Editing Tsuchigumo (section)

===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>