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Description
I love to watch her transformation, from idea to reality.
An idea has been presented that the spider carries the same traits of the "Preying Mantis," or that I should focus on the singular aspect that the lore of the spider originated in Africa.
These misconceptions have devised some of the strangest world views.
If the "spider," by lore definition was the same as that of the "Preying Mantis," which originated in China, (Northern Song Dynasty (969-1126).Wang Lang (王郎), originally from Shanxi (陕西), home to Hong Quan, is credited as the founder of Praying Mantis during the Northern Song Dynasty (969-1126). It is also said that Wang Lang was known as Yu Qi (于七) - a Leader within the Tang Family Bo Village Peasant Uprising. A renowned fighter at the time, Wang Lang enhanced his skills by observation of the mantis insect and was inspired to develop skills and techniques which later became known as Praying Mantis Boxing. Wang Lang absorbed the essence of 18 key methods from the time and created what was to be known as "Shi Ba Cou" (螳螂十八凑,18 Family Collections).) A system of thought to oust the lore of the Crane and the dynasty (Crane. Qing dynasty (221–206 b.c.) The Qing government generally adopted the earlier Ming system of rank badges, with the exception of some minor changes in the choice of animals. The crane on this badge corresponds to the highest civil rank.

If this tale was connected to, that of the "Spider," then there would never have been a lead male role in the lore of the "Anansi." If we understand the role such lore's of the Preying Mantis contribute to.
The 'spider,' is not to be seen as some seductress, that cleans her home and sets up shop and waits for the male to approach, crown him, simply to eat his head. Such is the way of the Mantis.
This is not to say she is not seductive in her own right.
It is more to say she is a little more inclusive in her demands of the male role in connection with her lore.
Thus Anansi never would have been honored as a male demigod, trickster, or earned a right to enter halls of kings, much later as the mythology developed.

Now there was a Chinese connection to the lore of the "Spider," but it is not a pretty one and does very little to aid in my defense of the Anansi and Arachne lore.
Empress Zhou (10 May 1611 - 24 April 1644), posthumously named Empress Xiaojielie, was a Chinese Empress consort of the Ming Dynasty, married to Chongzhen Emperor.
Empress Zhou originated from Suzhou. She came from a poor background, which was customary in the Ming dynasty, who selected imperial spouses from the poor, who unlike upper class women did not have powerful families who could help any potentially political ambitious empress. [1]
She was elevated to the position of empress after the succession of the Chongzhen Emperor to the throne. Empress Zhou is described as "stern and prudent"; never forgetting of her poor origin, she maintained a frugal policy in palace affairs, and was admired and praised for this. [2]
The Chongzhen Emperor reportedly had a good relationship to her and divided his affections and attention equally between empress Zhou and his favorite concubine, Honored Consort Tian (d. 1642), who was the mother of his 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th sons. Zhou was allegedly not jealous of Tian, but she did disapprove of her haughty behavior. [3] This eventually caused a conflict between the empress and the consort Tian, which also involved the emperor. At one occasion, when Consort Tian was to give her customary greeting to the empress before visiting the emperor, the empress snubbed her, reportedly to remind her not to be arrogant. [4] Offended by this, Consort Tian complained to the emperor. The Chongzhen Emperor became infuriated with the empress, and reportedly abused her in a fit of rage. [5] Empress Zhou reacted by refusing to eat. Her hunger strike caused the emperor to regret the incident, and the imperial couple reconciled. [6] In 1642, Consort Tian begged the emperor to show leniency toward her father, Tian Honguy, who was accused of lawlessness. This angered the emperor, who banished Consort Tian to a separate palace. On this occasion, empress Zhou intervened with the emperor and asked him to end the exile of Tian, which he did, after three months. [7]
In April 1644, the army of the rebel Li Zicheng were approaching the capital through Juyong Pass. On 23 April, the Chongzhen Emperor held his last audience with his ministers. Li Zicheng offered Chongzhen the opportunity to surrender, but the emperor refused. The following day, the rebel army attacked the capital. The Chongzhen Emperor ordered the crown prince and his two brothers to hide in the home of relatives, and summoned the rest of his family. Rather than let them be captured by the rebels, the emperor started killing the female members of his family, concubines and consorts. Using his sword, he killed Honored Consort Yuan and Princess Kunyi, and severed the arm of Princess Changping, before dressing himself as a eunuch and trying to escape himself. [8] Empress Zhou herself was ordered by the emperor to commit suicide, which she performed by hanging in Kunning Gong (Palace of Earthly Tranquility), Forbidden City.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic…

Not a very good end for those that appreciated the tapestry and wealth associated with Silk.
www.smithsonianmag.com/history…

These are the connections the "Spider," made with the far east. It is said in Africa the Ashanti's of Ghana tribe devised the lore of Anansi and it even established itself in the Netherlands Antilles. To show more proof that such a tale is not connected to one singular country, tribe or people. Review the following list.

Anansi is a spider god and cunning trickster Africa and Caribbean West African

Ancient spider creates heaven and earth Micronesia Gilbert Islands

Arachne changed to spider by goddess Minerva Greece Greek

Djieien is a vast and hideous spider monster United States Seneca

First shaman changes into a spider and attacks God Siberia

Inktomi is trickster Spider Man associated with eroticism United States Sioux

Marawa is the Spider-God who tricked man out of his immortality Melanesia Banks Islands

Spider woman helps mankind escape flood United States Hopi

Tsuchi-Gomo is a giant malignant spider that hunted humans for sport Japan Old Japan

Water spider obtains fire for mankind United States Cherokee

One similarity with all of the sources of the "Spider" in reference to the public mass, whether good or bad, she is a disrupter of governing powers. To what aims is never understood until after she passes.

