Tsuchigumo Sōshi (土蜘蛛草紙) is a 14th-century Japanese picture scroll depicting the heroic exploits of Minamoto no Raikō in his battle against an enormous spider monster.
23-643: The pictures in Tsuchigumo Sōshi are traditionally attributed to the artist Tosa Nagataka (土佐 長隆), who is also credited with the famous Illustrated Account of the Mongol Invasion , while the text is traditionally attributed to the Buddhist teacher Kenkō , famed for his Essays in Idleness . While these attributions are uncertain, the scroll itself is generally dated to the early 14th century, or
46-493: A broken sword and struck down the king. He crafts an effigy out of his broken sword and heads into the cave. Before long, the two companions encounter an enormous beast some 20 jō , or around 60 metres, in length, with bright, shining eyes. The tip of Raikō's sword shoots out of the shadows and collapses the effigy, and after a struggle, in which Raikō calls on divine aid from Amaterasu , the sun goddess, and Shō Hachimangū , his family's patron, they eventually manage to bring down
69-554: A grave and bury the skulls, before setting fire to the manor that had housed the monstrous spider. The emperor, hearing this story, rewards Raikō's valorous deed with the governorship of Tsu Province , and promotes him to the Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade . To Tsuna, he awards the province of Tanba , promoting him to the Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. A number of different monstrous apparitions appear to
92-498: A ship. He tries to board the ship of general Adachi Yorimune (Yasumori's son), but is turned away. Finally, he finds a boat at Iki Island . He removes his helmet and sets out on a transport ship with other warriors, boarding a Mongol vessel at the Battle of Kōan , where he engages in close quarters combat on the deck. Suenaga and his men cut off the heads of their enemies, presenting them to Adachi Morimune as evidence of their deeds. In
115-463: Is 290 years old, and has served nine generations of lords of this house. She rambles on about various matters and Raikō goes searching for his own answers. Tsuna joins his master, and they encounter various yōkai : possessed household utensils, a nun with a massive head, and a beautiful young woman who throws balls with the appearance of white cloud at Raikō. Raikō strikes at the woman with his sword, but it goes straight through her and crashes against
138-550: Is in two scrolls and is entitled Tsuchigumo (土ぐも). Reider suggests that Tsuchigumo Sōshi should be placed alongside the much earlier Nihon Shoki , the slightly early Heike Tsuruginomaki , and the later Noh play Tsuchigumo , as an important source for the popular Japanese image of a ferocious "earth spider" known as a tsuchigumo . Illustrated Account of the Mongol Invasion Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba ( 蒙古襲来絵詞 , Illustrated Account of
161-562: The yamato-e style. They focus on the actions of Takezaki Suenaga , a gokenin (shogun's vassal) from Hizen Province , depicting him and other Japanese troops in battle against the Mongol invaders, on land and at sea. Aside from scenes of combat, the text also gives insight into the Kamakura government's system of rewarding distinguished warriors, as well as the relationship between Suenaga and his benefactor, general Adachi Yasumori. In
184-555: The Battle of Sekigahara , the area was given to relatives of Tokugawa Ieyasu . It was from then on divided into several domains, including the Asada Domain . Sumiyoshi taisha was designated as the chief Shinto shrine ( ichinomiya ) for the province. During the Sengoku period Settsu became the main exporting centre of matchlock firearms to the rest of Japan. The Kohama style ( 小浜流 , Kohama-ryū ) of sake brewing
207-403: The colophon , Suenaga personally expresses gratitude towards Adachi Yasumori for recognizing his accomplishments and bestowing rewards upon him. He then praises a Shinto kami that he had prayed to, stating that he saw the deity land on a cherry tree in a dream, a sign that the kami was responsible for him receiving the recognition he deserved. The date of composition is recorded at the end of
230-461: The Kamakura period. The artwork is in the yamato-e style. Although the scroll was produced in the early 14th century, it depicts the exploits the famous 10th-century warrior Minamoto no Raikō (also known as Minamoto no Yorimitsu) and his retainer Watanabe no Tsuna as they encounter a tsuchigumo or giant earth spider. It consists of nine paragraphs of text and thirteen illustrations. As
253-473: The Mongol Invasion ) is a set of two Japanese illustrated handscrolls ( emaki ) commissioned by the samurai Takezaki Suenaga (1246–1314) as a record of his wartime deeds and valor during the Mongol invasions of Japan . The first scroll describes Suenaga's actions at the Battle of Bun'ei (1274), as well as his attempts to seek recognition and rewards from the government. The second scroll describes him at
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#1732780998698276-504: The creature—a yamagumo ("mountain spider"). As swift as lightning, Raikō decapitates the beast with his broken sword, and Tsuna goes for the belly, where he finds that it is already cut open—Raikō's handiwork from their previous encounter at the old house. Out from this pour some 1,900 skulls, cutting open its side causes a large number of smaller spiders, each around the size of a human child, to emerge, and digging around in its stomach they find about twenty more very small skulls. The two dig
