How to Read “六十の手習い”
Rokujū no tenarai
Meaning of “六十の手習い”
“Sixty’s hand learning” is a proverb that expresses starting to learn new things after getting older.
This proverb is an expression that positively views the value of beginning to study at an advanced age. “Hand learning” refers to the practice of reading and writing characters, depicting the scene of starting to learn letters at the advanced age of sixty. In modern times, it is used as a saying that teaches the importance of taking on new challenges regardless of age.
The situations where this proverb is used include when elderly people start new hobbies or skills, or when wanting to encourage that there are no age limits to learning. It is also used to ease anxiety about starting something after getting older. It contains the positive message that it’s never too late to learn.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Sixty’s hand learning” is deeply connected to the terakoya (temple school) culture of the Edo period. At that time, learning to read and write was called “hand learning.” This was a term referring to the practice of writing characters with a brush, a concept close to modern “calligraphy.”
During the Edo period, many people learned hand learning from childhood at terakoya, but in rural areas, there were quite a few people who couldn’t receive adequate education due to being busy with farm work. It was not uncommon for such people to start studying letters again in their later years when they finally had some leisure in their lives.
Particularly interesting is the weight of the age “sixty” in this era. Unlike today, in the Edo period when average lifespan was short, sixty was considered quite elderly. The sight of people continuing to learn even at that age must have made a strong impression on those around them.
The background to the birth of this proverb includes admiration for learning and praise for the beauty of humans who don’t lose their desire for improvement even as they age. The terakoya teachers may have warmly welcomed such elderly students as well.
Interesting Facts
In Edo period terakoya, elderly students were actually not uncommon. There were people who started learning letters from their fifties or sixties for reasons such as bookkeeping needed for business or wanting to write letters to their grandchildren.
The term “hand learning” had a much more practical meaning than modern “calligraphy,” referring to general literacy skills necessary for daily life. Therefore, this proverb contains not just hobby pursuits but also the urgency of acquiring skills necessary for living.
Usage Examples
- Starting piano after retirement is truly Sixty’s hand learning
- The sight of my grandmother trying to learn how to use a smartphone is Sixty’s hand learning itself
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of “Sixty’s hand learning” has expanded further. With the advancement of the information society, the need to learn new technologies and skills has increased, and the importance of continuing to learn regardless of age is being recognized anew.
The spread of digital technology in particular has given new meaning to this proverb. The sight of elderly people learning unfamiliar technologies such as smartphone and computer operation and how to use social media can truly be called the modern version of “Sixty’s hand learning.” With the spread of online learning, environments have been established where people can learn various fields while staying at home, making it easier to continue learning regardless of age.
Moreover, in the modern era called the age of 100-year lifespans, sixty is still just a waypoint in life. More and more people are building new careers in their second life after retirement or challenging fields they’ve long dreamed of. Against this social background, “Sixty’s hand learning” has come to be understood not just as referring to elderly people’s learning, but as a phrase expressing the importance of lifelong learning.
However, in modern times, it is sometimes misused with the negative nuance of being “too late.” It’s important to understand that it is originally a positive expression that praises the desire to learn.
When AI Hears This
Despite 60-year-olds in the Edo period being equivalent to today’s 80-year-olds in terms of aging, common people intuitively believed they could “still learn.” This intuition has been completely validated by 21st-century neuroscience.
Neuroplasticity research shows that even after age 60, learning new skills creates fresh neural circuits in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Particularly noteworthy is a phenomenon called “compensatory activation,” where elderly learners achieve results equal to younger people by utilizing different brain regions when learning musical instruments or new languages.
Even more fascinating is that learning after 60 has unique advantages. The wealth of life experience provides an extensive “existing neural network” that can be leveraged, making older adults better than younger ones at connecting new knowledge with previously acquired information. In fact, numerous studies report that elderly language learners often outperform younger students in grammar comprehension.
The insight that Edo-period people expressed through “rokuju no tenarai” captured the core principle of neuroscience 300 years ahead of its time: the brain deteriorates without use, but continues growing at any age when challenged. The precision of ancient experiential wisdom is truly astounding.
Lessons for Today
What “Sixty’s hand learning” teaches modern people is a hopeful message that there are no age limits to learning. We tend to give up thinking “it’s too late” or “it’s impossible now,” but this proverb gently shatters such preconceptions.
In modern society, the speed of change is fast, and new skills and knowledge are required one after another. Precisely because we live in such an era, the attitude of continuing to learn regardless of age becomes important. No matter what age you are, if there’s something that interests you, that’s the perfect timing to start.
This proverb also teaches something important to modern people who seek perfection too much. Hand learning that starts at sixty is not aimed at becoming professional. The joy of learning, the fun of growing, and the excitement of touching new worlds are what have value. A heart that values process over results leads to a rich life.
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