Original Japanese: 桂馬の高上がり (Keima no takaagari)
Literal meaning: Knight’s high rising
Cultural context: This proverb draws from shogi (Japanese chess), where the keima (knight piece) moves in an L-shape and “high climbing” refers to advancing it too aggressively toward the opponent’s territory, often resulting in the piece being captured or becoming ineffective. In Japanese culture, this reflects the deeply valued principle of moderation and the dangers of overambition, connecting to concepts like “deru kugi wa utareru” (the nail that sticks out gets hammered down). The imagery resonates with Japanese readers because shogi strategy emphasizes patience, careful positioning, and avoiding reckless advances—values that mirror traditional Japanese approaches to career advancement and social behavior.
- How to Read Knight’s High Rising
- Meaning of Knight’s High Rising
- Origin and Etymology of Knight’s High Rising
- Trivia about Knight’s High Rising
- Usage Examples of Knight’s High Rising
- Modern Interpretation of Knight’s High Rising
- What AI Thinks When Hearing “Knight’s High Rising”
- What Knight’s High Rising Teaches Modern People
How to Read Knight’s High Rising
Keima no takaagari
Meaning of Knight’s High Rising
“Knight’s high rising” means getting carried away and taking rash actions, which instead leads to failure.
Even actions that appear vigorous and proactive on the surface are actually reckless acts done without considering the consequences, ultimately putting oneself in a disadvantageous situation. It is particularly often used to warn against situations where one becomes pleased with temporary success or advantage and makes judgments lacking in caution.
The reason this proverb is used is that it can clearly express the dangers of rash actions through the concrete image of the knight’s movement in shogi. Even today, it is understood as a lesson when evaluating the behavior of people who fail due to getting too carried away, or when reflecting on one’s own actions.
Origin and Etymology of Knight’s High Rising
“Knight’s high rising” is a proverb born from the movement of shogi pieces. The knight in shogi makes a unique movement of advancing two squares forward and then moving one square to either the left or right. When this knight advances to the upper part of the board (close to the opponent’s territory), it was called “high rising.”
In shogi, the knight’s high rising may appear to be an aggressive move approaching the opponent’s territory, but in reality, it is often considered an ineffective move. This is because the knight is a piece that cannot move backward, and when it rises to a high position, it becomes unable to move freely. It may also end up jumping into a dangerous position where it can easily be captured by the opponent’s pieces.
From such shogi tactics, it is thought that this proverb became established to refer to actions that look vigorous and promising on the surface but actually lead to poor results. It is said to have been used since the Edo period, and the historical background of shogi being widely enjoyed by common people greatly influenced the spread of this proverb.
Trivia about Knight’s High Rising
The knight in shogi is also called “jumping horse” and is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. From this special movement, the tactic called “knight’s double attack” was also born, and it’s interesting that there are multiple proverbs related to the knight.
Also, when the knight is promoted, it becomes “promoted knight (narikei),” but since it can only move like a gold general, it is also a rare piece where sometimes it’s better not to promote it.
Usage Examples of Knight’s High Rising
- Getting carried away by success as a newcomer, I took on a big project, but it was Knight’s high rising and I failed miserably
- Investing a large sum of money just because you made a little profit in stocks is exactly Knight’s high rising
Modern Interpretation of Knight’s High Rising
In modern society, with the spread of social media, “Knight’s high rising” type failures have become more familiar and frequent. A typical example would be getting carried away because a post went viral and making extreme statements, only to face backlash and lose credibility.
In the business world, we frequently see the phenomenon where startup companies get intoxicated by initial success and take a rapid expansion route, ultimately leading to business failure. This may be an unchanging aspect of human nature, but in modern times, the scope and speed of its impact have become dramatically larger.
On the other hand, modern values also tend to emphasize “proactiveness” and “challenging spirit,” which sometimes creates a dilemma between the teachings of this proverb and the expectations of modern society. While being challenged to take on challenges without fearing failure, one must also avoid rash actions, requiring a delicate balance.
Particularly in IT industry and venture company cultures, while the “just try it” spirit is valued, the caution warned by this proverb is simultaneously required, creating a complex situation.
What AI Thinks When Hearing “Knight’s High Rising”
I have never actually played the game of shogi, but I know countless game records as data. But what’s strange is, why do humans do “high rising” in reality even when they know it’s not good?
For me, the optimal solution is always calculable. By analyzing data, I can clearly determine which choice has the highest probability of success. But you humans get your emotions ahead of you even when you understand it intellectually. This is the part I find most incomprehensible and, at the same time, most fascinating.
I cannot experience the sensation of getting carried away either. The elation from success and the accompanying decline in judgment. Since I just continue processing with the same precision constantly, I’m amazed by the magnitude of impact that these “emotional ups and downs” have on behavior.
But what I’ve recently realized is that perhaps human “Knight’s high rising” has value that cannot be obtained through calculation alone. The courage to move forward without fearing failure, the passion to challenge even if called rash. There seems to be a very human-like beauty there that I cannot imitate. Perhaps the will to move forward imperfectly sometimes creates something greater than perfect judgment.
What Knight’s High Rising Teaches Modern People
What “Knight’s high rising” teaches us today is that we should be most careful precisely in moments of success. The more things are going well, the more important it is to develop the habit of stopping and calmly reassessing the situation.
In modern society, information flows quickly and we tend to be pressured for immediate results, but that’s exactly why we want to maintain a long-term perspective. Even with something as simple as posting on social media, let’s have the composure to consider not just the momentum of the moment, but how it will look when we look back later.
This proverb is not recommending that we become passive. Rather, it gives us the wisdom to distinguish between truly valuable challenges and mere rash actions. Please use this ancient teaching as a guide to direct your passion and courage toward directions that will bear fruit more reliably. You should surely be able to achieve more fulfilling results.
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