Ghost Stories: Night Procession of the Hundred Demons

(Kaidan hyakki yagyô, 開談百気夜行)

1830

This series shows male and female genitalia in the guise of various demons. Each print bears a title, many of which are bawdy and often pun the demons’ names. Although the individual prints are unsigned, the wrapper is signed “Ichimyôkai Hodoyoshi ga”, a signature Kuniyoshi is known to have used on shunga (erotic art). This series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints in this series are each about 5 by 3.5 inches (13 by 9 centimeters), a size known as koban. I am grateful to Marijn Kruijff for these images.

Title: Junping Doll (Tobiningyô) Description: This is the cover of the series showing a toy in the form of a cat-person Title: Sexy Prick, Big Pussy (Enmara daibolo) Description: Emma, king of hell, presides over lovemaking among the hungry dead (gakidô) Title: Pussy Spirit of Kasane (Kasane no bobokon) Description: The disfigured Kasane had been murdered by her husband, Yoemon, with a sickle by the Kinu River Title: Cunt Monk (Tsubi bôzu) Description: Umi-bôzu (sea monk) was a large demon that emerged from the sea to haunt ships Title: Consoling Pussy of Horse Face Mountain, Sometimes Called Monk Riot (Tsuramayama dôjô-bobo, ichimei Sôdô-bô) Description: Monk Sôjô taught military arts to Ushiwaka-maru (the young Yoshitsune) at Kuramayama Title: Pillar of Flames (Hi-hashira) Description: A flaming pillar of penises rises above the roofs of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter (which was frequently destroyed by fire) Title: Crucifixion of Okoma (Okoma no karitsuke) Description: Okoma, who was sentenced to be executed at Suzu-ga-mori for murdering her husband was pardoned after petitioning by her lover Saiza Title: Four-eyed Acolyte (Yotsume kozô) Description: Hitotsume kozô (one-eyed acolyte) was a much-feared demon. This four-eyed version holds higo-zuiki (dried stems of sweet potato), which were used as a sex toy. Title: Octo-pussy of the Numeri River (Numerikawa no bobo-dako) Description: Large octopuses were hunted at the mouth of the Nameri River in Etchû Province Title: Penis Skeleton (Karikkotsu) Description: A penis skeleton menaces a woman who has come onto a veranda at night Title: Licentious Priest with Angry Pussy (Jinbari nyûdô bobo dokisu) Description: A woman is frightened by a phallus-shaped ghost as a swallow with a phallus head comes from the ghost’s mouth Title: Jewel Gate (Gyokumon, also meaning vulva) Description: An executed criminal’s head displayed at the entrance to a prison (gokumon) Title: Nailing a Dick Doll at the Hour of the Ox (Ushi no toki mairi mara ningyô o utsu) Description: A woman wanting to kill a man who had spurned her was supposed to don a crown of candles, go to a shrine at the hour of the ox (about 2 AM), and nail a straw figure of the man to s sacred tree Title: Phallus Serpent with Toad and Snail Description: Title: Rokurokubi Description: A rokurokubi (demon that can stretch its neck) with a vulva-shaped face Title: Description: Penis-headed figure with vulva-headed ghost Title: Description: Actor with vulva-shaped mouth Title: Cunt-shaped Courtesan Ghost Description: Title: Dripping Mountain Description: Title: Phallus and Vagina-shaped Mountain God Description: Title: Description: Title: Description: Winged spirit with a vulva-shaped face carrying a phallus-shaped baby Title: Description: Body with a vulva-shaped face nailed to a door Title: Description: Fellatio by a vulva-faced demon

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