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Animals Granted Court Ranks (Ikai)

Name	Description
Goisagi (Night Heron) 五位鷺	When Emperor Daigo (r. 897–930) visited the Shinsen'en — an imperial garden in the Heian capital — he ordered a servant to catch a heron standing by the pond. As the servant approached, the heron spread its wings to fly away, but when called out to with the words "This is by imperial command!", the heron lowered its head and remained still. Impressed by this show of obedience, the Emperor is said to have awarded the heron Senior Fifth Rank (shōgoi, 正五位). This legend is said to be the origin of the bird's Japanese name, goisagi — literally "Fifth-Rank Heron."
Myōbu no Otodo 命婦の御許	Myōbu (命婦) was a title given to female court officials who held Fifth Rank or above, or to the wives of male officials of Fifth Rank or above. Emperor Ichijō's (r. 986–1011) pet cat was granted a court rank and given the name "Myōbu no Otodo" — a title normally reserved for noblewomen. Otodo (御許) is an honorific used for ladies of high standing. This cat also appears in The Pillow Book (Makura no Sōshi) by Sei Shōnagon.