Nozuchi, named plate by Toriyama Sekien
Printed title野槌 and actual illustration inspected. Description records visible composition, not an unchecked translation of cursive text.
Overview
Nozuchi's body rises through dense grasses and broad leaves as a long, hairy cylinder. Its head rests near the bottom of the page, where an open mouth and whiskerlike strokes break the rounded outline. The elevated rear body curves upward among the plants, creating a form quite unlike a conventional snake with a narrow head. Closely drawn vegetation partially conceals the creature and gives the plate a low, ground-level viewpoint.
The title 野槌 and accompanying writing identify the subject. The illustration documents Sekien's particular rendering of a named outdoor being. It does not depict a swallowed person, a bite or a pursuit. Those reported actions, where present in later accounts, need narrative witnesses beyond this botanical composition.
Origins & earliest records
Toriyama Sekien includes the named illustration in Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, first published 1779. The inspected Smithsonian copy is a later historical edition; the first book appearance is not a claim of the earliest oral tradition.
Records & interpretation
Directly inspected historical illustration and printed name. Pictorial observations are distinguished from narrative claims that would require a separate checked text.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki
Volume 3, IIIF canvas index 9 (zero-based); printed title 野槌 directly 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
Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki
Volume3; Smithsonian Libraries copy. IIIF canvas index 9 (zero-based)
Printed title野槌 and actual illustration inspected. Description records visible composition, not an unchecked translation of cursive text.
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: 野槌Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationNozuchi, named plate by Toriyama Sekien
Printed title野槌 and actual illustration inspected. Description records visible composition, not an unchecked translation of cursive text.
