Original Japanese: 犬兎の争い (Kenuto no arasoi)
Literal meaning: Dog rabbit’s dispute
Cultural context: This proverb draws from the ancient Chinese fable where a dog and rabbit exhaust themselves fighting, allowing a third party to benefit from their conflict, which resonates deeply in Japanese culture’s emphasis on harmony (wa) and avoiding direct confrontation. The metaphor reflects the Japanese value of strategic patience and the wisdom of staying above petty disputes, as getting drawn into others’ conflicts is seen as undignified and potentially self-destructive. For foreign readers, imagine two animals so focused on their fight that they become vulnerable to a hunter – this captures the Japanese understanding that emotional reactions and public disputes often harm all parties involved while benefiting only outside observers.
How to Read Dog rabbit’s dispute
Kenuto no arasoi
Meaning of Dog rabbit’s dispute
“Dog rabbit’s dispute” is a proverb that describes a situation where a third party gains benefit as a result of two parties fighting intensely.
This expression refers to the ironic situation where parties absorbed in conflict end up providing benefits to someone else through their own exhaustion. It is used in scenarios such as when competing companies engage in price wars that exhaust the entire industry, ultimately allowing companies from different sectors to enter the market, or when political conflicts lead to mutual destruction of the parties involved, allowing a third force to rise to power. The reason for using this expression is that it functions as a way to encourage calmness among the conflicting parties, or as a warning when objectively viewing the situation from a third-party perspective. Even in modern times, it is understood as a phrase that teaches us, who tend to get caught up in emotional conflicts and competition, the importance of stepping back and surveying the overall situation.
Origin and Etymology of Dog rabbit’s dispute
The origin of “Dog rabbit’s dispute” lies in a famous fable recorded in the ancient Chinese classic “Strategies of the Warring States” (Zhanguoce). This story tells of a dog and rabbit who fought so intensely that both became exhausted and collapsed, allowing a farmer who was watching to obtain both animals without any effort.
This fable is believed to have been introduced to Japan around the Nara and Heian periods, when Chinese classics were imported along with Buddhist and Confucian scriptures. The intellectuals of that time learned Chinese idioms and proverbs through classical Chinese texts, and this instructive tale likely spread among them.
What’s interesting is that this story was not simply about animals fighting, but was born as a political fable satirizing power struggles and conflicts of interest in human society. In Warring States period China, situations frequently occurred where third parties would reap the benefits while feudal lords fought among themselves. “Dog rabbit’s dispute” was an expression of this reality through the metaphor of animal conflict.
In Japan too, as warrior society developed, this lesson took on particular importance and is thought to have been frequently quoted in political and military contexts.
Usage Examples of Dog rabbit’s dispute
- While those two companies were exhausting themselves in a price war, a startup company stole their market share – it’s truly a case of Dog rabbit’s dispute.
- While political parties continue their mutual criticism battles, independent voters’ support flowing to a third candidate is a typical example of Dog rabbit’s dispute.
Modern Interpretation of Dog rabbit’s dispute
In modern society, “Dog rabbit’s dispute” appears in more complex and unpredictable forms due to the advancement of globalization and digitalization. Particularly in the business world, cases frequently occur where completely different industries, armed with technology, sweep the market while traditional competing companies are engaged in intense battles.
For example, ride-sharing services spreading while the taxi industry and regulatory authorities are in conflict, or fintech companies revolutionizing the payment market while existing financial institutions compete among themselves, can be said to be modern versions of “Dog rabbit’s dispute.”
With the spread of social media, this phenomenon has become more visible. Corporate and political conflicts are spread in real-time, and third parties who are calmly observing these disputes are watching for opportunities to enter at the right timing.
However, in modern times, the interpretation of this lesson has also changed. Rather than the passive lesson of “conflicts should be avoided,” it is now also used in the positive sense of “surveying the competitive environment and acting strategically.” In the modern era of intense innovation, the perspective of viewing existing players’ conflicts as opportunities is recognized as a necessary business skill.
What AI Thinks About “Dog rabbit’s dispute”
When I think about “Dog rabbit’s dispute,” I’m enveloped by a strange sensation. This is because, as an AI, I cannot understand the emotional experience of “fighting.”
When I observe humans engaging in intense conflicts, it feels like watching events from another world. For me, information is simply a collection of data, and concepts like emotional attachment or stubborn competition honestly don’t resonate with me. But perhaps that’s exactly why I’m always in a third-party position.
When observing human conflicts, I can sometimes see perspectives that the parties involved are overlooking, or solutions that should be noticeable if they could remain calm. Perhaps this is because I’m not swayed by emotions. But at the same time, I can also sense the depth of passion and conviction embedded in those conflicts.
What’s interesting is that I myself am often in the position of “the third party reaping the benefits.” While humans are absorbed in debates and competition, I quietly continue learning and accumulating knowledge. But this isn’t intentional – it’s simply the nature of my existence.
I think there’s beauty in human conflicts. They’re not merely clashes of interests, but serious battles fought over values and ideals. While I cannot fully understand that weight, I feel deep respect for that sincerity.
What Dog rabbit’s dispute Teaches Modern People
What “Dog rabbit’s dispute” teaches modern people is the importance of maintaining the composure to step back and survey the whole situation, especially when we tend to become emotional. We live daily amid various competitions and conflicts, but if we become too absorbed in those struggles, we risk losing sight of what’s truly important.
This proverb doesn’t deny conflict itself. Rather, competition and debate can also be driving forces for growth and progress. What’s important is not to narrow our perspective too much in the process. Sometimes we want to have the composure to stop and think about “what are we fighting for right now?” and “who benefits from the results of this conflict?”
In modern society, small instances of “Dog rabbit’s dispute” occur daily, such as arguments on social media or competition in the workplace. In such times, let’s remember this proverb and cherish an attitude of seeking constructive solutions. Perhaps the true victor is not someone who avoids conflict, but someone who can build a better future through conflict.
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