Tama, the Original Maneki Neko

In the 17th century, at the beginning of Edo period, there was a rundown temple in Setagaya, in the western part of Tokyo. 

The priest of the temple kept a pet cat, whose name was Tama.  Though the priest was very poor, he always made sure that Tama had something to eat.

One day, Naotaka Ii who was the lord of Hikone district, was riding home from a hunt when he was caught in a sudden rain  shower.  He sought shelter beneath a big tree in front of the temple.

While he stood beneath the tree, Naotaka noticed that the cat seemed to be inviting him into the temple.

The tree was not offering all that much in the way of shelter, so Naotaka hurried from beneath the branches to the temple gates.

No sooner had he left the tree than the tree was struck by lightning.  Naotaka's life had been saved by the cat, who was, of course, Tama.

After his near-brush with death, Naotaka and the temple priest grew close.  Naotaka chose the temple to be the family temple for the Ii family, and its name was changed to Goutokuji.  Goutokuji became prosperous. So Tama not only saved Naotaka Ii; he saved the temple.


After his death, Tama was buried at Goutokuji's cat cemetery and Maneki Nekos were invented to honor Tama.

There are different kinds of Maneki Nekos. It is said that one with the left paw raised invites customers to a  place of business.  One with the right paw raised invites good fortune.  Both paws, logically, invite both.

Maneki neko charms and earrings can be found here.

Return of the Betsy Ross Cats

I'm sure you've heard the story of Betsy Ross and how she sewed the first American flag.  Betsy Ross didn't have the easiest life, by the way.  She was disowned by the Quakers.  Her first husband died in an explosion at the munitions depot he was guarding, her second died in a British prison, and her third was sick for many years. She had seven daughters, two of whom died in infancy.  Throughout it all, she maintained a struggling upholstery business.  What choice did she have?

One day, in May of 1776, three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress appeared on her doorstep:  George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross.  She was already acquainted with Washington, who sat in the pew beside hers in church.   In fact, she had done some sewing work for him in the past.  And she knew Ross because she had married his nephew, who was now deceased.

Washington showed Betsy Ross a rough design for the flag they had in mind, which included a six pointed star.  Betsy, who was no slouch with a pair of scissors, showed the men how to cut out a star.  They were impressed enough to entrust her with making the first US flag.

What you probably didn't  know was that Betsy had help.  Feline help.

Sewing a flag by hand is a lot of work.  If you don't believe me, try cutting out a five-pointed star and sewing a star onto your jeans.  Just one.  Go ahead.  Try.  See what I mean?

And Betsy didn't have much time.  She was on a serious deadline.

That's when the Betsy Ross cats stepped in to help.

Each night while Betsy slept, the cats worked.  (You wondered what cats did during the night, didn't you?  It's not all mice and lizards, apparently.)  Using their claws, they made all the itty bitty holes Betsy needed for sewing.

They made puncture holes in the stars and the stripes, and the field of blue where the stars would be placed.  

When Betsy needed to sketch out part of the flag, she used their fallen whiskers to make a brush.  (Cat whiskers, by the way, make superb paint brushes, but it's best to check with your cat first.)

Some of the kitties even gave whiskers to be used for the actual stitching.  And with the cats' help, Betsy completed the flag on time.  In the picture, you can see George Washington eyeing a tuft of cat hair on the flag.  Betsy pretended that she had no idea how it got there.

The cats later crossed the ocean to assist in making the post French revolution flag.  They and their ancestors have been instrumental in making flags for many other countries, including Cambodia, Costa Rica, Australia, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Iceland, Laos, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Panama, Russia, Samoa, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Thailand, and even Britain's Union Jack.  (But don't tell Betsy.)

They are commemorated here ~ the unsung (or unmeowed) heroes and heroines behind the flag.

Yet Another Maneki Neko Tale

Maneki nekos, the legendary good fortune cats, are thought to bring good luck in many forms.  A maneki neko with the right paw raised is said to bring wealth;



one with the left paw raised brings business.



White nekos protect good luck...






and black nekos protect against evil.



In earlier posts, I have told the tale of how the Maneki Nekos saved Santa's elves,



how a maneki neko named Tama saved an Edo monastery,



and how a maneki neko saved a Lady of the Night.



