Kageonna

Overview

Kageonna appears as a faint woman-shaped silhouette on a sliding panel. The outline suggests a turned head, upper body and a long robe, while the panel’s regular grid remains visible through the shape. Pine branches fill the left side of the scene and part of a moon appears above. A hanging woven planter occupies the right, and a bow with arrows lies in the foreground.

The printed title 影女 identifies the shadow woman. Sekien represents her through a surface and outline rather than by drawing a solid figure in the room. The modest contrast of the silhouette is essential to the effect. The surrounding architecture and household objects remain sharply drawn, making the uncertain human shape more conspicuous. The page verifies a shadow-like apparition without identifying a person casting it or proving an encounter beyond what is shown.

Origins & earliest records

Named illustration in Toriyama Sekien’s Konjaku Hyakki Shūi, first published in 1781. The historical Smithsonian Libraries copy is the inspected witness; book publication is not a claim about the earliest oral tradition.

Records & interpretation

Printed name and complete composition individually inspected in an enlarged historical scan. Explanatory prose is not presented as a fully checked transcription.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Konjaku Hyakki Shūi

   Toriyama Sekien · 1781; historical digitized edition

   Volume 1; IIIF canvas index 23 (zero-based); printed name 影女.

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

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Institutional primary-book recordSmithsonian Libraries — historical illustrated volumeResearch access: 2026-10-05
2. Direct primary illustrationNamed primary plate: 影女Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

Kageonna, named plate by Toriyama Sekien

Printed name 影女 and composition individually inspected at enlarged resolution. Actual image URL taken from the IIIF manifest.