Description
I love to watch her transformation, from idea to reality.
An idea has been presented that the spider carries the same traits of the "Preying Mantis," or that I should focus on the singular aspect that the lore of the spider originated in Africa.
These misconceptions have devised some of the strangest world views.
If the "spider," by lore definition was the same as that of the "Preying Mantis," which originated in China, (Northern Song Dynasty (969-1126).Wang Lang (王郎), originally from Shanxi (陕西), home to Hong Quan, is credited as the founder of Praying Mantis during the Northern Song Dynasty (969-1126). It is also said that Wang Lang was known as Yu Qi (于七) - a Leader within the Tang Family Bo Village Peasant Uprising. A renowned fighter at the time, Wang Lang enhanced his skills by observation of the mantis insect and was inspired to develop skills and techniques which later became known as Praying Mantis Boxing. Wang Lang absorbed the essence of 18 key methods from the time and created what was to be known as "Shi Ba Cou" (螳螂十八凑,18 Family Collections).) A system of thought to oust the lore of the Crane and the dynasty (Crane. Qing dynasty (221–206 b.c.) The Qing government generally adopted the earlier Ming system of rank badges, with the exception of some minor changes in the choice of animals. The crane on this badge corresponds to the highest civil rank.

If this tale was connected to, that of the "Spider," then there would never have been a lead male role in the lore of the "Anansi." If we understand the role such lore's of the Preying Mantis contribute to.
The 'spider,' is not to be seen as some seductress, that cleans her home and sets up shop and waits for the male to approach, crown him, simply to eat his head. Such is the way of the Mantis.
This is not to say she is not seductive in her own right.
It is more to say she is a little more inclusive in her demands of the male role in connection with her lore.
Thus Anansi never would have been honored as a male demigod, trickster, or earned a right to enter halls of kings, much later as the mythology developed.

Now there was a Chinese connection to the lore of the "Spider," but it is not a pretty one and does very little to aid in my defense of the Anansi and Arachne lore.
Empress Zhou (10 May 1611 - 24 April 1644), posthumously named Empress Xiaojielie, was a Chinese Empress consort of the Ming Dynasty, married to Chongzhen Emperor.
Empress Zhou originated from Suzhou. She came from a poor background, which was customary in the Ming dynasty, who selected imperial spouses from the poor, who unlike upper class women did not have powerful families who could help any potentially political ambitious empress. [1]
She was elevated to the position of empress after the succession of the Chongzhen Emperor to the throne. Empress Zhou is described as "stern and prudent"; never forgetting of her poor origin, she maintained a frugal policy in palace affairs, and was admired and praised for this. [2]
The Chongzhen Emperor reportedly had a good relationship to her and divided his affections and attention equally between empress Zhou and his favorite concubine, Honored Consort Tian (d. 1642), who was the mother of his 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th sons. Zhou was allegedly not jealous of Tian, but she did disapprove of her haughty behavior. [3] This eventually caused a conflict between the empress and the consort Tian, which also involved the emperor. At one occasion, when Consort Tian was to give her customary greeting to the empress before visiting the emperor, the empress snubbed her, reportedly to remind her not to be arrogant. [4] Offended by this, Consort Tian complained to the emperor. The Chongzhen Emperor became infuriated with the empress, and reportedly abused her in a fit of rage. [5] Empress Zhou reacted by refusing to eat. Her hunger strike caused the emperor to regret the incident, and the imperial couple reconciled. [6] In 1642, Consort Tian begged the emperor to show leniency toward her father, Tian Honguy, who was accused of lawlessness. This angered the emperor, who banished Consort Tian to a separate palace. On this occasion, empress Zhou intervened with the emperor and asked him to end the exile of Tian, which he did, after three months. [7]
In April 1644, the army of the rebel Li Zicheng were approaching the capital through Juyong Pass. On 23 April, the Chongzhen Emperor held his last audience with his ministers. Li Zicheng offered Chongzhen the opportunity to surrender, but the emperor refused. The following day, the rebel army attacked the capital. The Chongzhen Emperor ordered the crown prince and his two brothers to hide in the home of relatives, and summoned the rest of his family. Rather than let them be captured by the rebels, the emperor started killing the female members of his family, concubines and consorts. Using his sword, he killed Honored Consort Yuan and Princess Kunyi, and severed the arm of Princess Changping, before dressing himself as a eunuch and trying to escape himself. [8] Empress Zhou herself was ordered by the emperor to commit suicide, which she performed by hanging in Kunning Gong (Palace of Earthly Tranquility), Forbidden City.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic…

Not a very good end for those that appreciated the tapestry and wealth associated with Silk.
www.smithsonianmag.com/history…

These are the connections the "Spider," made with the far east. It is said in Africa the Ashanti's of Ghana tribe devised the lore of Anansi and it even established itself in the Netherlands Antilles. To show more proof that such a tale is not connected to one singular country, tribe or people. Review the following list.

Anansi is a spider god and cunning trickster Africa and Caribbean West African

Ancient spider creates heaven and earth Micronesia Gilbert Islands

Arachne changed to spider by goddess Minerva Greece Greek

Djieien is a vast and hideous spider monster United States Seneca

First shaman changes into a spider and attacks God Siberia

Inktomi is trickster Spider Man associated with eroticism United States Sioux

Marawa is the Spider-God who tricked man out of his immortality Melanesia Banks Islands

Spider woman helps mankind escape flood United States Hopi

Tsuchi-Gomo is a giant malignant spider that hunted humans for sport Japan Old Japan

Water spider obtains fire for mankind United States Cherokee

One similarity with all of the sources of the "Spider" in reference to the public mass, whether good or bad, she is a disrupter of governing powers. To what aims is never understood until after she passes.