Moth (ga)

[ . BACK to TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Moth (ga)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: All Summer
***** Category: Animal

*****************************
Explanation

There are many different kinds of moths in Japan and a lot of kigo.
Moths come out at night and often close to a flame or candle light and burn themselves to death. They used to come to the stone lanterns of old and give an eery aspect to a summer garden.

We have some spectacular large ones in our garden too. When they come inside, they bump on things and walls and make a lot of noise.

Gabi Greve

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

moth, ga　蛾
fire catching moth, moth drawn to a flame, hitori ga　火取蛾
fire catching insect, hitori mushi　火取虫
"moth in a lantern", tooga 燈蛾
"fire moth", hi ga　火蛾
"fire insect", hi mushi 火虫

"night stealing moth", yotoo ga　夜盗蛾
"tobacco moth" hamaki ga　葉捲蛾

"summer insect", tiger moth, natsu mushi　夏虫、夏の虫
"sparrow in the room", uchi suzume, 内雀　うちすずめ

Here are a few more
(translations to be added later):

鹿の子蛾（かのこが）、夜盗蛾（よとうが）、夜蛾（やが）、毒蛾（どくが）、天蛾（すずめが）、尺蛾（しゃくとりが）、蓑蛾（みのが）、木蠹蛾（ぼくとうが）、枯葉蛾（かれはが）、刺蛾（いらが）、斑蛾（まだらが）、蝙蝠蛾（こうもりが）、螟蛾（めいが）、葉巻蛾（はまきが）、夕顔別当（ゆうがおべっとう）、背条天蛾（せすじすずめが）、内雀（うちすずめ）、与那国蚕蛾（よなくにさんが）


gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar LINNE), maimaiga マイマイガ


More about
Caterpillars, before becoming moths

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

There is a Japanese proverb, tonde hi ni iru natsu no mushi 飛んで火にいる夏の虫, "Like moths that fly into the fire in summer".　
People who will later find their destruction, maybe after a heated love adventure ...


Dancing in the Flames "炎舞"
Painting by 遠氷御舟



*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU

夏の虫恋する隙はありにけり
natsu no mushi koi suru hima wa ari ni keri

O insects of summer
there's time yet
for lovemaking!


庵の火は虫さへとりに来ざりけり
io no hi wa mushi sae tori ni kozari keri

my hut's lamp--
even moths don't come
to the flame


どれ程に面白いのか火とり虫
dore hodo ni omoshiroi no ka hitorimushi

why is playing
with fire so fun...
tiger moth?


Read more here
Issa, tr. by David Lanoue

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



入相のかね撞かねて火とり虫
iriai no kane tsuki kanete hitorimushi

don't strike
sunset's bell...
tiger moth

Issa, Haiga by Nakamura Sakuo


*****************************
Related words

***** Tomato hornworm

*****************************
Please send your contributions to Gabi Greve
worldkigo .....

Back to the Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/