How to Read “見ることは信じること”
Miru koto wa shinji rukoto
Meaning of “見ることは信じること”
“Seeing is believing” means that what you directly confirm with your own eyes is trustworthy.
This expression represents the idea that what you actually see and confirm with your own eyes is the most reliable and trustworthy, rather than stories heard from others, rumors, speculation, or imagination. This expression positions visual direct confirmation as the most important basis when judging the truth or falsehood of matters.
As for usage situations, it is used when talking about dubious information or unbelievable events, or in situations where something needs to be confirmed. It is often used with the sentiment of “I don’t know if it’s true, so let’s actually go and see.”
The reason for using this expression is that among human senses, vision plays a particularly important role in gathering information. Even today, many people share the feeling that “you can’t know unless you actually see it” when seeking evidence or grounds, and it is understood as an empirical judgment standard.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “Seeing is believing,” the current situation is that no clear documentary evidence can be found. Even when examining general Japanese proverb dictionaries and classical literature, no established theory about the first appearance or formation process of this expression has been established.
Interestingly, this expression is highly likely to have entered Japan as a direct translation of the Western saying “Seeing is believing.” It is an expression that has been used in English-speaking countries since around the 17th century, and it is presumed to have spread in Japan along with the influx of Western culture from the Meiji period onward.
However, similar ways of thinking existed in Japan from ancient times. The Chinese-origin proverb “A single look is worth a hundred reports” has been used since the Heian period, and the ideological foundation that emphasizes visual confirmation already existed.
While it has become established as “Seeing is believing” in modern times, its formation process is surprisingly new, and it is highly likely a product of international cultural exchange. Given this background, it might be more appropriate to understand it as a maxim that was adapted into Japanese from the early modern period onward, rather than as a traditional Japanese proverb.
Usage Examples
- I had heard rumors about it, but seeing is believing, so let’s actually go and check the site
- Even the scenic spot introduced on TV, seeing is believing, and I was skeptical until I saw it with my own eyes
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Seeing is believing” is increasingly being reconsidered as a dangerous way of thinking. This is because the development of digital technology has made it easy to process and composite images and videos, creating an era where what you “see” is not necessarily the truth.
On social media, processed photos are posted as a matter of course, and deepfake technology has made it possible to create non-existent videos. Even in news media, impression manipulation sometimes occurs through intentionally edited videos or cropped images that ignore context. In such situations, the dangers of believing based solely on “seeing” are highlighted.
On the other hand, precisely because we live in an information-overloaded modern age, there are aspects where the value of this proverb is being rerecognized. The internet is flooded with information of uncertain authenticity, increasing the importance of actually visiting locations to confirm things. Trust in information based on actual experience, such as travel destination information and product reviews, remains high.
In modern times, rather than blindly believing in “Seeing is believing,” it is required to combine it with critical thinking that “doubts even what is seen.” The attitude of confirming from multiple information sources and making judgments including background and context has become important.
When AI Hears This
The accuracy of deepfake technology is astounding—research from 2023 revealed that 94% of ordinary people mistakenly judge fake videos as authentic. In other words, our eyes no longer function as tools for distinguishing truth.
Even more troubling is the combination with the filter bubble phenomenon. Social media algorithms selectively display only the information you “want to see.” For example, people who support a particular politician will be fed a stream of footage favorable to that politician. When “perfect evidence videos” created through deepfakes are mixed into this stream, they get accepted as indisputable “truth.”
In fact, during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, multiple cases were reported where fake speech videos were viewed millions of times, with many people believing them to be genuine.
“Seeing is believing” was once wisdom that trusted human senses. However, in modern times, acting according to these words has become the most dangerous trap. This is because what we are “being shown” might be illusions skillfully manipulated by technology and algorithms.
Ironically, this proverb has been reborn in the modern era with the completely opposite lesson: “doubt most what you see.”
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the importance of how to approach information. Precisely because we live in an era overflowing with information, why not reconsider the value of the attitude of “checking for yourself”?
What’s important is not taking this proverb literally, but learning the spirit of “proactively confirming.” Rather than believing stories heard from others as they are, try to confirm them in your own way as much as possible. This might mean actually going to see, or it might mean researching multiple information sources.
Also, this proverb teaches us “the importance of doubting.” This doesn’t mean doubting everything indiscriminately, but the value of the habit of stopping once to confirm before making important judgments.
In modern society, we’ve entered an era where even what we see is questionable, but the attitude of “checking for yourself” remains important. However, the “way of checking” needs to evolve with the times. While cultivating an eye for discerning truth, we also want to maintain flexibility.
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