Japan: Tsuchigumo, the 'earth spider', being killed by Minamoto no Yorimitsu. From the 'Tsuchigumo Zoshi' scroll, Tosa Nagataka, 14th century

Tsuchigumo are monstrous creatures with the body of a tiger, limbs of a spider, and the face of a demon. They capture, bind and eat unwary travelers. When Minamoto no Yorimitsu killed a Tsuchigumo, 1,990 human skulls fell out of its belly.

The Tsuchigumo no Zoshi Emaki (Narrative picture scroll of the story of the earth spider) is a picture scroll depicting a story of a battle between Tsuchigumo and Minamoto no Yorimitsu, a general in the mid-Heian period. The story is well known as an episode in Taiheiki (a warrior tale) and the Noh song 'Tsuchigumo'.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History