Japanese heroic legend, Davis retelling
Yorimasa's Monster
A dark cloud settles on the imperial palace and terrible scratching sounds disturb the emperor night after night. Yorimasa waits outside the palace and shoots the creature revealed by lightning. Davis describes the fallen monster through features drawn from several animals, linking its destruction with the emperor's recovery.
Also known as Yorimasa's Vampire · Monster of the Purple Hall
Loading your archive…
In the sources
A visitor on the palace roof
TraditionalThe courtiers see a dark cloud arrive at the Purple Hall of the North Star. Scratching sounds accompany its nocturnal visits, while the emperor grows increasingly ill.
A body assembled from animal features
TraditionalDavis describes a horse-sized creature with an ape's head, tiger-like body and claws, a serpent's tail, bird wings and dragon scales. Yorimasa and his retainer kill it after the arrow brings it down.
Context & interpretation
The entry is limited to Davis's Yorimasa episode and its illustration. Vampire is the illustration's English label, not evidence that this creature shares every trait of European vampires. No zoological identification, preserved specimen or independently verified haunting is established by the retelling.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
a dark cloud crept from the eastern horizonOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter II, printed p. 38
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0042
- Original scan leaf
- 50
- Recorded leaf number
- 50
- Current Reader position
- 41
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
This evil monster of the night was as large as a horse.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter II, printed p. 39
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0044
- Original scan leaf
- 53
- Recorded leaf number
- 53
- Current Reader position
- 43
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Dragon King of Lake Biwa
The ruler beneath Lake Biwa who seeks Hidesato's protection against a centipede in Davis's tale.
Same subject and traditionGoblin of Oyeyama
The mountain goblin king defeated by Raiko and his companions in Davis's account.
Same subject and traditionGoblin Spider
The disguised visitor whose webs and hidden influence afflict Raiko in one of Davis's spider legends.