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All Japan Kamakura ‘Insect Mound’
AO Edited

‘Insect Mound’

Nestled among the bamboos in a temple complex, this art installation serves as a unique memorial to insects.

Kamakura, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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Japanese stag beetle (Prosopocoilus inclinatus).   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Even weevils get a memorial.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Another weevil memorial.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Rhinoceros beetle-shaped bench.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
“Insect Mound” actually refers to the cages in the middle.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The Insect Mound of Keicho-ji Temple.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A hidden gem in the temple complex.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Nearby, there is a yagura (medieval burial cave).   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
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Certain insects, such as the rhinoceros beetle and the Prosopocoilus stag beetle, are extremely popular in Japan. Catching these beetles is a common summer activity for children in forested regions, and people of all ages also embrace them as pets, though their lifespans are quite short and may only last one season. Crickets, cicadas and butterflies are also quite popular, while cockroaches, mosquitoes and houseflies are killed by the hundreds.

Nestled among the bamboo in the Keichō-ji complex in Kamakura, one of the oldest Zen Buddhist temples in Japan, a unique memorial was installed in 2015 and dedicated to insects whose lives have been taken by humans. It is called Mushizuka, or the Insect Mound. The concept was conceived by Takeshi Yoro, an anatomist known for his love for insects, and the design was done by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma.

Surrounded by sculptures of beetles, the "mound" refers to an art installation by the rocky cliff, which is composed of what appears to be insect cages, perhaps not unlike those used by children to keep their pet beetles. The light, intricate design is meant to contrast the traditional, "heavy" types of memorial monuments, such as in stone or bronze.

The sculptures mainly depict stag beetles and weevils, with a few of them designed for use as benches. Nearby, carved out of the cliff wall is a yagura, a medieval burial cave common in the city of Kamakura, with long-worn Buddhist sculptures sitting inside.

Related Tags

Memorials Buddhism Entomology Statues Insects
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Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

May 8, 2023

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  • https://www.interactiongreen.com/kengo-kuma-lab-materials-mushizuka-mound-insects/
  • https://www.interactiongreen.com/kengo-kuma-lab-materials-mushizuka-mound-insects/
‘Insect Mound’
Kamakura, 247-0062
Japan
35.333002, 139.556826

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