Editing Tsuchigumo (section)

==In history==
References to Tsuchigumo appear across Japan, indicating the term was applied to various local powers resisting Yamato authority. Historical records mention Tsuchigumo in at least seven locations in Hitachi province, six in Bungo, twelve in Hizen, two in Mutsu, and one in Hyūga, primarily in Kyushu, Tōhoku, and Kantō regions.<ref name="義江">{{cite book|lang=ja|title= つくられた卑弥呼――〈女〉の創出と国家|year= 2018|orig-date= 2005|publisher= 筑摩書房|series= ちくま文庫|author= 義江明子|pages= 16–17}}</ref> Around 45 individual chieftain names associated with Tsuchigumo are recorded, among which 14 include titles like "me" (女, woman), "hime" (姫/媛, princess), suggesting female leadership was not uncommon, particularly in Hizen.<ref name="義江"/> Examples include Ōyamada-me (大山田女), Sayamada-me (狭山田女), Yasome (八十女), and Hayakitsu-hime (速来津姫).<ref>“[http://jyashin.net/evilshrine/gods/tsuchigumo_shrine/tsuchigumo_ancient_list.html#hizen 古代土蜘蛛一覧]”. ''jyashin.net''</ref><ref>“[http://jyashin.net/evilshrine/gods/tsuchigumo_shrine/tsuchigumo_ancient_02.html#16 土蜘蛛（彼杵郡）]”. ''古代土蜘蛛一覧''</ref><ref name="hayakitsu-jinja">“[https://hiroda.net/hiroda-history/mishima/ 三島神社]”. ''広田地区自治協議議会''</ref> The ''[[Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki]]'' explicitly states that "Kuzu" and "Tsuchigumo" were synonymous terms in that region.<ref name="Takine"/>

===Yamato Province===
The Tsuchigumo of the [[Mount Yamato Katsuragi|Katsuragi]] region in Yamato Province (modern Nara Prefecture) are particularly well-known. According to the ''Nihon Shoki'', Emperor Jimmu defeated several Tsuchigumo groups during his eastward expedition. These included figures named Niki Tobe (新城戸畔) at Hataoka-no-saki, Kose Hafuri (居勢祝) at Wani-no-saka-no-shita, and Ihafuri (猪祝) at Hetsugi-no-nagae-no-oka-no-saki. He is also said to have defeated Tsuchigumo at Takaowari village by weaving a net of katsura vines (葛), subsequently renaming the area Katsuragi (葛城).<ref>''Nihon Shoki'', Volume 3, Emperor Jimmu.</ref> The Tsuchigumo of Takaowari were described as having small bodies and long limbs.<ref>''Nihon Shoki'', Volume 3, Emperor Jimmu.</ref> [[Katsuragi Hitokotonushi Shrine]] (葛城一言主神社) features a "Tsuchigumo塚" (tsuka, mound), said to be where Jimmu buried the head, body, and feet of captured Tsuchigumo separately to prevent their vengeful spirits ({{transliteration|ja|[[onryō]]}}) from harming the living.<ref>{{Cite book|author=村上健司 編著|authorlink=Murakami Kenji|title=妖怪事典|year=2000|publisher=毎日新聞社|isbn=978-4-620-31428-0|pages=222頁}}</ref>

A unique physical characteristic attributed to the indigenous people of Yamato in early chronicles was the possession of tails. The ''Nihon Shoki'' describes the ancestor of the Yoshino no Futo (吉野首) clan as "glowing, with a tail," and the ancestor of the Yoshino no Kuzu (国樔) as "having a tail and pushing aside rocks."<ref>''Nihon Shoki'', Volume 3, Emperor Jimmu.</ref> Similarly, the ''Kojiki'' refers to the people of Osaka (忍坂, modern Sakurai city) as "Tsuchigumo who have tails grown."<ref>''Kojiki'', Middle Volume, Emperor Jimmu.</ref> These descriptions likely served to portray the pre-Yamato inhabitants as non-human or primitive.

===Other Regions and Emperor Keiko's Campaigns===
Several accounts detail conflicts during the reign of Emperor Keiko (traditionally 71–130 AD):

*   '''Hizen Province:''' The ''Hizen no Kuni Fudoki'' records that during an imperial visit to Shiki island (志式島, likely part of modern Hirado Island) around year 72, smoke was seen rising from nearby islands. Investigation revealed Tsuchigumo named Ōmimi (大耳) on the smaller island and Taremimi (垂耳) on the larger one. When captured and facing execution, they prostrated themselves, offered fish products, and pledged allegiance, thus securing their pardon. The same text relates the story of Tsuchigumo Yasome (土蜘蛛八十女) in Kijima county. "Yaso" (八十) means "eighty" but here signifies "many," suggesting multiple female leaders resisted the Yamato forces. Yasome, popular among her people, reportedly fortified herself in the mountains but was ultimately defeated and her forces annihilated. This story is often interpreted as representing the heroic but tragic resistance of female chieftains against Yamato expansion. It's noted that another local female leader reported Yasome's location to the emperor and was spared for her cooperation.<ref>義江明子『古代女性史への招待――“妹の力”を超えて』吉川弘文館, 2004. ISBN 4-642-07937-8. (Page number needed for specific claim about Yasome)</ref><ref>“[https://www.education.saga.jp/hp/omachi-t/?list_detail=%e8%82%a5%e5%89%8d%e5%85%ab%e5%8d%81%e5%a5%b3%e5%9c%9f%e8%9c%98%e8%9b%9b%e4%b8%80%e6%97%8f 肥前八十女土蜘蛛一族]”. ''大町町教育委員会''</ref> Conversely, Hayakitsu-hime (速来津姫) of Hayaki in Sonogi county submitted peacefully to Emperor Keiko, offering three valuable pearls (natural pearls called shiratama, isonokami mokurenji-tama, utsukushiki-tama).<ref name="hayakitsu-jinja"/><ref name=":0">“[http://jyashin.net/evilshrine/gods/tsuchigumo_shrine/tsuchigumo_ancient_02.html#16 土蜘蛛（彼杵郡）]”. ''古代土蜘蛛一覧''</ref>

