Ōmukade 大百足

Ōmukade (大百足), the “Great Centipede,” is a colossal and venomous monster of the high mountains, so large it can coil around a peak seven times and so armored that ordinary weapons shatter against its skin.

Meaning and Origin

The name literally means “Great Hundred-Legs” (ō - great, mukade - centipede).

In Japanese culture, the centipede has long been a symbol of unrelenting aggression and the darkness of the deep earth. The legend of the Ōmukade is famously tied to Mount Mikami near Lake Biwa. It is seen as a primal rival to the Divine Dragons—while dragons represent the purifying power of water and rain, the Ōmukade represents the crushing, toxic power of the mountain soil and the untamed wilderness.

Characteristics

An Ōmukade is depicted as a centipede of impossible proportions, often shown with a dragon-like head, long horns, and eyes that glow like lanterns. Its body is composed of dark, segmented armor that is harder than iron, and its hundreds of orange legs are said to move with the speed of a charging horse.

Its bite is lethal, delivering a paralyzing venom that can instantly kill a dragon. Furthermore, it is a creature that thrives on conflict and is famously impervious to the arrows and swords of even the greatest samurai, as they simply bounce off its reinforced exoskeleton.

Legends

The most famous tale is the legend of Fujiwara no Hidesato (Tawara Tōda). While traveling, Hidesato met the Dragon King of Lake Biwa, who begged him to slay the Ōmukade that was eating the dragon’s children. Hidesato climbed Mount Mikami and fired two arrows at the monster, but they did nothing.

Realizing the creature’s secret weakness, Hidesato coated his third arrow in his own saliva (considered sacred and toxic to pure earth-spirits). He prayed to the god of warriors and fired. This time, the arrow pierced the centipede’s skull, slaying it instantly. In gratitude, the Dragon King gave Hidesato the “Inexhaustible Bag of Rice,” a gift that ensured his family would never go hungry, cementing the warrior’s place as a legendary hero of Japan.