「蟲」それは動物でも植物でもない、生命の原生体。
本来棲む世を隔てたヒトと蟲とが重なるとき、人智を超えた妖しき現象が生まれ、ヒトは初めてその存在を知る。全ての生命は、他を脅かすために在るのではない。ただ、それぞれが在るように在るだけ。
こうした「蟲」とヒトとをつなぐ「蟲師」であるギンコが、旅の途中で様々な人々とそれに関わる蟲達に出会ってゆく。
Муси — существа, являющиеся промежуточным звеном между духами и животными. Только некоторые люди могут их видеть; часто наделённые этим даром становятся мастерами муси — специалистами по муси. Главный персонаж, мастер муси Гинко, путешествует по Японии в поисках этих странных существ, изучая их, а также помогая простым людям, если те каким-либо образом пострадали от муси.
"Mushi": the most basic forms of life in the world. They exist without any goals or purposes aside from simply "being." They are beyond the shackles of the words "good" and "evil." Mushi can exist in countless forms and are capable of mimicking things from the natural world such as plants, diseases, and even phenomena like rainbows.
This is, however, just a vague definition of these entities that inhabit the vibrant world of Mushishi, as to even call them a form of life would be an oversimplification. Detailed information on Mushi is scarce because the majority of humans are unaware of their existence.
So what are Mushi and why do they exist? This is the question that a "Mushi-shi," Ginko, ponders constantly. Mushi-shi are those who research Mushi in hopes of understanding their place in the world's hierarchy of life.
Ginko chases rumors of occurrences that could be tied to Mushi, all for the sake of finding an answer.
It could, after all, lead to the meaning of life itself.
