Jorogumo

A Jorogumo (Binding Bride or Whore Spider) is a type of Yokai (a creature akin to a ghost, or goblin) from Japanese folklore. It's typically discribed as a spider that can take the form of a seductive woman. Depending on how far along in the transformation it is it might appear fully human, or as possessing the upper body of a woman, in addition to the body of a spider. In the Edo Period the Jorogumo would take on the form of a beautiful woman, and entice men into a secluded shack where she would being to play a Biwa (a type of Japanese Lute). The man would be so enchanted by the music, that they would fail to notice themselves slowly being binded in spider silk. The typical reason being to make the man her next meal, though some legends have her possessing other motives. Stories like Taihei-Hyakumonogatari or Tonoigusa have the Jorogumo take on the form of a woman in order to attract a human male who she'd decieve into guarding her young (an egg sac she has disquised as a baby). For this reason they would seek out members of the Samarui caste.

They usually reside in small shacks, or caves near waterwalls where they may fish by use of silk nets. The Mistress of Joren Falls is an example of such a Jorogumo. The legend has variation; one verson has a logger loose an axe near the falls after stumbling into a web, only to have it brought back to him by a mysterious woman who has him promise not to speak of her. One day he becomes drunk, and tells of her, and instantly fell into a deep sleep, never to awake.

The variation that includes the Jorogumo has the logger fall inlove with the woman, and travel up to the caves to be with her, however each day he grew weaker, and weaker. A monk from a neighboring village observed the mans symptoms, and determined that he had fallen into the romantic snare of a Jorogumo. The monk travels to the caves, and confronts the Jorogumo who leaves. When the monk goes to the Logger to explain why the Logger has been so ill the Logger isn't pleased with the monk's initiative, as the Logger was truely in love with the Jorogumo. The Logger goes to a Tengu master for aid in locating his lover, but the Tengu are against any relationship between a Human, and Jorogumo; thus the Tengu master refuses to help. Eventaully the man returns to the falls, hoping that his lover has returned, rushing up to the cave he stumbles upon some silkin threads, and falls into the pool below, where he drowns.

Following up with this event, many stories feature Jorogumo as entities who save people from drowning, with the settlement of Kashikobuchi having erected a monument in honor of the Jorogumo in such a role.