1864, Utagawa Toyokuni IV, Nakamura Shikan IV as Sakata Kintoki and Onoe Baikō (Kakunosuke) as Usai Sadamitsu (right); Sawamura Tanosuke III as Usugumo, Actually the Spirit of a Spider (center); Nakamura Chutarō as Urabe no Suetake and Ichikawa Kuzō III a
From the museum label: Minamoto Yorimitsu (948-1021) (also known as Raiko) had the reputation of the "demon slayer" of Kyoto, vanquishing the monsters that plagued the capital with his four loyal followers. One of these creatures was the tsuchigumo, or "earth spider," who cast a spell over the group, confusing and incapacitating them. Only Raikō was able to summon the strength to strike the spider and shatter the illusion. The story is likely based on the historical Raikō's battles with mountain bandits, who were also referred to as tsuchigumo, because they lived in caves like spiders.
1864, Utagawa Toyokuni IV, Nakamura Shikan IV as Sakata Kintoki and Onoe Baikō (Kakunosuke) as Usai Sadamitsu (right); Sawamura Tanosuke III as Usugumo, Actually the Spirit of a Spider (center); Nakamura Chutarō as Urabe no Suetake and Ichikawa Kuzō III a
From the museum label: Minamoto Yorimitsu (948-1021) (also known as Raiko) had the reputation of the "demon slayer" of Kyoto, vanquishing the monsters that plagued the capital with his four loyal followers. One of these creatures was the tsuchigumo, or "earth spider," who cast a spell over the group, confusing and incapacitating them. Only Raikō was able to summon the strength to strike the spider and shatter the illusion. The story is likely based on the historical Raikō's battles with mountain bandits, who were also referred to as tsuchigumo, because they lived in caves like spiders.