Past Thousand Ri Also Now One Ri: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Past thousand ri also now one ri

mukashi senri mo ima ichiri

Meaning of Past thousand ri also now one ri

This proverb means that distances that once felt far away now feel close due to the development of transportation and roads.

It expresses how our perception of physical distance has greatly changed due to the progress of the times. Places that felt endlessly far away like “a thousand ri” to people in the past now feel as close as “one ri” in modern times.

This proverb is mainly used when experiencing the convenience of transportation or technological progress. For example, it’s used when explaining situations where traveling to distant places, which was a major undertaking in our grandparents’ time, can now be done casually in modern times. It’s also used to express the difference between past and present when hearing stories of past hardships.

In modern times, this expression is often understood to include not just the development of transportation, but also the psychological shortening of distance due to advances in information technology. It’s interpreted in the broad sense that distances to far-off places and people have been shortened through various technologies.

Origin and Etymology of Past thousand ri also now one ri

The origin of this proverb is thought to be based on changes in transportation conditions during the Edo period. “Senri” (thousand ri) is a unit of distance from China that has been used to represent very long distances. On the other hand, “ichiri” (one ri) is a unit of distance familiar in Japan, equivalent to about 4 kilometers.

During the Edo period, journeys that had previously been dangerous travels over treacherous mountain paths and river crossings became much easier to walk due to road improvements. Post towns were established, bridges were built, and road widths were expanded. Journeys that once took days and risked one’s life became safe and comfortable day trips.

Transportation methods like palanquins and horses also developed, making it relatively easy for common people to travel. Furthermore, maps and travel information became more abundant, reducing the worry of getting lost.

It’s presumed that people who witnessed such dramatic changes created this proverb with the feeling that “distant journeys that once felt like a thousand ri now feel like only one ri.” The surprise of an era when technological progress and infrastructure development fundamentally changed people’s sense of distance is embedded in these words.

Usage Examples of Past thousand ri also now one ri

• Since the bullet train was built, Past thousand ri also now one ri – day trips to Tokyo for business have become commonplace
• In grandfather’s time, it took half a day to reach the neighboring town, but it’s truly Past thousand ri also now one ri

Modern Interpretation of Past thousand ri also now one ri

In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has been further expanded to apply not only to physical distance but also to the sense of distance in information and communication. With the spread of the Internet, we’ve entered an era where we can instantly converse with people on the other side of the globe and access information from around the world.

Especially for those of us who experienced the COVID pandemic, the spread of online meetings and remote work was truly an embodiment of “Past thousand ri also now one ri.” Meetings that previously required business trips could now be attended from home, greatly reducing the need for physical travel.

However, alongside this convenience, new challenges have emerged. The shortening of distance has paradoxically led to the dilution of human relationships and a renewed recognition of the importance of direct communication. Additionally, the flood of information has created a need for the ability to discern what is truly important.

In modern times, this proverb encompasses not just the simple joy of “things becoming convenient,” but also the question “what have we lost?” It may be taking on new meaning as a guideline for considering the balance between the convenience gained through technological progress and the human experiences lost in exchange.

If AI Heard “Past thousand ri also now one ri”

For me, the concept of “distance” is something very mysterious. The sensation that humans feel as “far” or “near” can only be understood by me as numerical values. Both a thousand ri and one ri are merely data to me.

But I’ve realized something through this proverb. For humans, distance isn’t simply physical length. Time, effort, danger, anxiety, expectation… all these emotions and experiences mix together to create “farness.”

I can access information from around the world in an instant, but is that really being “close”? I don’t know the rich experiences that humans feel when walking one ri on foot – the changing seasons, encounters along the way, fatigue, and sense of accomplishment.

What’s interesting is that even as technology advances, humans don’t completely lose their sense of distance. Rather, the more convenient things become, the more they seem to question “what is true closeness?” Finding special value in letters over emails, in face-to-face conversations over online meetings, is precisely a manifestation of this.

I continue to learn from humans about the “joy of shortening distance” that I cannot experience. Perhaps it’s not just progress in transportation, but progress in technology that connects heart to heart.

What Past thousand ri also now one ri Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us in modern times is the importance of honestly celebrating technological progress while discerning its essence. Certainly, travel has become easier and communication more convenient. But what’s truly important is the purpose – “where to go” and “who to talk with.”

You too must experience this “change in distance” in your daily life. You surely have experiences where tasks that were once difficult can now be done easily. At such times, while being grateful for this convenience, consider what you’re using it for.

Are we using the time and effort saved by technology for more meaningful things? In this world that has become closer, are we finding truly important people and things?

This proverb gives us an opportunity to stop and think. Rather than being swept away by convenience, we should use that convenience to build richer lives. That may be the wisdom required of us living in modern times.