Yamauba bore Kintarō in the deep mountains and raised him in the wilderness, where he grew strong wrestling bears and uprooting trees with his bare hands.
⚠ Some later Edo-period retellings present Yamauba as a foster mother who found the child abandoned, rather than his birth mother.
Minamoto no Yorimitsu led his Shitennō retainers — Sakata no Kintoki, Watanabe no Tsuna, Usui Sadamitsu, and Urabe no Suetake — on the expedition to Mount Ōe to slay Shuten-dōji.
Four warriors sworn to Minamoto no Yorimitsu formed the Shitennō — named after the Buddhist guardian kings. Together they infiltrated demon strongholds, guarded the capital's gates, and became the most celebrated demon-slaying band in Japanese legend.
Minamoto no Yorimitsu discovered the young Kintarō living wild in the Ashigara mountains with his mother Yamauba. Recognizing the boy's supernatural strength, Yorimitsu recruited him into his service as one of the Shitennō.
We use cookies to understand how you use our site and improve your experience. Learn more