Furu-utsubo, named plate by Toriyama Sekien
Printed label 古空穂 directly inspected in the enlarged image. Sekien’s Furu-utsubo transforms a fur-covered quiver into a clawed creature with a human-like face. Exact URL copied from returned IIIF manifest.
Overview
Furu-utsubo appears as a tall fur-covered object leaning forward from an interior. Its oval, spotted surface extends above a long narrow base, while a small human-like face emerges near the lower end. Thin arms and clawed hands reach outward, and the lowest section curls into an angular tail-like extension. A floral wall panel and scattered sheets establish the household setting.
The title 古空穂 directly names an old quiver. The fur covering remains central to the object’s identity, while face and limbs make it animate. This visual witness is therefore more precise than describing an unspecified hairy ghost. The page documents the material transformation in an illustrated collection; a particular archer, former battlefield or repeated encounter cannot be established without separately checked explanatory or narrative sources.
Origins & earliest records
Toriyama Sekien, Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (1784), volume 3; selected named plate directly inspected in the institutional digitization. This is not a claim that an oral tradition began in that year.
Records & interpretation
Printed label 古空穂, image composition and exact manifest URL directly checked. Explanatory cursive text is not completely transcribed; unverified narrative powers are omitted.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro
Volume 3; IIIF canvas index 7 (zero-based); HyakkitsurezureV3Tori_0008.jp2. Individually enlarged and inspected.
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
Volume 3; Smithsonian Libraries digitization. IIIF canvas index 7 (zero-based); HyakkitsurezureV3Tori_0008.jp2
Printed label 古空穂 directly inspected in the enlarged image. Sekien’s Furu-utsubo transforms a fur-covered quiver into a clawed creature with a human-like face. Exact URL copied from returned IIIF manifest.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Institutional primary-book recordHyakki Tsurezure Bukuro — institutional volume 3Research access: 2026-10-05
- Primary illustrated plate / institutional digitizationFuru-utsubo (古空穂) — inspected primary plateResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationFuru-utsubo, named plate by Toriyama Sekien
Printed label 古空穂 directly inspected in the enlarged image. Sekien’s Furu-utsubo transforms a fur-covered quiver into a clawed creature with a human-like face. Exact URL copied from returned IIIF manifest.
