Hyōsube, named plate by Toriyama Sekien
Printed name ひやうすべ and complete composition individually inspected at enlarged resolution. Actual URL copied from the IIIF manifest.
Overview
Hyōsube stands with bent legs on the edge of a wooden veranda. Its body is covered with short strokes suggesting hair, but the top of its head is smooth and bald. The face has a broad grin, wrinkled cheeks and a pointed ear. Long fingers extend from both hands, one lifted beside a support post. Behind it are sliding panels and a partly open wall; a handled vessel sits inside a round basin in the foreground.
The printed reading ひやうすべ identifies the creature. Its intimate architectural setting differs from the woodland scenes elsewhere in the volume. Everyday household objects contribute to the contrast between familiar surroundings and strange anatomy. The picture presents a domestic appearance, without depicting an attack or explaining why the being is there. Those narrative questions require evidence beyond the visible plate.
Origins & earliest records
Toriyama Sekien includes the named illustration in Gazu Hyakki Yagyō, first published in 1776. The inspected Smithsonian Libraries copy is the 1805 edition; publication is distinguished from the age of an oral tradition.
Records & interpretation
Printed title and composition individually inspected at enlarged resolution in the institutional digitization. Observations describe the historical image rather than an uncited encounter story.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Gazu Hyakki Yagyō
Volume 3; IIIF canvas index 8 (zero-based); printed name ひやうすべ.
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
Gazu Hyakki Yagyō
Volume 3; Smithsonian Libraries 1805 edition. IIIF canvas index 8 (zero-based)
Printed name ひやうすべ and complete composition individually inspected at enlarged resolution. Actual URL copied from the IIIF manifest.
Encyclopedia background
An additional attributed reference, separate from the editorial profile above.
Read the open encyclopedia overview
Hyōsube (ひょうすべ) is a Japanese yōkai. There are legends about them in many areas such as Saga Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture.
It is a child-sized river monster from Kyūshū that lives in underwater caves. It prefers to come out at night and loves to eat eggplants. It is a cousin of the supernatural yōkai in kappa folklore.
Text from Wikipedia contributors, “Hyōsube”. CC BY-SA 4.0. Extracted introduction; formatting changed. Retrieved 5 October 2026. The source article may have changed since retrieval.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Institutional primary-book recordSmithsonian Libraries — historical illustrated volumeResearch access: 2026-10-05
- Direct primary illustrationNamed primary plate: ひやうすべResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationHyōsube, named plate by Toriyama Sekien
Printed name ひやうすべ and complete composition individually inspected at enlarged resolution. Actual URL copied from the IIIF manifest.
