat of Sumiyoshi Taisha, which I showed in my first blog, is seen to have been established a little later. The beckoning cat was probably created around the 17th century. When the Edo shogunate was established, many potters were gathered in Edo ( now Tokyo ). It was the beginning that the potters created a cute cat as a casual lucky charm.
Asakusa in the 21st century is also a tourist destination in Japan, and Asakusa in the 17th century was also a bustling downtown area. It is said that it was created as a lucky charm that ordinary people could easily buy. I don't know if my beckoning cats were made by the descendants of potters who have lived in Imado since the 17th century.
I visited Imado Shrine a few years ago. Let me show you the snapshots from that time as well.
This shrine also has a stone statue of the beckoning cats. Someone who likes pranks offers a can of cat food in front of the cat statues. Please don't play the same pranks.
Although there is a small shrine, many ordinary people visit there on January 1st of the new year.
Imado Shrine also has some antique beckoning cats.
If you are sightseeing in Asakusa, Imado Shrine is the great to visit within walking distance. Walking west from Imado Shrine, you can stroll along the Sumida River sidewalk and see the famous Sky Tree.
I will write a blog about the beckoning cat of Gotokuji Temple soon.
Thank you for coming to my blog.
