Tsuchigumo (Earth Spider)

Utagawa Yoshitsuya, artist

1822–1866

Tsuchigumo (Earth Spider), circa 1847–1852, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: color woodcut

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): a 376 x 257 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): b 383 x 255 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): c 377 x 257 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 14 13/16 x 10 1/8 in
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 15 1/16 x 10 1/16 in
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 14 13/16 x 10 1/8 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 20 x 36 in

Credit line: Museum purchase

Accession number: 1984.0034.a,b,c

Not on display

Add to portfolio

If you wish to reproduce this image, please submit an image request

Images

Label texts

Archive Label date unknown:
Minamoto no Yorimitsu (c. 944-1021) rid Japan of an amazing array of terrifying monsters. The hero succumbs to unexplained sickness and sees a vision of a giant earth spider responsible for his frailty. Yorimitsu bravely attacks and kills the beast in its lair, which also vanquishes the hero's ills. His retainers, the "Four Guardian Kings," are often included in the tale, and in this print are seen helping to slay the vicious earth spider.

Archive Label date unknown:
Spiders are often viewed as magical creatures, particularly because of their hideous appearance and skillful art of creating webs. In the tenth century there lived a giant "tsuchigumo" (earth spider) several thousands of years old. The monster haunted the people of the area year after year, tormenting them continuously. The spider appeared to the great warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu night after night. This print highlights a scene in the kabuki drama entitled "Tsuchigumo" in which the spider appears to the warrior as a monk and tries to trap him with its mesmerizing web. The warrior's four protectors braved death to slay the monster.