"Mushi" in Japanese culture （Itami City Museum of Art, History and Culture）

"Mushi" in Japanese culture

Itami City Museum of Art, History and Culture

Finished

Since ancient times, small and ephemeral "insects" have been close companions to the people of Japan. Insects reflect the rich natural environment of the Japanese archipelago and have deeply influenced people's sensibilities and culture. They have been utilized in daily life, revered like gods and Buddhas, and feared as monsters. This duality reflects nature's bounty and its merciless disasters, which have been etched into the hearts of the Japanese through legends, customs, and beliefs.

This exhibition showcases approximately 140 pieces from various fields—art, crafts, haiku, and history—mainly from the Edo period, highlighting the diverse roles of insects in Japanese culture and history. The collection includes narrative picture scrolls where insects take center stage, detailed illustrations born from meticulous observation, unique artworks depicting insects, insects believed to cause trouble in the human body, and insects feared as yokai (supernatural creatures). Through these works, visitors will gain a multifaceted understanding of how Japanese people have perceived, studied, and cherished insects, as well as the profound and varied fascination insects hold.