{"product_id":"one-hundred-monsters-ancient-and-modern-toriyama-sekien","title":"One Hundred Monsters Ancient and Modern - Toriyama Sekien","description":"\u003cp\u003eA woodblock print from Toriyama Sekien's 1780 collection, depicting the Shinkirō, a mythological clam capable of creating mirages of castles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print originates from the third volume of Toriyama Sekien's final collection, Konjaku Hyakki Shūi, published in 1780. Sekien was a prominent artist of the Edo period, known for his systematic documentation of Japanese folklore and supernatural entities, collectively known as yōkai. His work functioned as a visual encyclopaedia, cataloguing creatures from oral traditions, classical literature, and contemporary urban legends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe image depicts the Shinkirō, a creature associated with the mirage phenomenon. In Japanese folklore, the clam is believed to exhale a vapour that manifests as elaborate castles or towers in the sky. The composition is divided across two pages, typical of the format for these printed books. On the left, a detailed architectural structure appears within a cloud-like bubble, representing the mirage itself. Below, various shells and a crab are scattered on the shore. On the right, a large clam sits amidst stylised waves, emitting a plume of vapour that connects to the vision above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSekien employs a refined, calligraphic line quality, characteristic of his training in the Kanō school of painting. The shading is achieved through subtle variations in line density rather than colour, creating a sense of depth within the monochrome print. The text accompanying the illustration provides the mythological context, explaining the connection between the clam and the atmospheric illusion. This piece offers a glimpse into the intersection of natural history and supernatural belief in eighteenth-century Japan. It remains a primary source for the study of yōkai iconography and the development of Japanese print culture during the Edo period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/evening-glow-at-ryogoku-bridge-keisai-eisen\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eEvening Glow at Ryogoku Bridge - Keisai Eisen — Keisai Eisen\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/nihonbashi-bridge-and-edobashi-bridge-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNihonbashi Bridge and Edobashi Bridge - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Toriyama Sekien","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58970816840015,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58970838827343,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58970838860111,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58970838892879,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58970838925647,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58970838958415,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58970838991183,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58970839023951,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58970839056719,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58970839089487,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58970839122255,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58970839155023,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/One-Hundred-Monsters-Ancient-and-Modern_Poster_CompositorV1_1790816752827.jpg?v=1790818601","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/one-hundred-monsters-ancient-and-modern-toriyama-sekien","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}