Abstract
Simple SummaryThis article discusses the inclusion of insects in Japanese myths. It is believed that the Japanese have more cultural affinity towards insects when compared to elsewhere in the world. It is reasonable to expect that this attitude toward insects is based on the prevalence of insects in Japanese myths. However, insects appear only seven times in the texts that were reviewed in this study, and are only twice presented in a positive light. Gods and emperors in Japanese lore are not commonly depicted as speaking to insects, or as instructing them to work. Neither are gods, nor humans, portrayed as taking the form of insects. In conclusion, relationships between gods, emperors, and insects are sparse in Japanese myths. In terms of cultural entomology, modern Japanese attitudes toward insects, and the origin thereof, require further investigation.Japanese people are perceived to have a relatively more favorable disposition towards insects than individuals from other nations. Given that insects frequently appear in myths from all over the world, I researched Japanese mythology as a potential origin of this positive outlook toward insects. I reviewed the ancient records Kojiki, Nihonshoki, and Fudoki, and found seven cases where insects appear. In all cases, the insects played relatively minor roles. They did not speak, nor were they under the command of gods or emperors. They did not feature as main characters in ancient poetry, and gods/emperors did not take the shape of any insects. In only two instances were insects featured in a positive light. In general, relationships between gods, emperors, and insects are weak in Japanese mythology, and hence mythology does not appear to be the primary source of Japanese affinity for insects.
Highlights
It is a commonly held belief that Japanese people have a relatively more favorable disposition towards insects than people from other parts of the world [1,2]
I designate the following stories as Japanese myth: the creation of the universe according to the Japanese, tales of many gods, histories from the first Jinmu Emperor to the 25th Buretsu Emperor written in Kojiki and Nihonshoki, and ancient regional legends in Fudoki
I found seven cases of insects appearing in Japanese myths
Summary
It is a commonly held belief that Japanese people have a relatively more favorable disposition towards insects than people from other parts of the world [1,2]. A Greek-Irish writer, who was naturalized as a Japanese citizen, admired the Japanese sentiment for insects and regarded it as completely different from the attitude of European people [3]. Insects frequently appear in myths all over the world and often play important roles in the stories [8,9]. In ancient Egypt, scarab beetles were believed to be the force that moved the sun across the sky [12,13]. The bees and scarab beetles were given a positive role. Nifoloa and the mosquitoes play a negative role. According to a myth of the Cochiti in the southwestern United States, the Eleodes beetle (Tenebrionidae) does a handstand, and hides its face in the dirt, because it is ashamed of having done a poor job while placing stars in the sky [19]. The butterflies and the Eleodes beetle are depicted as playing neither a positive nor a negative role
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