noun
catfish woodblock print
A genre of ukiyo-e woodblock prints depicting giant catfish, which became popular in Edo after the 1855 Ansei earthquake as a talisman or satirical commentary.
See also: 大鯰
安政の大地震の後、鯰絵が江戸で流行した。
After the Ansei earthquake, catfish prints became popular in Edo.
この鯰絵には、地震を起こす大鯰が描かれている。
This catfish print depicts a giant catfish causing an earthquake.
Refers to the mythical giant catfish itself, while 鯰絵 is the print genre featuring it.
Compound of 鯰 (catfish) and 絵 (picture). The term arose from the folk belief that a giant catfish causes earthquakes, and the prints were produced as a response to the 1855 Ansei earthquake.