Namazu-e (鯰絵, catfish picture) Kashima no Osore (鹿島の恐, The fear of Kashima)
Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: 1855
Medium: O-ban Nishiki-e (大判錦絵, large-format coloured print)
Object number: O.11.27
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.
After the earthquake, catfish pictures of Kashima Daimyojin (鹿島大明神, A god of Kashima Shrine) holding down an earthquake catfish became popular, in the hope that the earthquake would be calmed.
After the earthquake, catfish pictures of Kashima Daimyojin (鹿島大明神, A god of Kashima Shrine) holding down an earthquake catfish became popular, in the hope that the earthquake would be calmed.