Editing Tsuchigumo (section)

==Yōkai Tsuchigumo==
{{Main articles|Tsuchigumo Sōshi|Tsuchigumo (Noh)}}
From the [[Japanese middle ages]] ([[Kamakura period|Kamakura]]/[[Muromachi period|Muromachi]]/[[Azuchi-Momoyama]] periods, or the late 12th to the early 17th centuries) onward, ''tsuchigumo'' began to be depicted as giant, monstrous spiders, often referred to as either ''tsuchigumo'' (土蜘蛛) or ''yamagumo'' (山蜘蛛, mountain spider). These depictions drew little direct inspiration from the historical accounts of rebellious clans, instead developing into distinct folklore figures.

===The Tale of the Heike and Yorimitsu===
A key text in popularizing the Tsuchigumo yōkai is ''[[The Tale of the Heike]]'' (''Heike Monogatari''). This work, passed down orally among ''[[biwa]]'' lute players, exists in numerous variants, including the expanded ''[[Genpei Jōsuiki]]''. Some versions contain an extended passage on swords known as the [[Heike Tsuruginomaki|"Sword Scroll" (''tsurugi-no-maki'')]]. This scroll is regarded as one of the most important sources for the legend of [[Minamoto no Yorimitsu]] (also known as Raikō) and the Tsuchigumo, influencing many later artistic representations.{{sfnm|1a1=Reider|1y=2013|1p=56}}

The ''Tsurugi-no-maki'' relates that Yorimitsu was suffering from [[malaria]] ({{transliteration|ja|okori}}) when a strange monk, seven shaku (over 2 meters) tall, appeared and tried to bind him with rope. Despite his illness, Yorimitsu slashed at the monk with his famous sword, {{illm|Hizamaru|ja|膝丸}}. The monk fled, leaving a trail of blood. The next day, Yorimitsu, accompanied by his four chief retainers (the {{transliteration|ja|[[Shitennō (Minamoto no Yorimitsu)|Shitennō]]}}), followed the blood trail to a mound behind [[Kitano Tenmangū|Kitano Shrine]]. There they discovered a giant ''yamagumo'', four shaku (about 1.2 meters) across. They captured the spider, impaled it with an iron skewer, and exposed it by a riverbank. Yorimitsu subsequently recovered, and Hizamaru was renamed {{nihongo|''Kumokiri''|蜘蛛切|extra="Spider-Cutter"}} in honor of the event.<ref name="sanpo">{{Cite book|author=村上健司|authorlink=Murakami Kenji|title=日本妖怪散歩|year=2008|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|series=[[Kadokawa Bunko]]|isbn=978-4-04-391001-4|pages=210–211}}</ref>{{sfnm|1a1=Shida|1y=1983|1p=389}}<ref name="kyoka"/> Today, several historical [[tachi]] swords are claimed to be the legendary Hizamaru/Kumokiri, including ones held by [[Daikaku-ji]] Temple, [[Hakone Shrine]], and a private collector. These swords also bear other names like 'Hoemaru' and 'Usumidori' based on associated legends.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210401090823/https://tsumugu.yomiuri.co.jp/learn/%e3%81%8a%e3%81%a1%e3%81%93%e3%81%a1%e5%88%80%e5%89%a3%e4%bd%99%e8%a9%b1vol-6/ Tsumugu Japan art & culture.] [[Yomiuri shimbun]].</ref>

===Tsuchigumo Sōshi===
The 14th-century picture scroll ''[[Tsuchigumo Sōshi]]'' (土蜘蛛草紙, "Tale of the Earth Spider") offers a different, more elaborate version of the legend. It depicts Yorimitsu and his retainer [[Watanabe no Tsuna]] visiting Rendaino, a burial ground north of Kyoto. They encounter a flying skull, follow it to a dilapidated mansion, and are assailed by various yōkai. Near dawn, a beautiful woman attempts to deceive them, but Yorimitsu strikes her with his sword. She vanishes, leaving a trail of white blood. Following the trail into the mountains, they discover a cave inhabited by a colossal ''yamagumo'', described as 20 jō (approximately 60 meters) long. After a fierce battle, they slay the spider. Cutting open its belly reveals 1,990 human skulls, and numerous small spiders emerge from its flanks, along with another 20 smaller skulls.<ref>{{Cite book|others=[[谷川健一]]監修|title=日本の妖怪|year=1987|publisher=[[Heibonsha]]|series=別冊[[太陽 (平凡社)|太陽]]|isbn=978-4-582-92057-4|pages=64–74}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|page=74|title=日本の妖怪の謎と不思議|author=Sachie Miyamoto, Azusa Kumagai|publisher=[[Gakken]]|year=2007|isbn=978-4056047608}}</ref> Interestingly, the scroll's illustrations sometimes deviate from the text; while the narrative describes a giant spider as the main antagonist, some images depict Yorimitsu and Tsuna battling two large [[oni]] resembling [[Ox-Head and Horse-Face|Gozu and Mezu]], perhaps representing another transformation of the Tsuchigumo.<ref name=Reider2013/>
{{Wide image|Tsuchigumo_zoshi.jpg|2000px|''Tsuchigumo Sōshi'', parts eight through thirteen, depicting Yorimitsu and Tsuna battling monstrous figures and discovering the giant spider in its cave.}}

===Noh, Kabuki, and Later Influence===
The legend was adapted into the 15th-century Noh play ''[[Tsuchigumo (Noh)|Tsuchigumo]]''. In this version, the spider spirit explicitly identifies itself, stating "I am the spirit of the Tsuchigumo who has passed many years on Mount Katsuragi" (葛城山に年を経し土蜘蛛の精魂なり).<ref name="kyoka" /> The Noh play, often categorized as a fifth-category (demon) play, solidified the image of the Tsuchigumo as a vengeful supernatural entity linked to Yorimitsu. Variations exist where Yorimitsu is incapacitated by illness, and one of his retainers hunts down the spider in his stead.

The story of Yorimitsu and the Tsuchigumo became a popular subject in [[Jōruri (music)|Jōruri]] and [[Kabuki]] theatre, particularly in plays set in the "Zen-Taiheiki" world, which focused on the exploits of Yorimitsu and his Shitennō. The motif of a spider using magic influenced other tales featuring spider yōkai, such as the ''yamagumo'' in ''Zentō Yasukata Chūgiden'' (善知安方忠義伝) and Kojorōgumo (小女郎蜘蛛) in ''Shiraito Monogatari'' (白縫譚).