Folklore being
Sazae-Oni
A yokai transformed from an aged turban shell (sazae), depicted in Toriyama Sekien's Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (1784).
Overview
Sazae-Oni is a yokai depicted by Toriyama Sekien in Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (Upper Volume, 1784). The image represents a turban shell (sazae) that has aged for many years and transformed into a yokai.
Context of Appearance
The yokai is described as appearing at the seashore or in coastal waters. Sekien's accompanying note cites the Book of Rites passage on transformation ("sparrows entering the sea become clams; field mice change into quails"), reasoning that sazae too may become an oni through the same principle.
Referenced Traditions
The earliest depiction is Toriyama Sekien's Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (Upper Volume), Tenmei 4 (1784) first edition, with a Bunka 2 (1805) reprint available through NDL Digital Collections (pid/2605205).
Sources
百器徒然袋 巻之上 栄螺鬼
Primary source鳥山石燕
天明4年（1784年）初版、文化2年（1805年）再刊。石燕は礼記「雀海中に入てはまぐりとなり」の変化の理より栄螺も鬼と化すとして描いた
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/2605205Wikipedia 日本語版 — 栄螺鬼
Secondary sourceWikipedia contributors
鳥山石燕による妖怪画集百器徒然袋にある日本の妖怪の一つで、サザエの妖怪
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A0%84%E8%9E%BA%E9%AC%BC
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