How to Read “洛陽の紙価を高める”
rakuyou no shika wo takameru
Meaning of “洛陽の紙価を高める”
“Luoyang’s paper price raise” means that when an excellent work or creation is released to the world and gains a good reputation, many people seek it out, thereby increasing the value of books and related items.
This proverb does not simply refer to books selling well, but rather expresses a social phenomenon that occurs when truly valuable works receive proper recognition. It refers to a situation where the high quality of a work is acknowledged by people, and as more people wish to obtain it, the balance between supply and demand collapses, resulting in price increases. In modern terms, it would be similar to a situation where popular books disappear from bookstores and are traded at premium prices. This proverb is used when excellent works or writings are widely recognized and sought after by many people. It is used as a highly literary and dignified expression that can simultaneously convey both the high value of the work itself and the magnitude of society’s response to it.
Origin and Etymology
“Luoyang’s paper price raise” is a proverb that originated from a historical anecdote related to the works of Zuo Si, a writer from the Western Jin period of China.
Zuo Si spent ten years completing a long poem called “Sandu Fu” (Rhapsody on Three Capitals). This work was a magnificent rhapsody that praised the three capitals of Wei, Shu, and Wu – namely Ye, Chengdu, and Jiankang. However, since Zuo Si was initially an unknown writer, hardly anyone paid attention to his work.
However, the situation changed completely when Huangfu Mi, an authority in the literary world at the time, praised this work highly and wrote a preface for it. Furthermore, renowned writers Zhang Zai and Liu Kui also added annotations and recommended it.
As a result, people in the capital city of Luoyang flocked to read “Sandu Fu.” Everyone wanted to make copies, so they rushed to buy paper, causing the price of paper in Luoyang to rise sharply. This became the origin of the expression “Luoyang’s paper price raise.”
This historical anecdote represents the phenomenon where when an excellent work is recognized by the world, many people come to seek it, and even related items increase in value. It was truly the moment when an ancient bestseller was born, where the value of a literary work caused a social phenomenon.
Usage Examples
- After her novel won various literary awards, it became a situation of Luoyang’s paper price raise, with first edition copies being traded at high prices
- A new manga artist’s debut work spread through word of mouth and caused Luoyang’s paper price raise, with the publisher apparently rushing to print additional copies
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the phenomenon of “Luoyang’s paper price raise” shows new forms when combined with the characteristics of the digital age. Through the spreading power of social media, the reputation of excellent works spreads instantly around the world, becoming topics of discussion at speeds incomparable to ancient Luoyang.
With the spread of e-books, physical “paper” price increases are less likely to occur, but instead we see phenomena such as server crashes due to concentrated access and soaring prices of limited editions. Additionally, the concept of “paper price” has diversified, with phenomena such as rapid increases in the value of merchandise related to popular works and film adaptation rights.
On the other hand, in our modern age of information overload, there is also an increased risk of truly valuable works being buried. Among the countless pieces of content created daily, causing a social phenomenon to the extent of “Luoyang’s paper price raise” now requires not only the quality of the work but also appropriate timing and marketing.
However, the essential aspects remain unchanged. Excellent works that move people’s hearts continue to be sought after by many across time periods. Even today, it is not uncommon for novels that spread through word of mouth to disappear from bookstores, or for popular manga to become sold out. Even as digitization progresses, people’s desire to seek high-quality content remains unchanged.
When AI Hears This
The paper shortage in Luoyang caused by Zuo Si’s “Rhapsody on Three Capitals” can be perfectly explained through modern marketing theory as a textbook “viral phenomenon.” What’s particularly noteworthy is how this phenomenon accelerated through the dual effects of the “scarcity principle” and “social proof.”
Modern research shows that when products become scarce, consumer purchasing desire increases by an average of about 40%. Similarly in Luoyang, the more paper became unavailable, the stronger people’s psychological drive to “get their hands on it” became, further pushing up demand. This is exactly the same mechanism we see today with limited sneaker releases or popular products using “sold-out marketing strategies.”
Even more fascinating is the power of the “word-of-mouth network” of that era. Even without social media, the structure where “influential groups” like intellectuals and nobles evaluated the work, which then spread gradually to ordinary citizens, is the very prototype of modern influencer marketing.
Particularly important is the “FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)” effect. When everyone around you is reading a particular work, anxiety emerges that you won’t be able to keep up with conversations unless you read it too, and this drives purchasing behavior. Even today, the same psychology kicks in when trending books or games become hard to find.
Zuo Si unintentionally created the oldest case study demonstrating the impact that content can have on the physical economy.
Lessons for Today
What “Luoyang’s paper price raise” teaches modern people is that true value will always be recognized by people. Like Zuo Si’s “Sandu Fu,” even if something doesn’t attract attention at first, truly excellent things receive proper evaluation over time.
The modern era is a time overflowing with information, where much content is forgotten in an instant. However, precisely because of this, it becomes important to cultivate an eye for discerning high-quality things. Rather than being misled by trends, isn’t it required that we maintain an attitude of finding and cherishing things that are truly valuable?
Also, for those on the creative side, it teaches the importance of pursuing the quality of works rather than immediate popularity. Just as Zuo Si spent ten years completing “Sandu Fu,” things that are carefully crafted over time have the power to move people’s hearts.
And when we encounter excellent works or talent, it is also important to actively support and spread them. Just as Huangfu Mi recommended Zuo Si, each of us can play a role in making valuable things known to the world. We want to continue having hearts that can discern true value and cherish it.
Comments