Shin Otogi Bōko

The Shin Otogi Bōko (新御伽婢子) is a 1683 collection of stories.

One of the stories within relates to the Buddhist monk Sōgen and his wicked deeds which led to him becoming the Yōkai Sōgen-bi.¹

Footnotes

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

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• Region: Kansai Region
• Prefecture: Kyoto Prefecture
• Co-ordinates: 35°0′5.76″N 135°44′36.02″E
• Affiliation: Buddhism

Mibudera

Mibudera (壬生寺) is a Buddhist Temple.

The temple is related to the Yōkai spirit called Sōgen-bi, who was once known as the monk Sōgen. The monk is said to have stolen money offerings and lamp oil left at his temple, and after dying is punished in hell. His soul returned later as a mysterious blue fireball near the temple.¹

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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• Occuption: Buddhist Monk

Sōgen

Sōgen (叢原) is known to have once been a Buddhist Monk, residing within Mibudera Temple, outside of Kyoto.

He is noted to have stolen money offerings and lamp oil left at the temple by worshippers. After finally dying it is said he was punished in hell for his deeds. His soul returning later as a mysterious blue fireball near the temple known as the Yōkai, Sōgen-bi.¹

Footnotes

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

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Sōgenbi

The Sōgenbi (叢原火) (Thicket-Fire) is a type of Yōkai created from the wicked life of a monk called Sōgen.

Toriyama Sekien in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō describes the creature saying:

Said to appear near Mibudera Temple south of Saiin, located outside of Kyoto. There they call it Sōgen’s Fire of Suzaku.

The story he references above relates to the 1683 collection of stories called Shin Otogi Bōko. In the story, the monk Sōgen steals money offerings and lamp oil left at his temple, after dying he is punished in hell. His soul returns later as a mysterious blue fireball near the temple.¹

External Links

• View the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō online here: Gazu Hyakki Yagyō Online.

Footnotes

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

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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Gazu Hyakki Yagyō

The Gazu Hyakki Yagyō (画図百鬼夜行), also called the Gazu Hyakki Yakō (The Illustrated Demon Horde’s Night Parade) is a compendium of Yōkai, demons and ghosts compiled by Toriyama Sekien, published in the Autumn of 1776.

The books were inspired by the 10th Century Demon Horde’s Night Parade. These books, alongside the following three books, the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, Konjaku Hyakki Shūi and Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro are different to earlier depictions of Yōkai as they place the Yōkai in a time and a place instead of just depicting them on a blank background.

This book was created as a set with the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki though they weren’t released together. The book was divided into three sections and contains 51 different Yokai.¹

Foreward

The forward of the book reads:

Let us speak of shape-shifting things, like stone-swallows or inkbrush-crickets. The man who created this book, Toriyama Sekien, has enjoyed himself in the field of art for some years. His very brush shape-shifts; in fact, there is nothing in all of creation it cannot evoke. He is already famed for his book Toriyamabiko.

This time, he took the ancient Hyakki Yagyō scrolls as inspiration, to which he added his own inimitable personal touch. A publisher took note and prepared blocks for printing a book. Sekien split his work into six Volumes: Ying, Yang, Wind, Rain, Darkness and Light. These are the first three, entitle, naturally. Gazu Hyakki Yagyō. By and by he asked me to pen a forward. Sekien and I have long been traders of verse, so I could hardly refuse.

But if you’re the sort who follows the conventional wisdom of shying away from talk of spirits and demons, you might find yourself wishing to avert your eyes.

Anei Era, the Year of the Wood-Sheep, Winter.
By the Hermit of the Eastern Capital, Rōsan, master of Shiyo.¹

Part One – Ying – 陰

Kodama	Tengu
Yamabiko	Yamauba
Yamawarawa	Inugami
Shirachigo	Nekomata
Kappa	Kawauso
Akaname	Tanuki
Kamaitachi	Amikiri
Kitsunebi

Part Two – Yang – 陽

Jorogumo	Tenasobi
Sogenbi	Tsurubebi
Furaribi	Ubagabi
Kasha	Yanari
Ubume	Umizato
Noderabo	Takaonna
Tenome	Tesso
Kurozuka	Rokurokubi
Sakabashira	Makurageishi
Yukionna	Ikiryo
Shiryo	Yurei

Part Three – Wind –風

Every Yōkai in this Volume was taken from a corresponding creature in the Hyakkai Zukan.¹

Mikoshi	Shokera
Hyōsube	Waira
Otoroshi	Nuribotoke
Nureonna	Nurarihyon
Gagoze	Ouni
Aobōzu	Akashita
Nuppeppō	Ushioni
Uwan

External Links

• View the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō online here: Gazu Hyakki Yagyō Vol. 1 Online.

Footnotes

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

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