299-451: The first scroll, twenty-nine year old Suenaga and his clansmen meet with commander Saburō Kagesuke, who would later testify in his favor before the government. They gather their forces, and travel to Hakata to meet the Mongol invaders, passing the torii gates of Hakozaki Shrine on the way. Suenaga and his brother-in-law, Mitsui Sukenaga, encounter a group of Mongol soldiers and force them to retreat. Suenaga then meets and fights against
322-459: The floor, cleaving in twain the foundation stone of the house. The woman fades from view, and Raikō pulls up his sword, which is broken and stained with white blood. Raikō and Tsuna follow the trail of blood until it leads them to a cave in Nishiyama ( ja ). At the entrance to the cave, Raikō, looking at his broken sword, is reminded of the tale of Mikenjaku of the kingdom of Chu , who took
345-585: The latter part of Japan's Kamakura period . Tsuchigumo Sōshi is a picture scroll, or emaki . Noriko Tsunoda Reider of Miami University identifies it as an example of an otogi-zōshi , or Muromachi-period fiction, and it was included in Volume 9 of the Collection of Tales of the Muromachi Period (室町時代物語大成 Muromachi-jidai Monogatari Taisei ), in spite of its technically dating to the end of
368-404: The main Mongol army at the Battle of Bun'ei , where he and his flagbearer are both dismounted after their horses were shot. Facing Mongol arrows and explosives, Suenaga is saved by a cavalry charge led by Shiraishi Michiyasu, another samurai. After the battle, Suenaga travels to the capital city of Kamakura , dissatisfied that he had not been rewarded by the government for his valor in combat. On
391-647: The naval Battle of Kōan (1281). The work dates itself to 1293, while scholars similarly believe it was composed between the late 13th century and early 14th century, during the Kamakura period . Their author and artist are unknown. Together, the scrolls contain some of the earliest artistic depictions of the Mongol invasions of Japan. Both scrolls are currently kept in the Museum of the Imperial Collections at Tokyo Imperial Palace . The scrolls alternate between written accounts and illustrations done in
414-490: The second scroll as "the first year of the Einin era", or 1293 CE. However, the illustrations have been modified many times after its completion, with additions, alterations, and retouching. Both scrolls were lost at some point, and only rediscovered in the 18th century. Several copies of the scrolls exist: Tsu Province Settsu Province ( 摂津国 , Settsu no kuni ) was a province of Japan , which today comprises
437-495: The second scroll, Suenaga travels to Iyo Province to visit the house of Kawano Michiari, another samurai who fought the Mongols earlier on Shika Island . The two men discuss the state of the war. Suenaga then sets out with the samurai Kikuchi Takefusa , joining the other Japanese defenders in front of the defensive wall at Hakata Bay . Suenaga and his company intend to attack the Mongols at sea, but they have difficulty finding
460-731: The southeastern part of Hyōgo Prefecture and the northern part of Osaka Prefecture . It was also referred to as Tsu Province ( 津国 , Tsu no kuni ) or Sesshū ( 摂州 ) . Osaka and Osaka Castle were the main center of the province. Most of Settsu's area comprises the modern day cities of Osaka and Kōbe . During the Sengoku period , the Miyoshi clan ruled Settsu and its neighbors, Izumi and Kawachi , until they were conquered by Oda Nobunaga . The provinces were ruled subsequently by Toyotomi Hideyoshi . The regents of Hideyoshi's son soon quarreled, and when Ishida Mitsunari lost
483-552: The story begins, Raikō and Tsuna arrive at the cemetery of Rendaino, in the Kitayama ( ja ), a hilly region of the northern outskirts of Kyoto . The two men there encounter a single skull that floats in the air and rises up into the clouds, and, seeking to find out where it is going, they follow it to Kaguraoka. There, they find a large, old mansion. Raikō orders his retainer to wait outside as he ventures inside and finds an old woman. Upon his asking her age, she tells them that she
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#1732780998698506-417: The two heroes. These are: Against these malignant yōkai , the hero calls upon his divine ancestors, the kami of Japan, Hachiman and Amaterasu , alluding to his own imperial ancestry (his grandfather, Minamoto no Tsunemoto , was a son of Emperor Seiwa ). The most famous scroll is in the holdings of Tokyo National Museum , but a slightly different version is held by Keio University Library , which
529-489: The way, he visits several shrines and makes offerings. At Kamakura, he meets with many government officials to appeal his case. They ignore him due to a lack of evidence, despite testimony from Suenaga's fellow warriors. At last, after a personal appeal to general Adachi Yasumori, Suenaga's military service is certified in writing, and he is awarded a fully equipped horse, as well as a plot of land in Higo Province . In
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