Ukiyo nanabake ezukushi (Illustrated compilation of seven shapeshifters of the floating world)

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Ukiyo nanabake ezukushi ["Illustrated compilation of seven shapeshifters of the floating world"]

[Illustrator and author unidentified].

Teramachi, Kyōto: Hishiya Jihē, [ca. mid-Edo period (1740-60s)?].

An illustrated story of vengeance unrecorded in online databases. Tsukumogami, closely related to hyakkimono, are utensils and implements that have become sentient after being used for one hundred years or more. The illustrations in this ehon show tsukumogami, enraged at their misuse, wreaking havoc upon humans. In scenes reminiscent of jigoku-e "hell paintings", the humans flee from vengeful tea ceremony implements, buckets, lanterns, umbrellas, rice cookers, washing tubs, measuring cups, and other violent appliances.

Muromachi-era illustrated scrolls featuring tsukumogami, several of which are extant, typically presented old tools coming to life as tsukumogami and terrorising humans, eventually being rebuked by Buddhist forces and achieving Buddhahood after practising asceticism in the mountains. At the heart of these scrolls is a teaching from Shingon Buddhism: if even non-sentient objects can attain Buddhahood, why shouldn't humans strive to achieve it, too? This ehon's illustrations suggest it follows a similar storyline.

Despite the popularity of tsukumogami-themed books in the late 18th century (as evinced by works by Toriyama Sekien including Gazu hyakki yagyō ("The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons", 1776) and Tsurezure-bukuro ("A Horde of Haunted Housewares", 1784)), no copies of this particular work have been located in major Japanese or overseas online collections. The author and illustrator remain unidentified, although there are considerable stylistic similarities with Tomikawa Ginsetsu's Bakemono aioi no sakazuki (1774, also published as Bakemono mitsume daihōi) and Torii Kiyotsune's Tegara no yakanbei (1760, later republished as Jiuchi yakanbei (1772)). An extremely scarce ehon requiring further research.

One four-hole-bound (yotsumetoji) volume, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Unpaginated, thus completeness is difficult to determine. Presumed original wrappers, creased and scraped, small losses to foot. Original woodblock-printed mounted daisen title panel present. Ex-ownership inscription to upper pastedown. Occasional minor soiling, thumbing, wear, light stains, and creases to leaves. Tear and small loss to foot of second leaf. Smaller chips and tears to other leaves' lower margins. Last illustrated page affixed to lower wrapper. [11 unnumbered pages]. 21.7 x 15.6 cm.

❧ Reider, Noriko T., "Animating Objects: Tsukumogami ki and the Medieval Illustration of Shingon Truth", Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 36/2: 231–257 (2007).

# 20230503

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