They are described in old books such as "Gazu Hyakki Yako' (supernatural bestiaries, collections of ghosts, spirits, spooks and monsters) of Sekien TORIYAMA, "Shokoku Rijin Dan", a magazine published in the era of the Kanpo, "Kokon Hyaku Monogatari Hyoban", a collection of ghost stories in the Edo period, "Saikaku Shokoku Banashi", miscelleneous stories of Saikaku IHARA, and "Kawachi Kagami Meishoki".
鳥山石燕の妖怪画集『画図百鬼夜行』、寛保時代の雑書『諸国里人談』、江戸時代の怪談本『古今百物語評判』、井原西鶴の雑話『西鶴諸国ばなし』、『河内鑑名所記』などの古書に記述がある。