Koto-furunushi
Image associated with the exact linked encyclopedia article; consult credited file description for its interpretation.
Overview
Koto-furunushi gives an old koto, a long Japanese zither, an uncanny face and unruly strings that suggest hair. The instrument remains recognizable, allowing the transformation to be read as an altered possession rather than a wholly unfamiliar beast. Sekien's treatment sits beside other animated musical objects, including the biwa. Their shared context invites comparison, but each retains the shape and cultural associations of its own instrument.
The National Diet Library discusses this figure within the history of koto imagery and compares object yōkai across illustrated sources. Later narratives can add music, neglect or a relationship with a remarkable tree; those claims belong to their particular accounts. This profile centers the illustrated zither and its facial transformation. It does not state that all antique instruments become dangerous, or that an image establishes a practical belief held by every player or household.
Origins & earliest records
Selected historical witness: Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (1784) by Toriyama Sekien. The linked library record identifies a surviving printed edition; it does not establish when the belief first arose.
Records & interpretation
The historical illustration and individual contextual reference support this profile. Named motifs, local narratives and later explanations are distinguished; image-to-plate matching still needs review.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
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Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro
Selected historical witness; individual illustration now checked in the separately linked primary scan. This edition is not a claim of the earliest oral attestation.
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 Tsurezure Bukuro
Volume 2; Smithsonian Libraries digitized copy. IIIF canvas index 13 (zero-based); HyakkitsurezureV2Tori_0014.jp2
Printed label 琴古主; the end of a koto becomes a toothed face with streaming hair beside scattered objects. Illustration directly inspected; no complete transcription of cursive explanatory text is claimed.
Encyclopedia background
An additional attributed reference, separate from the editorial profile above.
Read the open encyclopedia overview
The koto-furunushi (琴古主; English: "old master koto") is a fictitious being from Japanese folklore. It is a Yōkai and is said to be harmless to humans. The koto-furunushi is very similar to the yokai biwa-bokuboku.
Text from Wikipedia contributors, “Koto-furunushi”. 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.
- Primary illustration / library recordHyakki Tsurezure Bukuro — historical library editionResearch access: 2026-10-05
- Secondary referenceKoto-furunushi — contextual overview and bibliographyResearch access: 2026-10-05
- Primary illustrated plate / institutional digitizationGazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro — directly inspected IIIF canvas index 13 (zero-based); HyakkitsurezureV2Tori_0014.jp2Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationKoto-furunushi
Image associated with the exact linked encyclopedia article; consult credited file description for its interpretation.
