Maneki Neko
Edo period there were some amusement towns for men called Yuukaku which consisted of many entertaining houses in Japanese style, and one of the most famous towns was Yosiwara in eastern part of Tokyo. Roughly speaking, there were two kinds of women worked there to companion guests, one was a hostess professionally trained in traditional music and dancing called Geisha, and the other was a prostitute called Yuujo. And the supreme hostess for the super rich classes especially trained in various arts was called by an honorific title of Tayuu.
In the mid-Edo period (18th century), there was Tayuu in Yosiwara who was called by the name of Usugumo. She was well known as a lover of cats, and kept her cat by her side all of the time.
One night, when she wanted to visit the toilet, her cat disturbed her pulling the hem of her skirt violently. Though she tired to chase it away, the cat did not stop the disturbance. Being terrified by its insistent action, Usugumo asked for help, and the owner of the house who rushed to her cut off the cats head by Japanese sword suspecting it was a goblin cat. Then the cat's head flew to the ceiling of the toilet, bit and killed the large snake which was aiming at Usugumo there. The cat sacrificed its life betting its life to save its master.
Usugumo mourned deeply over the mistake to kill her cat. To console her, one of her guests presented her the cats image in aromatic tree. The image of the loyal cat was the origin of Maneki Neko.
Edo period there were some amusement towns for men called Yuukaku which consisted of many entertaining houses in Japanese style, and one of the most famous towns was Yosiwara in eastern part of Tokyo. Roughly speaking, there were two kinds of women worked there to companion guests, one was a hostess professionally trained in traditional music and dancing called Geisha, and the other was a prostitute called Yuujo. And the supreme hostess for the super rich classes especially trained in various arts was called by an honorific title of Tayuu.
In the mid-Edo period (18th century), there was Tayuu in Yosiwara who was called by the name of Usugumo. She was well known as a lover of cats, and kept her cat by her side all of the time.
One night, when she wanted to visit the toilet, her cat disturbed her pulling the hem of her skirt violently. Though she tired to chase it away, the cat did not stop the disturbance. Being terrified by its insistent action, Usugumo asked for help, and the owner of the house who rushed to her cut off the cats head by Japanese sword suspecting it was a goblin cat. Then the cat's head flew to the ceiling of the toilet, bit and killed the large snake which was aiming at Usugumo there. The cat sacrificed its life betting its life to save its master.
Usugumo mourned deeply over the mistake to kill her cat. To console her, one of her guests presented her the cats image in aromatic tree. The image of the loyal cat was the origin of Maneki Neko.
I have this cat that visits me at crossing guard. hes too cute! Hes been jumping in my car lately. he he
Whoa, is this a true story or a legend? Was the cats intention of killing the snake the reason the head reflexed and killed the snake?
Bizarre! Great story!!!!!
[Edited on Sep 15, 2005 10:35AM]