Yōkai:Tsuchigumo (土蜘蛛)
Their terrifying existence revolves around capturing unsuspecting travelers with their intricate webs and devouring them.
Tsuchigumo, a legendary creature known in Japanese folklore since the 14th century, emerges as a monstrous entity associated with the mountains. These beings, with the faces of oni, the bodies of tigers, and the arms and legs of spiders, don imposing attire.
Their terrifying existence revolves around capturing unsuspecting travelers with their intricate webs and devouring them.
In the Tsuchigumo Soushi, a written account from the 14th century, tsuchigumo made an appearance as malevolent entities in the capital. Minamoto no Yorimitsu, a prominent commander of the mid-Heian era renowned for vanquishing the notorious Shuten-doji, was led by his loyal retainer, Watanabe no Tsuna, to Rendai Field, a mountain north of Kyoto.
On their journey, they encountered a flying skull, which piqued their curiosity. Following it, they arrived at an aged estate where a plethora of peculiar yokai tormented Yorimitsu and his entourage. As dawn approached, a captivating woman emerged, seeking to deceive them. Unyielding, Yorimitsu drew his katana and severed her, causing her to dissipate, leaving behind white blood. Tracing their steps, they eventually reached a cave nestled deep within the mountains, unveiling a colossal spider as the true identity behind the multitude of monsters encountered.
After a grueling battle, Yorimitsu successfully decapitated the spider, and from its abdomen emerged the heads of 1,990 deceased individuals. Additionally, countless small spiders swarmed out from its sides, while further investigation revealed around 20 additional skulls.
Numerous theories surround the tale of tsuchigumo. In the Heike Monogatari, a chronicle of the Heike clan, it is described as follows (referred to as “yamagumo” in this context): When Yorimitsu fell ill with malaria and lay in bed, a peculiar monk standing at an imposing height of seven shaku (approximately 2.1 meters) appeared.
The monk released a rope, attempting to ensnare Yorimitsu. Despite his ailment, Yorimitsu valiantly struck the monk with his renowned sword, Hizamaru, causing the monk to flee. The following day, Yorimitsu, accompanied by his Four Guardian Kings, pursued the trail of blood left by the monk and arrived at a mound behind Kitano Shrine, where they confronted a colossal spider measuring four shaku in width (around 1.2 meters). Yorimitsu and his comrades captured the spider, impaling it with an iron skewer and submerging it in a riverbed.
Miraculously, Yorimitsu’s illness vanished, and the sword used to sever the spider became known as Kumo-kiri, meaning “spider-cutter.” It was believed that this tsuchigumo was the vengeful spirit (onryō) of a local clan previously defeated by Emperor Jimmu.
According to one account, Minamoto no Mitsunaka, Yorimitsu’s father, conspired with the oni and the local tsuchigumo clan to orchestrate a rebellion against the Fujiwara clan. However, during the “Anna no Hen” incident, Mitsunaka betrayed the local clan to safeguard his own interests. As a result, it is said that his son Yorimitsu and his guardian kings were cursed by the oni and tsuchigumo yokai.
In Kita-ku, Kyoto, at Jōbonrendai-ji, stands the Minamoto Yorimitsu Ason-no-tsuka, a mound dedicated to honoring Yorimitsu. However, some legends claim that this mound is actually a nest constructed by the tsuchigumo. An intriguing tale tells of a mysterious illness and subsequent death that befell a lumberjack when a nearby tree was felled.
Similarly, in Ichijō-dōri, Kamigyō-ku, another mound is believed to have been created by the tsuchigumo. Excavations in the area unearthed lanterns referred to as spider lanterns. However, upon receiving these lanterns, people began to experience tremendous fortune, which led to a fear of potential curses by the tsuchigumo. Consequently, these spider lanterns are now dedicated to the Tōkō-Kannon-ji temple in Kannonji-monzen-chō, Kamigyō-ku.
Another notable yokai similar to the tsuchigumo is the umigumo, which translates to “sea spider.” These creatures are said to emit threads from their mouths and attack unsuspecting individuals. They are associated with the coastal regions of Kyushu.
©Emika Oka
Thank you for reading this.
Your support holds immense significance for a disabled neurodivergent.
If you’d like to show your support, you can consider buying me a coffee here. My collection of eBooks and classic titles is available here. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
Source
土蜘蛛 - Wikipedia
妖怪「土蜘蛛」の伝承・正体・名前の由来 (ayakashi-web.com)
【歌舞伎】土蜘(つちぐも)のあらすじ解説 不気味な蜘蛛の糸が源頼光を襲う! | 歌舞伎の達人 (jp-culture.jp)