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Kintaro fights the Earth-Spider
12 Mar 07
Edwards, Osman. Japanese Plays and Playfellows. New York: John Lane, 1901.
“Tsuchigumo,” the Earth-Spider. . . is founded on a curious legend, whose chief merit may be that it affords excuse for a fantastic stage-picture. It seems that a band of robbers, who lived in caves and were known by the nickname of earth-spiders, were routed from their lairs and exterminated by Kintaro, servant of Yoremitsu, whose valour was much enhanced in popular estimation by the flattering rumour that the defeated pests were not men at all, but a race of enormous demon-insects. Accordingly, the climax of “Tsuchigumo” is a stirring encounter between Imperial Guards, armed with swords and spears, and masked monsters, who entangle their weapons and baffle their aim in a cloud of long gauzy filaments, resembling the threads of a spider’s web. (55-56)
[plate faces page 56]
“Kintaro fights the Earth-Spider”
Also of interest:
Joly, Henri L. Legend in Japanese Art. Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle, 1967.
TSUCHIGUMO. The invulnerable earth spider which infested the province of Yamato, in the time of Jimmu Tenno. It was proof against steel, and the only way in which it could be killed was devised by Mono-no-Funo-Michi-on-no-Mikoto, who closed the mouth of the cave in which the monster lived, with an iron net, and by means of a huge fire smoked the spider in its den.
Posted by pzed on March 12, 2007 at 4.52pm
Categories: fragments, graven images, ninja, scripture
Comments on "Kintaro fights the Earth-Spider"
Did it say who the artist of the illustration is? Or is it just some anonymous present-day book illustrator?
Posted by jodi on March 12, 2007 at 6.47pm :: link
Here is WorldCat‘s responsibility designation: “by Osman Edwards. With twelve coloured plates by Japanese artists.” I left the book in my office, though; I don’t remember seeing an artist credited by name, but I’ll update this comment if I find one.
Posted by pzed on March 12, 2007 at 6.54pm :: link
Hey Pete,
sorry I couldn’t remember your email address. We are having people over on Saturday night for St. Paddy’s day. Short notice I know, but we would love it if you were free to come by. (by people I mean Dru and Em and Em and Pete and possible two more) You need to come visit Toronto :)
Posted by Krista on March 13, 2007 at 10.05pm :: link
