Hidari Jingoro
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Hidari Jingoro (左 甚五郎 ひだり じんごろう) was a Japanese artist, sculptor and carpenter, active from 1596-1644. Jingoro is known to have created many famous deity sculptures located throughout Japan. His famous nemuri-neko ("sleeping cat") carving is located above the Kuguri-mon Gate amidst the sacred mountain shrines and temples of Nikko, Japan. Amongst these shrines and temples is Nikkō Tōshō-gū, a shrine that honors the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Hidari Jingoro was famous for being left-handed. In fact, the name Hidari (左) means "left".
Many stories have been written about Jingoro. According to one, he once saw a woman of such exceptional beauty that he made a sculpture of her. Jingoro begins to drink in the company of the sculpture, and it begans to move, following Jingoro's lead. At first it had no emotion and could only imitate Jingoro's movements. However, when he places a mirror in front of the sculpture, the woman's spirit enters and it comes to life.
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