So today's maneki neko tale tells an earlier story ~ that of Jisho-in, a Tokyo area temple



which was founded by Kukai (Kobo-Daishi, 774-835), the priest who created the hirigana script.



According to documents that are still preserved at the temple, long ago, during the mid-16th century there was an  fight between two individuals: Toshima, who belonged to the ruling family of the area, and Ōta Dōkan (太田 道灌).  Ōta was a Japanese samurai warrior-poet, a military tactician and Buddhist monk.



Ōta and Toshima fought with all their strength and cunning, until both were close to collapse from exhaustion.  Finally, Ōta could handle no more.  The world started to spin and he could not focus his eyes.  He knew that his minutes were numbered, and he was about to go down in defeat.

He stumbled backward, tripping over a black cat ...



...who had been watching the fight unobserved.  Toshima, thinking he had triumphed, staggered off, barely coherent enough to savor his victory.

But Ōta was not dead.  The black cat led him back to the temple, and there nursed him back to health.  Each day Ota regained more and more of his strength until he was once again strong and fit.

When he knew he was once again a worthy opponent, Ōta took on Toshima once again.  This time he defeated Toshima.

Out of gratitude for the black cat which saved his life, Ōta ordered that a jizo (A Buddhist saint) be fashioned in the shape of a cat.



The statue is known as neko-men jizo or jizo with a cat face ~ the maneki neko ~



~and has been a symbol for many good things ever since.

Maneki nekos here.

Kitty's List for Santa

Dear Santa,



I have been a good cat this year.  I only torment the dog when he deserves it.  I always fluff the roll of toilet paper in the morning.  And I always go close to the litter box when I have to go.  Please bring me:



a bale of catnip (preferably organic)
three mousies to chase
five dead mousies to leave on pillows
gift certificate for a sushi meal
a case of cat food in little cans with only the gravy and none of that yucky stuff underneath
a brown paper shopping bag (life hasn't been the same since we went to reusable bags)
a dog's tail, without the dog attached
a bowl shaped like a toilet for my drinking water



I promise to leave you a bowl of milk and some liver treats when you come.

Love,

Fluffy Muffin



Fluffy Muffin's bracelet can be found here.

Those Autumn Leaves... and Kitties...

(Apologies to Johnny Mercer)



The falling leaves drift by the kitty,



Those autumn leaves of red and gold.



The trees are bare, the winds blow chill

The birds secure, and acting bold.



So the birds sashay and sing their song



But are they safe?  Cat says they're wrong.



For the leaves that hid the nests are gone

And now it's kitty's autumn song.



Cats who pretend to be napping while watching birds are here.

Another Maneki Neko Tale

There are many legends surrounding maneki nekos, the beckoning cats.  It is said that a maneki neko with his right paw raised brings fortune and one with the left paw raised brings business.  Or perhaps they just bring luck, as in this tale.








Long ago, in 18th century Japan, in a house of ill repute in Yohsiwara, there lived a lady of the night  known as Usugumo.



Yoshiwara was the red-light district of Edo, which is now Tokyo. 





Usugumo was very popular and charming, and she loved cats.  There were always plenty of cats wandering the premises, which is perhaps why it was called a cat house. 




One cat was her favorite, and it never left her side, much like Dr. Claw and MAD Cat.



One night,  as Usugumo prepared to meet her guests, the cat began to tug at her kimomo.  Usugumo tried to shoo the cat away but the cat insisted, and kept tugging.  In fact, the cat was tugging so hard that the silk of the kimono was shredding.  It was Usugumo's favorite kimono, and she was none too pleased with the cat's behavior.





It became clear that there was no way Usugumo could remove the cat without shredding her kimono, and finally she called out to the house madam for help.





The Madam rushed in and, believing the cat to be possessed by an evil spirit, grabbed the cat and hurled it across the room... along with a good size piece of the kimono.




The cat flew through the air and up to the ceiling... where it bit and killed a deadly snake poised above, ready to attack Usugumo.




At last Usugumo understood why the cat had been tugging at her.  The Madam, thankful for the cat's bravery, had a likeness carved from wood.  And this carving became known as Maneki Neko ~ the beckoning cat.



Maneki nekos to protect you... from deadly snakes and anything else that comes your way.