Maneki-Neko waving cat statues at the Gotokuji Temple in the Setagaya district of Tokyo in Japan. According to legend, this temple is the birthplace o

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Maneki-Neko waving cat statues at the Gotokuji Temple in the Setagaya district of Tokyo in Japan. According to legend, this temple is the birthplace of the lucky Maneki-Neko waving cat. During the Edo period, a feudal lord was travelling in the area when a thunderstorm hit. Apparently, a cat that was looked after by a priest at the temple saw the lord and beckoned him and his servants inside the temple with a waving gesture. The lord entered and received the hospitality of the priest while the storm raged outside. In thanks, the lord donated food to the temple and chose it as the cemetery for his family which secured the future of the temple. In recognition of the cat's services, hundreds of statues of the Maneki-Neko are arranged outside the temple and centred on a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Whether the story is true or not, the cats are very cute and look very striking gathered together,

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Size: 6035px × 4023px
Location: Gotokuji Temple, Tokyo, Japan
Photo credit: © Paul Brown / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animals, cat, cats, collection, collections, crowd, crowded, crowds, figures, gotokuji, group, japan, lots, maneki, masses, neko, obsession, statue, statues, temple, tokyo