Tsuchigumo

Tsuchigumo (土蜘蛛) is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien and various other literature such as the Bakemono no e.

The creature is an oversized spider type of creature.

Yōkai Connections

It is said Minamoto no Yorimitsu killed one of these creatures. The 1781 Kabuki Play called Kumo no Hyōshimai (Dance of the Spider Woman) has a version of this tale where Yorimitsu encouters a beautiful woman, only to see later that her shadow is shaped like a spider.

The Tokyo National Museum houses the Tsuchigumo no Sōshi Emaki, a large picture scroll showing the story of a Tsuchigumo. It can be viewed online.¹

Connection to ‘Barbarians’

Historically this word was used to describe those who would not submit to Imperial Rule, these people portrayed as monsters and barbarians. It is more likely however, that they were merely people who prefered to live their own way of life.¹

Some of the Kumaso people from Tsukushi appear to fall into this category as five people, Awo, Shira, Uchizaru, Yata and Kunimaro are called Tsuchigumo in the nihongi. The first two are even said to dwell in caves. Another by the name of Tsudzura is also seen in his reign.

They are all defeated by Imperial Forces during the reign of Emperor Keikō.²

Other Depictions

Bakemono no e	Minamoto Yorimitsu and Tsuchigumo, Kuniyoshi Utagawa

External Links

• • View the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki online here: Konjaku Online.
  • View the Tsuchigumo no Sōshi Emaki online here: Tsuchigumo no Sōshi Emaki Online.

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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Hear about Sakura Sogoro on Bonus Episode 16 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Period: Edo Period
• Occupation: Peasant
• Family: Wife and 4 children.
• Birth:
• Death: September 24th 1653

Sakura Sōgorō

Sakura Sōgorō (佐倉 惣五郎) also known as Kiuchi Sōgorō (木内 惣五郎) was a peasant living in the village of Kozu, now close to modern day Narita.¹ At the time this was in the Sakura Domain in Shimōsa Province.³ He was killed by crucifixion September 24th 1653. After this he returned as an onryo.

Sōgorō’s village was ruled by the hatamoto Hotta Masanobu (堀田 正信), a very greedy ruler who took most of everyones rice as tax, though the area was a fertile land. This led to everyone being on the brink of poverty.

As the head of the village (shōya), Sōgorō decided to go over the lord’s head and send a petition (jikiso) straight to the shogun concerning the greediness of Masanobu. He crept to a bridge they knew the shogun would cross and managed to get the petition into the palanquin of the shogun.¹ The shogun at the time was Tokugawa Ietsuna.²

The shogun after reading the petition requested Hotta to consider the villagers request.

Masanobu rounded up Sōgorō and his family, saying he would do as the petition said, but as Sōgorō had gone over his head Sōgorō would have to pay.

He crucified Sōgorō and his wife, and made them watch their 4 children be beheaded (their children being aged 11, 9, 6, 3), with Masanobu leaving Sōgorō and his wife hanging for three days before finishing them.¹ The crucifixion perhaps occured between 1645-1652.²

He cursed Masanobu as he died and soon after apparitions of him and his wife then began haunting Masanobu and his family. Masanobu’s wife died, and the spirits made him so crazed Hotta killed a maidservant thinking it a phantom. Then he saw Sōgorō in the shoguns castle in Edo and attaked it. Unfortunately it was actually another nobleman, so Masanobu lost his titles and holdings.

There are many versions of how the tale ends with one saying Masanobu realised how evil he was. If Sōgorō would stop his terror he would venerate him in a shrine. The hauntings wanes, and so Masanobu built a shrine using a vast sum of money leading to Sōgorō becoming a patron saint of the peasantry.

The shogun feeling sorry for Masanobu restored his holdings.¹

A kabuki play was later written concerning Sōgorō called Sakura gimin den.²³

Other Depictions

Sôgorô by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.	Tsukioka Yoshitoshi: The Story of Sakura Sôgo (Sakura Sôgo no hanashi).
Sôgorô presenting his petition.	Utagawa Kuniyoshi, The Spirit of Sakura Sogoro Haunting Hotta Kozuke.
Sôgorô and Hotta Masanobu.

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Yurei Attack: The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
3. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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Mon

Mon (紋), also known as monshō (紋章)¹ were in essence family crests of Japanese families.

Design

The crests are almost always created monochromatically¹, and are stylised designs in a circle or geometric pattern.²

Origins

Many of the first depictions were merely elaborate patterns dating back to the Nara and Heian Periods, these bing called moyō, or yūsoku mon’yō. Later, these turned into family crests (kamon 家紋) during the wars of the 12th century,¹ as it allowed Samurai and others to easily recognise the various houses upon the battlefield.²

Soon after all of the Clan adopted the use of Mon.²

Development

From the 14th to 16th centuries they came to symbolise political and social change, the ‘great houses’ frequently using 10 or more different crests. By the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate the ruling elite becomes rigidly fixed, and the peace of this time allowed for the elaboration and popularization of these crests. It became common at this time to place them within a circle and show them in 3-5 places on garments.¹

During the Edo Period, the daimyō were allowed to have two mon, with Samurai only allowed to bear one. Commoners at this time could not have any. However, this changes after 1868 and all people could use mon.² With it become widespread to all people vendors, courtesans and even Kabuki actors adopted the use of these crests.¹

Modern day ceremonial clothes for familes will have their mon displayed upon the lapels, middle of the back and upon the sleeves.²

Literature on Mon

The first practical text on these crests can be found dating to the Muromachi Shogunate and contains 255 crests within its pages. The rigidity of the ruling elite by the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate saw the publication of a book of heraldry (bukan) We also have a later Edo Period publication called the monchō or mokan which catalogued thousands of variations of basic mon designs.¹

Chrysanthemum Throne

The mon used for the Imperial Throne is known as the kikumon (菊紋) and is a Chrysanthemum with 16 petals.²

Floral Motif’s

Chrysanthemum Throne	Fujiwara Clan	Konoe Family
Kujō Family	Takatsukasa Family

Bird Motif’s

Date Clan

Geometric Motif’s

Akamatsu Family	Amago Family	Sugawara Clan
Takeda Clan

Prefectural Mon

Nagasaki Prefecture	Nara Prefecture	Toyama Prefecture

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Mon appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.