Our Man Is A Cat

As the domestic animal closest to human, cat has the nature of catching mouse. As early as 4000 years or 6000 years, human began to keep cat. With the change of times, cat has gradually become the best animal to serve as family partner. Across the world, Japanese are fond of cat most. In Japan, cat is not only an animal but, under the influence of Japanese culture, a deific, special symbol. Following the step of Japanese cat culture, cats with various artistic images begin to emerge in Japanese painting in different artistic forms. Since Edo Period, cats have appeared in Ukiyoe with diverse images. It’s worth exploring the in-depth connotations delivered by the realistically-painted cats, cat form characters, or personated cats. With cat appearing in children’s picture book and popular anime frequently, cat seems to become the image spokesperson of Japanese art circle. When was cat introduced to Japan? Why do Japanese painters like painting cats? Why has painters changed the image of cat in their works continuously since Edo Period? Why do Japanese painters select cats to vent their emotions rather than other animals? Following the development course of Japanese cat culture, including the appearance of cat, the original task of cat, and the studies on the species of frequently-painted cats, the article gives a specific, graphic analysis on the cat images showed in Ukiyoe, illustrations, and cartoon books so as to consider Japanese painters’ different emotional appeals for cat and analyze the evolution of Japanese’s aesthetic standards through these artistic images of cat.