A wise man keeps away from danger
A wise man keeps away from danger (Japanese: 君子危うきに近寄らず, kunshi ayauki ni chikayorazu) is an ancient Chinese proverb that is also widely used in Japan.
Summary
The term wise man refers to a person who always acts with restraint and therefore does not do anything dangerous.[1] It is used as a lesson to be careful in one's actions, and also as a warning not to go near dangerous places. It is also sometimes used to avoid things that one is not good at.[2]
In ancient China, the term wise man refers to a person who is both learned and of good character. This phrase refers to a person of virtue who would never approach a dangerous place or behave in a way that would put themselves in danger. It is also a word that expresses what kind of attitude and behavior a person of virtue should have.[2]
There are two marked Japanese characteristics that can serve as undercurrents in the future of the country, as they have done in the past. One is expressed in the well-known Japanese saying, Nagai mono ni wa makarero, which "literally" means, Get wound up in a long thing, or freely rendered, Submit yourselves to the strong. The other is expressed in the saying, Kunshi ayauki ni chikayorazu, which means, A wise man stays away from danger. This philosophy of life is a strength as well as a weakness: a strength, because it tends to keep the people at large from taking part in dangerous actions, and a weakness, because dangerous actions are more likely to go unchecked than in the West.
— J. O. Gauntlett (1962). "Undercurrents in Japanese Social Behaviour". 紀要. 6. 青山学院大学文学部: 23.
History
In the 29th year of the reign of Duke Xiang in Gongyang Zhuan, there is a saying that a person of virtue would never approach someone who is about to be punished, and from this the saying "a person of virtue would never approach danger" was born.[3]
In popular culture
- The proverb is used as the title of episode 20 of the anime Pani Poni Dash!.[4]
- The proverb is used as the title of episode 21 of the anime The Story of Saiunkoku.[5]
- The song "Kunshi ayauku mo chikauyore" by the Japanese idol group AŌP, which was used as one of the opening songs of the anime Mr. Osomatsu, alludes to this saying.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ "君子は危うきに近寄らず（くんしはあやうきにちかよらず）とは？ 意味・読み方・使い方をわかりやすく解説 - goo国語辞書". goo辞書 (in 日本語). Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "使いこなせたらすごい！【君子、危うきに近寄らず】の意味とは？ | Domani 「君子、危うきに近寄らず」とは身を慎むという意味。例文や類語、対義語を解説". Domani (in 日本語). 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ↑ "習近平の原点と「紅色基因」" (PDF). 立命館大学. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ↑ "ぱにぽにだっしゅ！ 第20話 君子危うきに近よらず(アニメ) | WEBザテレビジョン(2285-20)". WEBザテレビジョン (in 日本語). Retrieved 2025-04-26.
- ↑ "彩雲国物語 第21話｜バンダイチャンネル". バンダイチャンネル (in 日本語). Retrieved 2025-04-26.
- ↑ "AŌP Returns to Sing Mr. Osomatsu Season 2's Opening Theme". Anime News Network. 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
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