[Etymology] Nihon Shakumei (27) Insects (Ant, Grasshopper, Firefly, Snake, Mantis, Toad, Mite, etc.)
Insect
"Insect" (mushi) is "steaming" (mushi). It is born from the steaming of damp heat.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Ant
It means "gathering." It is an insect that gathers in large numbers. The middle two characters are omitted.
* Reference: "Kōbunko Vol. 2" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Grasshopper
It means "rice-biter." It is an insect that bites rice. "Ka" and "ko" are interchangeable. "Mu" is omitted.
Firefly
"Ho" is "fire." "Taru" is "hanging down." "Taru" means to hang down below.
Cicada
"Semi" is "sen." "Mu" and "mi" are interchangeable. The sound is used as the reading. There are many of this type.
* "I" means "by means of."
Snake
The "Wamyō Ruijushō" says, "The 'Jianming Yuan' says one name is 'fanbi' (snake)." I propose that this is likely using the sound as the reading. Or perhaps it is the meaning of "to eat" (hamu).
* "Jianming Yuan" is the "Jianming Yuan," a reference book from the Chinese Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty.
* The reading "hemi" for "snake" refers to a snake.
* "Hamu" means "to eat."
* Reference: "Dainihon Bukkyō Zensho 150" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Viper
Is this also named using the sound of "fanbi"? If not, perhaps it was named because it bites people.
* "Hamu" means to eat.
Mosquito
It is "kamu" (to bite). It is an insect that bites human skin. The "mu" is omitted.
* "Hadae" means skin.
Flea
It is "nomu" (to drink). It is an insect that drinks human blood.
Louse
It is "shiranomi". The "no" is omitted. It is an insect that is white in color and drinks human blood.
Mantis
It is a creature that knows a person's wart and eats it. In "Wamyō Ruijushō", it is read as "ihomushiri".
* The reading "ihoshiri" for "mantis" is "ibojiri" (wart-picker). An archaic name for a mantis.
* "Knows a person's wart and eats it" refers to the folk belief that having a mantis bite a wart will cure it.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Toad
A frog (kaeru) is a creature that, if you throw it away outside, will surely return (kaeru) to its original place.
* "Kaeru" means frog.
* "Sutsureba" means if you throw it away.
Toad (Hikikaeru)
"Hiki" means "fuku" (to swell). It means "fukureru" (to swell up). A toad is a creature that swells up when a person touches it. It is a swelling frog. This is also a creature that returns to its original place.
* "Fukureru" means to swell.
Centipede
Its legs face left and right. It is a "facing-leg" creature.
|Tsutsugamushi
"Tsutsu" means "earth." "Chi" and "tsu" are interchangeable. "Ka" means "to bite." In ancient times, when people had no houses, they lived in holes and stayed in the fields, so insects would emerge from the earth and bite human skin. I do not know which insect this refers to now. However, it should not be limited to one type. Perhaps it refers to many insects. The book "Erya Yi" states, "In ancient times, people lived in the grass and feared snakes." This reasoning is likely correct.
* "Erya Yi" is thought to refer to "Erya Yi" written by Luo Yuan of the Southern Song Dynasty.
* Reference: "Kobunko Vol. 13" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Spider
It means "to bite." The sounds are related. It is an insect that bites. It is also said to bite people. This appears in medical texts. Another theory is that it means "to seclude oneself." "Ko" and "ku" are interchangeable. The "ru" is omitted. It is an insect that builds a house and secludes itself. Also, "kumo no i" means "web." A spider is called "sasagani." "Sasa" means "small." It is small and its shape is like a crab.
* "Kumo no i" is the |web of a spider. It refers to a spider's web.
* "Sasagani" is |small crab. It refers to a spider.
|Jellyfish
Because it has no eyes, it is "kuraki" (dark). "Ki" and "ke" are interchangeable. Ancient texts also say, "The jellyfish has no eyes, and uses the |shrimp as its eyes."
|Earthworm
"Mi" means "eye." They are related. Although it has the appearance of eyes, it cannot see. Therefore, it is called "mimizu" (no-see).
|Dragonfly
It means "to fly." It is an insect that flies around. |Dragonfly (tonbau) is |flying wings.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Bee
It means "needle-stinger." "Shi" and "chi" are interchangeable.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Mayfly
The mayfly is born in the morning and dies in the evening. It is an "insect whose day ends."
|Bat
It means 'to desire mosquitoes.' 'Horisuru' means 'to like.' The character '欲' (desire) is read as 'horisuru' in the 'Man'yōshū.' This creature likes and eats mosquitoes.
* 'Horisuru' is 'to desire' (horisuru).
* Regarding 'The character for desire is read as horisuru in the Man'yōshū,' here are a few examples:
Desiring to see you, my lord, though you are not here,
Why did I come, tiring my horse? Princess Ōku
Just as I was longing to see you,
I met my fragrant lord. Ōtomo no Yakamochi
Even the seven wise men
Of ancient times, it seems, desired only sake. Ōtomo no Tabito
Newt (Imori)
It means 'to guard the well.' It is an insect found in the wells of villagers. It is said that if this insect is in the well, the water is pure. Also, the 'mark of the gecko (imori)' does not refer to this. It refers to applying the blood of a 'gecko' (yamori) found on the walls of a house.
* 'Mark of the gecko (imori)' Reference: 'Zoku Enseki Jisshu Vol. 2', 'Shinsen Haikai Jiten (Revised and Enlarged)' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Author's Note: ● indicates characters that could not be deciphered.
I will update this as appropriate when new characters are deciphered or when I notice typos or misreadings. For details, please read the 'Self-Introduction/Disclaimer'. 📖