Nikko Toshogu Shrine, as a "zoo"（18）

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Sleeping Cat

The famous "Sleeping Cat" can be seen at the Sakashitamon gate, the entrance to the approach leading to the Okusha Shrine.
It is said that it was made by Hidari Jingoro, but is it true? Since the character of Hidari Jingoro has a strong legendary element to begin with, well, isn't there a high possibility that it is an "afterthought"?
Since it is very small, people who see it for the first time may say, "What? It is tiny and plain."
Incidentally, until the Edo period (1603-1867), only the shogun and his relatives were allowed to pass through this place, the Sakashimon Gate. In other words, even lords other than the Shogun could not enter beyond this point, and it is interesting to note that above the gate is not a dragon or a lion, but a small cat.
I have included both 2013 and 2017 photos of this as well.
2017年の訪問時点では、眠り猫のみが先に修復完成となっていて、周囲の彫刻がひび割れたまま、ネコだけがピカピカになった状態でした。
神厩舎の猿同様、この眠り猫の修復も「修復後、薄目を開けている」という声が上がり、再修復したそうです。写真は「再修復」後のものです。 At the time of our visit in 2017, only the sleeping cat had been restored to completion first, leaving the surrounding sculptures cracked and only the cat shiny.
The restoration of this sleeping cat was restored after some visitors voiced their concern that the cat's eyes were dimly open after the restoration. The photo shows it after the "restoration".

2013, before restoration



2017, after fter restoration by having the "thin eyes" closed again.




The sparrows on the back side had not yet been restored.



Other carvings are still peeling. They should be restored soon.



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