*   '''Bungo Province:''' The ''Bungo no Kuni Fudoki'' mentions numerous Tsuchigumo figures: Itsuma-hime (五馬姫) of Itsuma mountain (五馬山); Uchisaru (打猴), Unasaru (頸猴), Yata (八田), and Kunimaro (國摩侶) of Negi field (禰宜野); Shinokaomi (小竹鹿臣) and Shinokaosa (小竹鹿奥) of Amashi field (網磯野); and Ao (青) and Shiro (白) of Nezumi cavern (鼠の磐窟).

*   '''Nihon Shoki Account (Keiko):''' According to the ''Nihon Shoki'', in the winter of the 12th year of Emperor Keiko's reign (legendary year 82), the emperor arrived in Hayami town, Ōkita county (modern Ōita Prefecture). The local queen, Hayatsuhime (速津媛), informed him of two Tsuchigumo named Ao (青) and Shiro (白) living in the nearby Nezumi cave (鼠の石窟, Rat Cave). She also reported three more Tsuchigumo in Naoiri county's Negino (禰疑野) field: Uchizaru (打猿), Yata (八田), and Kunimaro (国摩侶, 国麻呂). These five were described as powerful, having many allies, and refusing to obey imperial commands.<ref>''Nihon Shoki'', Volume 7, Emperor Keiko, 12th year: [http://www.j-texts.com/jodai/shoki7.html Text link].</ref>

*   '''Chikugo Province:''' The ''Nihon Shoki'' records that in the 3rd month of the 9th year of Emperor Chūai's reign (legendary year 200), Empress Jingū subdued a local queen named Taburatsu-hime (田油津媛) in Yamato county (山門郡, modern Yanagawa/Miyama area).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nihonsinwa.com/page/1184.html |title=御笠と安の地名説話と田油津媛 |language=ja |website=日本神話・神社まとめ |access-date=2019-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528082756/https://nihonsinwa.com/page/1184.html |archive-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>

*   '''Tango Province:''' The ''Tango no Kuni Fudoki Zanketsu'', a document purported to be a fragment of the lost ''Tango Fudoki'' (though its authenticity is debated, possibly being a later forgery<ref>Fukuoka Takeshi (福岡猛志),「『丹後国風土記残欠』の基礎的検討」『愛知県史研究』17号, 2013.</ref>), mentions a Tsuchigumo named Kuga-mimi-no-Mikasa (陸耳御笠) who ravaged the land. He was supposedly defeated by Prince Hikoimasu (日子坐王), brother of Emperor Sujin, and fled to Yosa-no-Ōeyama (與佐大山), identified with modern [[Ōeyama (mountain range)|Ōeyama]]. This has led some to call Kuga-mimi the "first oni of Ōeyama."<ref>Murakami Masakuni (村上政市), "Kuga-mimi-no-Mikasa" (陸耳御笠) in Yagi Tōru (八木透)監修『日本の鬼図鑑』(Illustrated Guide to Japanese Oni), Seigensha (青幻舎), 2021. ISBN 978-4-86152-866-8 P.23.</ref>

[[File:SekienTsuchigumo.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"Tsuchigumo" from the ''[[Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki]]'' by [[Sekien Toriyama]], depicted as a spider yōkai.]]
[[File:35.Tsuchigumo.jpg|thumb|Tsuchigumo, from [[Bakemono no e]] scroll, [[Brigham Young University]]]]
[[File:Kuniyoshi Utagawa, Minamoto Yorimitsu also known as Raiko.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Minamoto no Yorimitsu]] cutting the Tsuchigumo yōkai. Woodblock print by [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]], early Bunsei period (c. 1818-1830). Part of a diptych.]]
[[File:Mitsuaki Tosa, Yorimitsu Destroying Tsuchigumo.jpg|thumb|250px|From the ''[[Tsuchigumo Sōshi]]'', depicting strange yōkai appearing before Yorimitsu and his retainers in an old mansion.]]
[[File:土蜘蛛退治図鐔 Tsuba with design of Minamoto no Yorimitsu confronting the Tsuchigumo.jpg|thumb|250px| Two ''[[Japanese sword mountings|tsuba]]'' (sword guards) depicting Minamoto no Yorimitsu confronting the Tsuchigumo. Left: By Unno Yoshimori I. Right: By Gochiku Sadakatsu. [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]].]]