Animal symbolism of shrines and temples in Japan

Anyone who spent enough time in the country knows that Japan loves animals. From animal cafes (which are not exactly nice) to Nara Prefecture’s pushy deer taking over the sidewalk, the nation’s love of animals is everywhere—especially at shrines and temples.

Our furry friends play a big part in Japan’s religion and myths. There are thousands of temples and shrines dedicated to our favorite animals and temples dedicated to cats, dogs, rabbits—even frogs and crabs.

The lucky cats of Gotokuji

Take, for example, the internet’s favorite animal: the neko (cat). As any owner will tell you, cats love jumping and catching things with their paws—a trait emphasized at Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo.

The temple popularized the famous maneki neko, a porcelain cat statue with a raised paw to catch any passing luck in its furry grasp. Today, the “good-luck cat” statute is a familiar image associated with Japan.

The temple’s story says, once upon a time, during a storm, a cat raised its paw and beckoned passing samurai to shelter inside the temple to escape the downpour of rain. The samurai were impressed by the temple’s beauty and decided to support it financially.

These days, it is rare to see a shop in Japan that doesn’t have a lucky-cay figure in its window, ready to catch any passing fortune.

Fertility and fortune

Click here to read more.

• External Link
• https://gaijinpot.com/

© GaijinPot