Japan & the Far East
Hidesato and the Centipede
Original caption: Hidesato and the Centipede
Hidesato aims at the enormous centipede threatening the Dragon King's family beneath Lake Biwa. Davis describes its coils covering Mount Mikami, with fiery eyes and feet glowing like a chain of lanterns, details that Paul translates into the dark, luminous background. Two arrows fail; the last succeeds after Hidesato moistens its point with saliva, following the story's account of the creature's vulnerability. The Dragon King's gifts include an inexhaustible rice bag, explaining the hero's later name, My Lord Bag of Rice.
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Citation
Evelyn Paul. "Hidesato and the Centipede" [source caption]. In Myths and Legends of Japan, F. Hadland Davis; illustrated by Evelyn Paul. 1912, George G. Harrap & Company. Source scan leaf 87. Lumitheca. /gallery/image/japan-hidesato
Source details
Title from the printed caption. Editorial description. Source details from the Library catalogue.
Description follows Davis's retelling and the supplied plate, rather than presenting the legend as historical fact.
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Evelyn Paul. Hidesato and the Centipede. Myths and Legends of Japan. Scan leaf 87. Lumitheca. https://lumitheca.com/gallery/image/japan-hidesato