Origins of the Lucky Cat: A Fascinating Tale

The Lucky Cat

It is said that in the Gotokuji Temple, located in the city of Setagaya, there was once a place where a temple was so impoverished that it was on the brink of starvation. Yet, even in such dire straits, the cats of the area were never left without food.

One day, as a cat went about its daily wanderings, it encountered a group of samurai who were equally charming and adorable. The cat led the samurai to the temple, and just as they arrived, a torrential downpour began. The samurai, impressed by the cat's mystical aura, decided to stay and study Buddhism with the monks until the rain cleared. Eventually, one samurai was so moved by the experience that he decided to become a monk and even donated a substantial sum of money. Thus, the legend of the lucky cat was born.

So, it's believed that placing a lucky cat figure in a restaurant brings good fortune. Whether it's truly effective, I'm not sure, but it's certainly a charming tradition that starts with taking care of the cats first.

The Siamese Cat

Oh, the Siamese cat, often humorously referred to by cat owners as "a coal miner for 30 years," is actually of noble royal lineage.

According to legend, there was an ancient temple in Thailand that housed a sacred chalice guarded by a pair of cats. The cat wife would only leave the temple for one day during her pregnancy. However, a mischievous spirit took advantage of this moment to steal the chalice, claiming it was a test for the kingdom. Only the most noble and pure of life could retrieve it, and all attempts by the kingdom's representatives failed due to their flaws.

The Siamese cat couple then embarked on a mission to retrieve the chalice. To prevent it from being defiled, the cat wife used her tail to cradle the chalice. She held it until her husband returned, only to discover that he had become a father while he was away. The cat wife had become pregnant while he was out, and the kitten's tail was also curly. Thus, they became the royal cats of the palace, and their tails remained curled ever since.

It's actually a genetic defect from inbreeding that causes Siamese cats to have curly tails. Since the cats were kept in the palace and bred inbreedly, it's no surprise that such a situation would arise. This legend, therefore, is worth pondering.

Many legends are born from the beautiful wishes of the people, and some are simply marketing strategies. Perhaps in the future, as the value of other cats increases, new legends will be created accordingly.