Gotoku neko - [Yokai]

Gotoku neko - [Yokai | Tsukumogami | Kaibyo.] 

• About this yokai: a forgetful Nekomata which bellows fire into a hearth for warmth: it dances about with a stoves iron trivet placed on its head, often forgetting that it lit the hearths flame, and so, its tail's ignite... an accidental pyromaniacal putty-tat ...but where IS my pipe anyway?*

• History: Gotoku neko was earliest given its name in Toriyama Sekien's Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro [1784]  – The entry goes as such:

"Having forgotten two of the Dances of Seven Virtues, he was henceforth known as the Master of Five Virtues; in my dream. I wondered what this cat might have forgotten" – "Japandemonium" [2017]

As the experts have pointed out; In Toriyama's verse there's is a rather complicated pun/wordplay having to do with confusionism's 'seven virtues.' (as well as a reference to the Medieval "Essays in idleness" [1330.]) - In a nutshell; the pun is that gotoku ('trivets') is spelt with the same japanese characters as "Five Virtues." - This yokai was of course given its name for the trivet it wears on its head and in any context, wearing a trivet on your head usually brings to mind famous curses (such as: Ushinokokumairi.) – Separately; the fact that this cats tails have accidentally caught flame seems to related to edo-era slang "Aka-neko" (赤猫) superstitions having to do with cats catching fire & causing arson in old japan! - [see also: Nekomata.] - it is certainly also worth note that in Toriyamas book on the following page is Nari-gama: the stove-faced Yokai who seems to be praying on an ema-prayer board.

• Earlier appearances: Sekiens illustration (as with many of his yokai) where seemingly inspired by earlier yokai illustrations; particularly those appearing in the earlier "Hyakki Yagyo Emaki" picture scrolls of the Muromachi [1333-1573] - Early Edo Periods. [1603 - 1868] - particularly the tsukumogami are emerging from the dusty wooden chest being torn apart by an Oni (best known as "Chirizuka kaio." another name given by Toriyama, more on him another time.)- Of course depending on the scroll you read some variants exist; what is sometimes An ashy gray, 3 eyed, trivet wearing, pipe-blowing yokai, is occasionally replaced with a beaked yokai wearing a bowl on its head (perhaps another kitchen tsukumogami?) - [examples below.] - it should be noted that these earlier yokai where usually unnamed and their 'lore' was largely cemented in popular lore because of to Toriyamas Sekien & other subsequent bestiary authors!

[Date unknown - Notably this versions coloration is similar to the one in '後鳥羽法皇の夢中に現われたる妖怪図' - also seen on the cover of "Yokai" Yumoto Koichi collection ]

['Hyakki Yagyo'. - Kawanabe Kyosai(?) - Edo period.

[Art Sticker and biography by @SamKalensky (yo thats me!) part of my yokai collection of stickers follow and support for many more]

[*PS/Funny factoid: sadly & somewhat unsurprisingly, this "pipe-cat" did not make an appearance in [07/27/1978] despite it coincidentally being the near spitting image of the strip. ... it also seems fitting, purr-haps, that a "forgetful cat" would be forgotten.) ...Did you know: here in the west Garfeilds name in Japanese is sometimes jokingly rumoured to be "Lasagn-yan?" (this isn't true, its actually just "Garfieldo") but its a funny urban legend, one that you almost wish was true! i cant think of any better time to mention this so i thoguht i'd end it on a funny note.]