Mushizuka, a monument for... insects

In Ueno, at the Kan’ei-ji Temple, I discovered a strange and beautiful monument, especially for the message it sends.

The monument, called Mushizuka, was realized from an unprocessed rock, in 1821, to fulfill a request of Sessai Masuyama, Lord of Ise Nagashima.
The purpose of Mushizuka is to console the spirits of the insects that had died after being used as models for his drawings!

Sessai Masuyama learned the art of realistic drawing from a Chinese master, Shin Nappin, renowned for drawings of flowers and birds. The collection of insects drawings created by Sessai Masuyama, Chuuchi-jou (A drawing block of sketches of insects) is well-known and appreciated.

La templul Kan’ei-ji din Ueno, am descoperit un monument pe c?t de ciudat, pe at?t de frumos prin mesajul pe care-l transmite.

Monumentul, numit Mushizuka, realizat dintr-o piatră neprelucrată, a fost ridicat ?n anul 1821 la cererea lui Sessai Masuyama, lord din Ise Nagashima, pentru a consola spiritele insectelor care au murit, fiind folosite ca model pentru desenele lui!

Sessai Masuyama a ?nvăţat arta desenului realistic de la un maestru chinez, Shin Nappin, renumit pentru desenele cu flori şi păsări. Colecţia de desene cu insecte realizate de Sessai Masuyama, Chuuchi-jou (A drawing block of sketches of insects) este o operă cunoscută şi apreciată.