Shirouneri

Overview

Shirouneri is represented by a ragged length of cloth hanging from a horizontal pole beside a tree. One section develops a long-necked, dragon-like head with round eyes, whiskers and an open toothed mouth. Frayed edges continue along the rest of the suspended strip. A low fence and nearby household structures place the animated fabric in an ordinary exterior space.

The printed heading 白容裔 names this distinct cloth apparition. Its continuous strip-like body is central to identification: the head grows from material rather than belonging to an animal perched on it. This illustration supports an object transformed into a creature, with wear and fraying incorporated into the design. More specific claims about a cleaning rag’s age or habits need textual confirmation; the visible material alone cannot supply that history.

Origins & earliest records

Toriyama Sekien, Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro, first published 1784; volume 1 named plate directly inspected in the Smithsonian digitization. The final colophon states Tenmei 4 (1784) and a Bunka 2 (1805) reprint.

Records & interpretation

Printed label 白容裔 and composition directly checked against the enlarged plate. This is an illustrated object apparition; an independent local oral tradition is not assumed.

Selected bibliography

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

1. 01

   Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro

   Toriyama Sekien · 1784

   Volume 1; IIIF canvas index 23 (zero-based); HyakkitsurezureV1Tori_0024.jp2. This selected digitized copy includes later reprint information.

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 recordHyakki Tsurezure Bukuro — Smithsonian Libraries volume 1Research access: 2026-10-05
2. Primary illustrated plate / institutional digitizationShirouneri (白容裔) — exact inspected illustrationResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

Shirouneri, named plate by Toriyama Sekien

Printed label 白容裔 directly inspected with the enlarged composition. A ragged strip of cloth develops a dragon-like head in Sekien’s Shirouneri plate. Exact URL copied from the returned manifest.