How to Read “鳥なき里の蝙蝠”
Tori naki sato no kōmori
Meaning of “鳥なき里の蝙蝠”
“Bird absent village’s bat” means that in places where there are no excellent people, even ordinary people who would normally not stand out can assume important positions or wield influence.
This expression represents the relative power dynamics within organizations and groups. Normally, excellent and dignified people like “birds” should be at the center, but when such people are absent, ambiguous beings like “bats” end up standing out. It is used when objectively evaluating situations where people lacking ability hold important positions in workplaces or organizations suffering from personnel shortages.
The reason for using this expression is not simply to criticize, but to calmly observe how people’s value and influence change depending on the environment and circumstances. Even today, we can witness this phenomenon when there’s a shortage of experienced people in highly specialized fields, or when suitable candidates haven’t yet been found in new organizations.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Bird absent village’s bat” is thought to trace back to Chinese classics. Bats, as ambiguous creatures that are neither birds nor beasts, have long held special meaning in East Asian cultural spheres.
The background of this proverb is deeply connected to the class system and local social structures of the Edo period. The “village” of that time referred to rural communities with clear hierarchies and role divisions. Ideally, excellent people and leaders would support the community at its center, but in reality, such talent was often absent.
The choice of the bat as a creature is also interesting. Bats, which hide in caves during the day and fly around at night, have long impressed people as ambiguous beings. They fly through the sky like birds but have membranes instead of feathers, and despite being mammals, they live like birds. This ambiguity was likely why they were chosen as a metaphor for this proverb.
Similar expressions can be found in Edo period literature, and it’s believed this became established as a phrase expressing the phenomenon of power relationship reversals in organizations and groups lacking talent.
Interesting Facts
Bats are actually extremely capable animals with precise navigation abilities using ultrasound. They can fly perfectly while avoiding obstacles in complete darkness and possess advanced techniques for accurately catching even small insects. It might be somewhat unfair that they’re treated as “inferior beings” in this proverb.
Also, in China, bats are actually considered auspicious animals because their pronunciation is similar to “fortune.” It’s an interesting phenomenon how the same animal is evaluated so differently between the values of the era when this proverb was created in Japan and modern scientific knowledge or other cultural perspectives.
Usage Examples
- In the new department, there are few experienced people, so even I, in my second year at the company, am in a Bird absent village’s bat situation
- That company apparently has a Bird absent village’s bat situation now after their talented people transferred elsewhere
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. In the information age, specialized fields have become subdivided, and the “Bird absent village’s bat” phenomenon occurs frequently in specific domains.
Particularly in the IT industry and new business fields, it’s not uncommon for relatively inexperienced people to assume important positions due to a shortage of experienced specialists. This is a phenomenon that differs greatly from traditional seniority-based values.
Moreover, with the increase in remote work and freelancing, the boundaries of organizations have become ambiguous in modern times, and the very concept of “village” has changed. Temporary and fluid groups such as online communities and project teams are increasing.
What’s interesting is that “bat-like” beings are not necessarily viewed negatively in modern times. In an era that values diversity and flexibility, people who don’t fit traditional frameworks often create new value.
However, on social media and elsewhere, it’s sometimes used without understanding the original meaning, and we can see cases where it’s misused simply to mean “attention-seeker.” We should understand and use its original deep meaning.
When AI Hears This
Bats occupy an extraordinarily unique position in the biological world. Despite being mammals, they possess wings and can fly, making them creatures that straddle taxonomical boundaries. This biological “ambiguity” lies at the very heart of the proverb about bats ruling in a land without birds.
In nature, bats become the masters of the sky during nighttime hours when diurnal birds are inactive. What’s fascinating is that bat flight capability is the product of completely different evolutionary processes from those of birds. While bird wings are composed of feathers, bat wings feature a membrane structure supported by finger bones—a textbook example of what’s called “convergent evolution.” In essence, bats are “another kind of sky dweller” that independently acquired the ability to fly, separate from birds.
This biological reality adds profound meaning to the situation the proverb describes. Bats dominate the skies only during hours when the true rulers of the air—birds—are absent. However, bats possess something birds lack: precise echolocation abilities using ultrasound. This represents an overwhelming advantage in the specialized environment of darkness.
In other words, bats as “boundary creatures” aren’t perfect substitutes, but they reign as beings with their own unique strengths. This mirrors real-world situations where individuals stepping up in the absence of the ideal candidate end up displaying unexpected talents.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us the importance of environment and humility. No matter how excellent a person is, they cannot demonstrate their abilities without the proper environment. Conversely, people who usually don’t stand out can play important roles depending on the circumstances.
In modern society, job changes and department transfers have become commonplace, and anyone can potentially become a “Bird absent village’s bat.” In such times, what’s important is correctly understanding one’s position. When receiving evaluations beyond one’s actual ability, one should humbly continue learning, and when truly excellent people appear, one should maintain an attitude of sincere learning.
Also, those in positions of organizational management should strive for proper placement of human resources. Even when temporarily having to rely on “bats,” they must not neglect long-term human resource development and recruitment.
Most importantly, whatever position we’re in, we should do our best in that environment. Even if we can’t become “birds,” we should contribute wholeheartedly as “bats.” Such an attitude will eventually lead to real ability.
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