''Chrysochroa fulgidissima'', "jewel beetle" or Yamato tamamushi in

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

(ヤマトタマムシ) is a metallic woodboring beetle of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Buprestidae Buprestidae is a family of beetles known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy iridescent colors. Larvae of this family are known as flatheaded borers. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some ...

Characteristics

This beetle is native to

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

and

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

. It is typically found in woods or forests during summer under the strong sunshine and can grow between in length. The

Tamamushi Shrine The is a miniature shrine owned by the Hōryū-ji temple complex of Nara, Nara, Nara, Japan. Its date of construction is unknown, but estimated to be around the middle of the seventh century. Decorated with rare examples of Asuka period, Asuka ...

, an

Asuka Period The was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 (or 592 to 645), although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period. The Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after t ...

miniature shrine located at Hōryū-ji Temple, Nara prefecture, was decorated with lacquer and oil painting on wood, gilt bronze plaques, and with

beetlewing Beetlewing, or beetlewing art, is an ancient craft technique using iridescent beetle wings practiced traditionally in Thailand, Myanmar, India, China and Japan. Notable beetlewing garments include Lady Curzon's peacock dress (1903) and a co ...

work using the iridescent wings of the ''Chrysochroa fulgidissima'' beetle.

Tamamushi-iro

Since this insect has iridescent wings that glow lengthwise with different colors depending upon the light angle, one cannot be sure exactly which color it is. Therefore, it gave rise to the expression ''tamamushi-iro'' (tamamushi color), in reference to a convoluted statement that can be interpreted in more ways than one. The term ''tamamushi-iro'' is used in the context of Japanese officialdom, when politicians or bureaucrats use language that is ambiguous.Japanese business language By Mitsubishi Corporation
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Notes

References

* * * Beetles of Asia Insects of Japan Buprestidae Woodboring beetles Beetles described in 1817 {{Buprestidae-stub ja:タマムシ#ヤマトタマムシ

Characteristics

Tamamushi-iro

See also

Notes

References