Fuguruma yōhi, named plate by Toriyama Sekien
Fuguruma yōhi is headed 文車妖妃 in Sekien’s Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro. The heading and text occupy one page of a spread, while the facing page shows an alarming woman crouching amid sheets of writing. She wears richly patterned clothing and a head covering, with long hair, glaring eyes, exposed teeth, and clawlike fingers. Written paper stretches from her hand across the foreground. Facing page directly inspected as well. Caption label checked at enlarged resolution.
Overview
Fuguruma yōhi is headed 文車妖妃 in Sekien’s Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro. The heading and text occupy one page of a spread, while the facing page shows an alarming woman crouching amid sheets of writing. She wears richly patterned clothing and a head covering, with long hair, glaring eyes, exposed teeth, and clawlike fingers. Written paper stretches from her hand across the foreground.
The facing pages also include other animated possessions, so an isolated thumbnail can obscure the relationship between the caption and the principal figure. The inspected spread supports the connection between the woman and accumulated written material. It does not prove that every loose sheet is a love letter or that all discarded correspondence produces this being. More precise claims about the emotion animating the papers need a complete reading of Sekien’s inscription or an independently located narrative witness.
Origins & earliest records
Japan; Toriyama Sekien’s illustrated collection
Records & interpretation
Directly inspected labelled primary woodblock plate; descriptive claims limited to this witness.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro
Inspected Smithsonian digitization; image canvas index 15 (zero-based, not printed page number).
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro
HyakkitsurezureV1Tori. Label 文車妖妃; IIIF canvas index 15 and 16 (facing illustration); zero-based scan locator, not printed pagination
Fuguruma yōhi is headed 文車妖妃 in Sekien’s Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro. The heading and text occupy one page of a spread, while the facing page shows an alarming woman crouching amid sheets of writing. She wears richly patterned clothing and a head covering, with long hair, glaring eyes, exposed teeth, and clawlike fingers. Written paper stretches from her hand across the foreground. Facing page directly inspected as well. Caption label checked at enlarged resolution.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary illustrated sourceHyakki Tsurezure Bukuro digitized primary plate 文車妖妃Research access: 2026-10-05
- Institutional catalogSmithsonian Libraries digitized volumeResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationFuguruma yōhi, named plate by Toriyama Sekien
Fuguruma yōhi is headed 文車妖妃 in Sekien’s Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro. The heading and text occupy one page of a spread, while the facing page shows an alarming woman crouching amid sheets of writing. She wears richly patterned clothing and a head covering, with long hair, glaring eyes, exposed teeth, and clawlike fingers. Written paper stretches from her hand across the foreground. Facing page directly inspected as well. Caption label checked at enlarged resolution.
