Namazu-e (鯰絵, catfish picture) Shoshoku Gotaku sen (諸職吾沢銭)
Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: 1855
Medium: O-ban Nishiki-e (大判錦絵, large-format coloured print)
Object number: O.11.29-30
DescriptionNamazu-e (鯰絵, catfish pictures) are published during the Edo period. They were published in large numbers following the Ansei earthquake (安政の大地震) of 2 October 1855, based on the folk belief that an earthquake was caused by a large catfish active underground.
Lumber merchants, Kawaraban (瓦版, Japanese newspaper) sellers and others who profited from the reconstruction economy after the earthquake thank the catfish and pray for further profits for themselves.
Lumber merchants, Kawaraban (瓦版, Japanese newspaper) sellers and others who profited from the reconstruction economy after the earthquake thank the catfish and pray for further profits for themselves.