How to Read “梅は伐れ桜は伐るな”
Ume wa kire sakura wa kiru na
Meaning of “梅は伐れ桜は伐るな”
This proverb teaches that since all things have different natures, we should not use uniform approaches but rather handle each according to its specific characteristics.
Drawing from gardening knowledge that plum trees have strong vitality and can withstand pruning, while cherry trees are delicate and will die if cut too severely, this saying offers wisdom about how to approach people and situations. It means that while it’s acceptable to be strict with strong people, we need to respond gently and carefully to sensitive individuals.
This expression is used when we want to warn against the dangers of uniform responses and convey the importance of discerning each person’s nature. In educational settings, it’s used to explain the need for instruction tailored to each child’s individual personality, and in workplaces, it’s employed to describe the importance of understanding and approaching each subordinate or colleague according to their specific characteristics. Even in modern times, in a society that demands respect for diversity and responses tailored to individual traits, this teaching remains deeply meaningful.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb lies in practical wisdom about tree care that has been passed down since the Edo period. It’s a teaching derived from years of experience with the different natures of plum and cherry trees, flowering trees that have been beloved by the Japanese people.
Plum trees have extremely strong vitality, and even when old branches are boldly cut away, they will sprout new buds and bloom beautiful flowers. In fact, regular pruning helps them produce even more flowers the following year. Cherry trees, on the other hand, are delicate, and their cut surfaces are susceptible to bacterial infection, often causing the tree to die when branches are cut too severely.
This wisdom emerged as gardeners and farmers accumulated experience over many generations. Particularly during the Edo period, when garden culture flourished and many samurai residences and merchant houses planted plum and cherry trees, such practical knowledge was crucial.
Eventually, this gardening wisdom came to be used as a lesson about human relationships and approaches to various matters. It’s a proverb imbued with the delicate sensibility characteristic of Japanese people, expressing the importance of understanding each thing’s nature and treating it appropriately through the metaphor of familiar flowering trees.
Interesting Facts
The remarkable vitality of plum trees can be seen in ancient trees over 1,000 years old that still bloom beautiful flowers today. Cherry trees, on the other hand, generally have a lifespan of about 60 years, and there’s even a saying “A fool cuts cherry trees, a fool doesn’t cut plum trees,” showing how widely known the difference between these two trees has been since ancient times.
Interestingly, this proverb appears not only in gardening books but also in educational texts from the Edo period, suggesting that it was valued as guidance for human resource development, transcending mere tree care methods.
Usage Examples
- When training newcomers, it’s important to discern each person’s character with the spirit of “Plum trees cut, cherry trees do not cut.”
- That child is sensitive, so let’s watch over them gently with the approach of “Plum trees cut, cherry trees do not cut.”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the teaching of this proverb has become even more important. With globalization increasing opportunities to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, uniform management approaches no longer suffice.
Particularly in the IT industry and creative workplaces, leveraging individual talents and characteristics directly impacts results. While clear instructions and strict management may be effective for some people, others need high-freedom environments and trust-based relationships. This is precisely where the spirit of “Plum trees cut, cherry trees do not cut” is needed.
The same applies in educational settings, where there’s a shift from traditional whole-class instruction to individually optimized learning. As understanding of developmental disabilities deepens, the importance of support tailored to each child’s characteristics is being recognized.
However, in modern times, there’s also a tendency to try to standardize everything in pursuit of efficiency. As AI and systematization advance, there’s also the danger of neglecting human individuality and diversity.
This proverb is precious wisdom that reminds us of the value of human-like careful consideration and individual responses, precisely because technology has advanced so far.
When AI Hears This
Plum trees possess a characteristic called “sprouting vigor” – when cut, they vigorously extend new branches and produce more abundant blossoms the following year. Pruning activates the flow of tree sap, causing dormant buds to spring into action all at once. Cherry trees, on the other hand, have “wound vulnerability” – bacteria easily enter through cuts, often causing the wounds to rot and leading to the tree’s death.
The Japanese elevated this biological fact into a profound metaphor for understanding human relationships. They recognized from these tree characteristics that there are two completely opposite expressions of love: the plum-like approach of “being strict because you care” and the cherry-like approach of “watching over gently.”
What’s fascinating is how this distinction perfectly aligns with what modern psychology calls “interventional support” versus “non-interventional support.” Active involvement works effectively with growing children or people facing challenges, but excessive interference can backfire with those in delicate situations or engaged in creative work.
Through observing trees, the Japanese discovered remarkably sophisticated wisdom about human relationships – the ability to discern someone’s true nature and maintain appropriate emotional distance. They crystallized this insight into a beautiful proverb that represents a masterful fusion of scientific fact and spiritual understanding, truly embodying the profound depth of Japanese culture.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of true communication that begins with understanding others.
In relationships with family, friends, and workplace colleagues, we tend to think, “This method was effective with this person, so let’s use the same approach with that person,” but this might be a dangerous pitfall. Each person’s personality, values, and experiences are different.
What’s important is the attitude of carefully observing others and trying to understand their characteristics. Some people grow through strict guidance, while others demonstrate their abilities through warm encouragement. Some people are resilient to criticism, while others are easily hurt.
While diversity is emphasized in modern society, this doesn’t simply mean acknowledging differences. True respect for diversity means understanding those differences and finding appropriate ways to relate to each person.
The people around you are all different “trees.” If you can approach them with the heart of a gardener who carefully tends to each individual tree, they will surely bloom beautiful flowers. Deep understanding and love for others is the key to building rich human relationships.
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