Wakan Sansai Zue

Wakan Sansai Zue

The Wakan Sansai Zue (和漢三才図会 – Illustrated Sino-Japanese Encyclopedia of the Three Realms) was published around 1712, and created by Terajima Ryōan.

Toriyama Sekien was greatly inspired by this book for his Yōkai.¹

Yōkai mentioned in the book include:

• • Amanozako – Describes her appearance as a mix of human and animal characteristics. A human body with the head of a beast, a long nose and long ears.¹
  • Mikoshi – This books describes the creature as 6 meters tall, with red eyes, yellow hair and a dark complexion.¹
  • Mōryō – Described in the book as a water kami the size of a three year old boy. They have crimson skin, red eyes, long ears as well as glossy hair. The food they like to eat is the livers of corpses.¹
  • Ninmenju – Gives the origins of this creature as from the Arab World.¹
  • Sansei
  • Suiko
  • Tōdaiki – Gives the tale of his creation and attempted return to Japan with the help of his son.¹
  • Yamawaro

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: over Publications, Inc.

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