A whole month before I start watching ‘Mushishi’ (and not even having
any plans to do so), I spend time idly flipping channels in a Japanese
hotel and find myself laughing at ‘Chico Will Scold You’. Suddenly Chico
asks her guests if they know what kind of ‘insects’ send Japanese
people insights or keep them unable to calm down as in idioms 虫が知らせる or
虫がおさまらない.
https://xn--h9jua5ezakf0c3qner
It turns out ‘insects’ were a new way for the first doctors in ancient Japan to explain the pathogens causing illnesses or conditions, as opposed to ‘demons’, which were previously considered the main cause, and, being demons, could only be dealt with by purifying with the help of priests. With time, they evolved into imaginary creatures and stayed in the language only.
These are the ‘mushi’ showed in the program as examples:
https://xn--h9jua5ezakf0c3qner
It turns out ‘insects’ were a new way for the first doctors in ancient Japan to explain the pathogens causing illnesses or conditions, as opposed to ‘demons’, which were previously considered the main cause, and, being demons, could only be dealt with by purifying with the help of priests. With time, they evolved into imaginary creatures and stayed in the language only.
These are the ‘mushi’ showed in the program as examples:
And there are the ‘mushi’ from the constantly repeated ‘Mushishi’ introduction:
Isn’t such an ‘insect’ a perfect choice to base a whole manga story on?
Of course, simply incriminating ‘insects’ with illnesses would not do.
So in ‘Mushishi’, they are expanded to be another form of life, not
harmful by nature, and existing as if to remind us of simple things.
If you don’t want to lose hearing, don't forget to clean your ears.
If you don’t want to lose sight, don’t look at bright objects for too long.
If you don’t want to lose your memory and fall victim to dementia, try to go out, meet people and memorise new things little by little.
If you don’t want to harm your nearest and dearest, or nature, don’t abuse your powers.
If you made a promise, don’t break it.
If you have a mission, complete it.
Why ‘Mushishi’ is so impressive is because it’s the rare example of bringing forward the famous Japanese concepts in a beautiful way that is not a simplification but rather making them understandable.
'wabi-sabi' - without making it too philosophical
the 'mono-no-aware' concept - without making
it too obvious
and the ‘accepting the inevitable’ - without making it
so disgusting
Western heroes, walking in big strides and making superhuman efforts
to win the fight with their fate, are more understandable to us. The need to
comply and follow the flow is against the wishes of our burning hearts.
Seeing a hero who gives up usually makes us despise them. In ‘Mushishi’,
however, the need to comply is natural, following the flow is a way
to survive, and accepting the inevitable is necessary, but not the worst
evil.
‘Mushishi’ manages to make the ‘sad beauty of things’ beautiful enough to look at, and almost tangible, like a museum which allows the visitors to take an ancient treasure in their hands and feel what it's like.
While the word ‘mushi’ is even used in the title, this is, of course,
not a story about strange creatures causing problems, but people and
their relationships and interactions.
Keeping in touch with your family, even after death. Severing ties with your family for good. Banishing someone from the community because of the trouble they bring. Helping and saving your community despite being banished. Killing your family member for the sake of the community. Killing someone from the community for the sake of your family.
And, as intermezzos, Ginko walking through different places in different regions, always showing what’s sacred for the Japanese - mountains
the sources of life with their wildlife, clear water
in springs, valleys of ‘satoyama’ and spiritual residences of the
mountain gods
and sometimes - the sea, sources of life, giving people fish, pearls, salt and winds, creating 'satoumi' harbours
A whole month before I start watching 'Mushishi' I find a translation
contest in which an excerpt from Yoshikichi Furui’s ‘Crossroads’ is
offered as a task. I start translating but the work won’t progress and
the process is tedious.
Then I open the soundtrack for ‘Mushishi’ and press play. Suddenly the mountains surrounding the crossroads in the book become green just as the mountains in ‘Mushishi’, suddenly the rain, real rain outside my window, sounds just like little chimes used by Toshio Masuda. Suddenly the tiresome description of tense relationship between the members of the family becomes interesting to translate. Suddenly the sadness becomes beautiful, if not for me - then at least for my future reader.
If you don’t want to lose hearing, don't forget to clean your ears.
If you don’t want to lose sight, don’t look at bright objects for too long.
If you don’t want to lose your memory and fall victim to dementia, try to go out, meet people and memorise new things little by little.
If you don’t want to harm your nearest and dearest, or nature, don’t abuse your powers.
If you made a promise, don’t break it.
If you have a mission, complete it.
Why ‘Mushishi’ is so impressive is because it’s the rare example of bringing forward the famous Japanese concepts in a beautiful way that is not a simplification but rather making them understandable.
'wabi-sabi' - without making it too philosophical
‘Mushishi’ manages to make the ‘sad beauty of things’ beautiful enough to look at, and almost tangible, like a museum which allows the visitors to take an ancient treasure in their hands and feel what it's like.
Keeping in touch with your family, even after death. Severing ties with your family for good. Banishing someone from the community because of the trouble they bring. Helping and saving your community despite being banished. Killing your family member for the sake of the community. Killing someone from the community for the sake of your family.
And, as intermezzos, Ginko walking through different places in different regions, always showing what’s sacred for the Japanese - mountains
Then I open the soundtrack for ‘Mushishi’ and press play. Suddenly the mountains surrounding the crossroads in the book become green just as the mountains in ‘Mushishi’, suddenly the rain, real rain outside my window, sounds just like little chimes used by Toshio Masuda. Suddenly the tiresome description of tense relationship between the members of the family becomes interesting to translate. Suddenly the sadness becomes beautiful, if not for me - then at least for my future reader.
Could you ever escape falling in love and shedding a tear upon hearing this.
Voiced by a bunch of carefully selected seiyuus who are able to escape from the usual loud exaggerated emotions, accompanied by the beautiful soundtrack, drawn so beautifully, this is the best, if not more, that the mangaka, could with for.
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