Wiki Category: Toriyama Sekien

Furaribi The Furaribi (ふらり火) (Wander-Flame), also known as the Burari-bi, is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama Sekien. The word ‘furari’ meaning to wander without a destination. The Yōkai appears, similarly depicted, in the Hyakkai Zukan by Sawaki Sūshi shown as a white bird-like[...]

Hyakkai Zukan The Hyakkai Zukan (百怪図巻, Illustrated Creeps), published in 1737, is a collection of picture scrolls depicted various types of Yōkai created by Sawaki Sūshi. These images greatly inspired the Yōkai works of Toriyama Sekien, in fact Volume three of his work the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō consists entirely of[...]

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.[...]

Kurozuka The Kurozuka (黒塚) is a Yōkai depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama Sekien. She was also known as the Onibaba. This Yōkai is detailed in a 10th Century Poem in the Yamato Monogatari stating: At Kurozuka, in Adachi of Mutsu Province, lurks a demon, they say. Could[...]

Tesso Tesso (鉄鼠) is a Yōkai depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama Sekien. His tale is related in the Taiheiki. This Yōkai takes the form of a plague of rats created by the Monk Raigō after his spirit was reborn, dying from a hunger strike, the hunger strike[...]

Period: Edo Period Occupation: Dentist, Author, Artist Birth: – Death: Terajima Ryōan Terajima Ryōan (寺島良安) was an Osaka Dentist but also was the creator of the Wakan Sansai Zue which would later greatly inspire Toriyama Sekien in his depictions of Yōkai. He spent years cataloguing Chinese information on astronomy, botany,[...]

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[...]

Yamawarawa The Yamawarawa (山童, Mountain Boy) is a type of Yōkai also know as the Yamawaro. The creature finds its origins in China in the 2nd Century Shenji Jing (Classic of Divine Marvels), first introduced into Japan in the Wakan Sansai Zue which gives the older name Yamawaro. The books[...]

Yamauba The Yamauba (山姥, Mountain Hag), also know as the Yamamba is a common bogey woman in children’s literature depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō. You can see where these creatures dwell as the height the clouds are upon the mountains shows how high they are currently living on their[...]

Yamabiko The Yamabiko (幽谷響, Mystical Valley Echo) is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō. It is also is a common term for the echoing sounds in mountains and canyons. Toriyama Sekien depicts him as a monkey-like creature. Normally the Characters for ‘Mountain’ and ‘Boy’ are used,[...]

Tengu The Tengu (天狗) are a type of Yōkai depicted as a type of Raven in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō. They have deep associations with the Shugendō Religion, seen as guardians of Mountains and some legends state that martial artists such as Miyamoto no Yoshitsune learned their tricks from these[...]

Tanuki The Tanuki (狸) (Racoon-Dog) is a type of Yōkai which is also a real-life animal. Folklore says it is a notorious trickster. Later portrayals of the Yōkai depict it with large testicles. Toriyama Sekien in his work, the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō, depicts the creature on hind legs, drumming its[...]

Nekomata The Nekomata (猫股 – Forked Cat) is a type of Yōkai in the form of a cat, depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō and Hyakkai Zukan. According to the legend, when a cat reaches a certain age it gains the ability to talk, walk on hind legs and its tail[...]

Kodama Kodama (木魅, Tree-Spirit) is a type of Yōkai, which dwell in trees. Toriyama Sekien states in his work Gazu Hyakki Yagyō that: It is said that ancient trees have kami that reveal themselves. 百年の樹には神ありてかたちをあらはすといふ. Sekien’s depicts these beings as an elderly couple carrying rakes and brooms, living in an[...]

Kitsunebi The Kitsunebi (狐火 – Fire-Fox) is a type of yōkai said to have visited the Ōji Inari Shrine on the last day of the year. Foxes normally shapeshift by placing a human bone between their teeth. Once there they would exhale fire from their nose and mouths, people watching[...]

Kawauso The Kawauso (獺, River Otter) is a type of Japanese yōkai depicting by Toriyama Sekien in the gazu hyakki yagyō. This creature is known to be a trickster and shapeshifter, able to take on human form, especially that of a beautiful woman who would try to bewitch unwary travellers.[...]

Kappa The Kappa (河童), also noted by Toriyama Sekien as being called the Kawatarō and Kawa-warawa is a type of Japanese yōkai depicted in the gazu hyakki yagyō. They are distinctive as frog-type men, with tortoise shell backs and a water-filled depression on the top of their heads. Spilling the[...]

Kamaitachi The Kamaitachi (窮奇 – Sickle-Weasel) is a type of yōkai involving a mysterious phenomenon where a sudden whirlwind will nip at your skin. The creature depicted by Toriyama Sekien in the gazu hyakki yagyō uses the Chinese Characters for a different creature called the Kyūki. One Chinese text called[...]

Inugami and Shirachigo The Inugami (犬神 – Dog kami) is a type of yōkai depicted in the gazu hyakki yagyō alongside the creature Shirachigo (白児 – White Child). The Inugami is also seen in the hyakkai zukan. The Inugami has associations with Western Japan and the island of Shikoku, here[...]

Akaname The Akaname (垢嘗 – Filth Licker) is a type of yōkai depicted in the gazu hyakki yagyō. Noted to have red skin as the word ”aka” for filth is also the word for red. Additionally, it is the colour one is when getting out of a hot bathtub. The[...]

Amikiri The Amikiri (網剪 – Net-Cutter) is a type of yōkai, with the ”Ami” part of its name meaning both net and being a type of shrimp-like crustacean. The creature depicted by Toriyama Sekien in the gazu hyakki yagyō appears to have a preference to cutting mosquito-netting.1 External Links View[...]

Birth: 1712 Death: 1788 Period: Edo Period Occupation: Artist Toriyama Sekien Toriyama Sekien (鳥山 石燕) was born 1712 and died 1788. Most notably known for his four compendiums on the yōkai he was the first person to systematically categorise them. He was born Sano Toyofusa and was part of the[...]