There is a temple named Daikeizan Gōtoku-ji, which is a Buddhist temple situated in the Gōtokuji district of Setagaya ward in Japan's Tokyo. It is a Soto Zen temple and was the Bodai-ji or bodhi temple of the Ii clan.
Today, one can see hundreds of lucky cat figures on display around a statue of Kannon. (Photo credit: Unsplash)
New Delhi: Along with dogs, cats have been arguably the most domesticated animals in the history of human civilisation, animals which we have kept as pets. Cats are intelligent, gentle and caring, and tend to be great companions. There is a popular light-hearted notion that it is the cats that own us, not the other way round. In Japan, there is even a temple which is dedicated to the cats. Surprised? Yes, this is a true fact. In this article, we will inform you more about this unique temple in the country.
What is the temple dedicated to cats in Japan?
There is a temple named Daikeizan Gōtoku-ji, which is a Buddhist temple situated in the Gōtokuji district of Setagaya ward in Japan’s Tokyo. It is a Soto Zen temple and was the Bodai-ji or bodhi temple of the Ii clan who were lords of the Hikone Domain in the Edo period. Despite being near the big city, the temple stands in peace surrounded by lush greens.
The Hikone clan came to control the Setagaya area in 1633, but the “Kotokuin” of the li clan was built in 1480 as a bodhi temple. In 1659, the name of the temple was changed in honour of the second lord, Naotaka Ii, and to date, the temple preserves the style of a typical feudal lord cemetery of the Edo era, which marks one of the largest national historical sites in the area. The area has several tombs of successive feudal lords of the Ii clan and their wives, including the grave of Ii Naosuke.
However, the temple is famous in Japan as it is considered to be the place of origin of the Maneki-neko. It is the ‘beckoning cat’ figurine that is believed to bring people success and good fortune if a person keeps it in the bedroom or place of study.
According to legends, in the early 17th century, the second lord of the Omi-Hikone Domain Ii Naotaka found himself in a perilous situation during a sudden thunderstorm. But much to his relief, a cat who lived with a priest at Gotokuji Temple led him to safety by beckoning the lord and his servants inside with a waving gesture, which gave birth to the legends of Maneki-neko. Naotaka repaid his gratitude to the cat by dedicating the temple to the Ii clan. After his death, the temple was renamed Gotokuji. Today, one can see hundreds of lucky cat figures on display around a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. There are several cats in the temple premise, while cat-related art lines the streets surrounding the temple.
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