In old Japan, rats had it good because a white rat was a messenger of one of the seven gods of luck, Daikoku. Because of this connection, they were not killed.The story goes that a rat couple wanted the strongest husband in the world for their daughter. They asked the sun who declined saying that clouds had more power because they could cover him up.
When they asked a cloud, he responded, "The wind is stronger than I because it can blow me away."
The wind could not make the grade either. " The wall stops me cold," he said.
And the wall, though honored by the offer wailed, "The rat is stronger. He can bore a hole right through me."
So the couple wisely gave their daughter in marriage to another rat who was indeed the strongest creature of them all.
-Senryu
More rat stories, rat photos and rat art at: Rats in Art
(via Information Junk)
