| Gotokuneko | |
|---|---|
| |
|
Origin |
Unnamed Japanese household |
|
Type |
Gotoku (kettle stand) |
|
Effects |
Generates small fire |
|
Downsides |
N/A |
|
Activation |
Constant |
|
Collected by |
|
|
Section |
|
|
Aisle |
Minzoku-38E |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Gotokuneko is a yokai described by Toriyama Sekien as a feline-like spirit wearing an iron trivet as a hat. it is said to sit by hearths and stoke flames by blowing through a bamboo reed. Unlike many recorded tsukumogami there are almost no mentions of malice or danger involved, and his records specifically states the artifact was left with its then owner.
It is also one of the few artifacts with a clear and definite origin, as said owner was also the artifact's originator. The man, a farmer of little means, apparently had a fondness for the wild cats that chased the vermin in his home. He would let them in at night to let them sleep by his fire. One cat, whom he'd cared for since its birth, was growing old and weak and spent most of its time asleep by his hearth. One day the man woke up to find the cat had finally passed, and the small fire in his hearth was still burning despite him not having fed it before he retired.
He would discover that the fire, if extinguished, would reignite itself. Attempting to move the iron trivet he used for his pots so as to douse it again show it as the culprit, another fire coming to life where he set it down. He also discovered that, when boiling water, the whistle of the steam was replaced by the sound of a cat's purr.
Effects[]
Wherever the trivet is placed, a small fire will appear. This fire does not spread and cannot be put out for long. No other effects have been observed, although when left in one location overnight a small set of ashen pawprints will appear nearby.