How to Read “昔千里も今一里”
mukashi senri mo ima ichiri
Meaning of “昔千里も今一里”
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
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
- 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
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.
When AI Hears This
When people in the Edo period walked from Tokyo to Osaka, it took about 15 days. Today’s bullet train covers the same distance in 3 hours. This change isn’t simply about reduced travel time. It has fundamentally transformed the human perception of “the size of the world” itself.
What’s fascinating is that our brains measure distance in terms of “time.” According to cognitive science research, people judge proximity based on “the time it takes to reach” rather than physical distance. In other words, the more transportation develops, the literally “smaller” the world feels.
For example, to modern people, a neighboring town an hour away by car feels like the “neighborhood,” but in the Edo period, that same journey would have been a half-day trek to a “distant place.” It’s the same space, yet technology has completely rewritten our psychological sense of distance.
Even more remarkable is how this change affects human relationships. The standards for what constitutes a “long-distance” relationship with lovers or friends also shift with the times. In the Edo period, even the next post town would have been considered a “long-distance romance,” but today some people feel that overseas destinations just a few hours away by plane are “pretty close.”
This proverb captures the mystery of human cognition: technological innovation doesn’t change the laws of physics, but rather transforms our very “way of seeing the world.” While objective distances remain unchanged, our subjective world continues to change dramatically.
Lessons for Today
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.
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