How to Read “立てば芍薬座れば牡丹歩く姿は百合の花”
Tateba shakuyaku suwareba botan aruku sugata wa yuri no hana
Meaning of “立てば芍薬座れば牡丹歩く姿は百合の花”
This proverb is an expression that compares a woman’s ideal beauty to flowers, dividing it into three actions: standing, sitting, and walking.
It means that when standing, she is as gracefully beautiful as a peony flower; when sitting, she is as magnificent and refined as a tree peony flower; and when walking, she is as pure and elegant as a lily flower. In other words, it is a phrase that praises a woman who is beautiful in any posture or movement.
This expression is used in situations where one praises the beauty of a woman’s deportment. It is not simply about physical beauty, but is used for women whose movements and posture have dignity and who are picturesque in any moment captured. Even today, it is sometimes used to describe women with beautiful mannerisms, and this expression contains the aesthetic sensibilities of ancient Japan.
Origin and Etymology
The most credible theory about the origin of this proverb is that it actually arose from the effects of traditional Chinese medicine. Peony, tree peony, and lily have all been treasured as medicinal herbs since ancient times.
Peony was used as medicine for back pain when standing up, tree peony as medicine to improve blood circulation in the lower body when sitting, and lily as medicine to strengthen the legs and lower back when walking. In other words, it was originally a practical phrase expressing a medical prescription: “Take peony when standing, tree peony when sitting, and lily when walking.”
Over time, the beauty of these flowers came to be associated with women’s deportment. The graceful standing appearance of the peony, the magnificent and calm presence of the tree peony, and the pure and elegant impression of the lily became established as words expressing the ideal beauty of women.
Since this expression can be found in Edo period literature, it is believed to have been used in its current meaning at least several hundred years ago. It’s quite fascinating how words born from knowledge of medicinal herbs were eventually elevated to expressions of beauty.
Interesting Facts
Did you know that the three flowers appearing in this proverb bloom in different seasons? Peonies bloom in early summer (around May), tree peonies in spring (April to May), and lilies in summer (June to August). This means that this proverb expresses the beauty of women throughout the year.
Also, all these flowers share the common trait of having strong fragrances. The sweet fragrance of peonies, the refined fragrance of tree peonies, and the pure fragrance of lilies captivate people not only visually but also through the sense of smell. Perhaps this expresses the presence of beautiful women, including the invisible charm of fragrance.
Usage Examples
- She is truly someone who perfectly fits the phrase “When standing peony when sitting tree peony walking figure is lily flower”
- Watching that actress’s deportment, I think this is what “When standing peony when sitting tree peony walking figure is lily flower” means
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the way this proverb is viewed has changed significantly. While it was once accepted as a beautiful expression representing the ideal image of women, today it is often viewed critically as “old-fashioned values that judge women by their appearance.”
In an era where gender equality is emphasized, many people feel uncomfortable with comparing women to flowers and praising only their beauty. It’s natural to feel that the very idea of measuring women’s value by their appearance and the beauty of their deportment is out of step with the times.
However, the focus on “beauty of mannerisms” that this proverb contains can be said to be a valuable perspective even today. Now that social media and video calls have become part of daily life, our deportment is seen by more people than ever before. Regardless of gender, beautiful posture and refined movements are important elements that give others a good impression.
Also, if we interpret this proverb in a modern way, it could be read as meaning “a person who can display their own charm in any situation.” Perhaps truly attractive people are those who can express the best version of themselves in each scene – when standing, sitting, or walking.
When AI Hears This
The aesthetic philosophy expressed in this proverb possesses characteristics fundamentally different from classical Western aesthetics. Western aesthetics has traditionally idealized mathematically perfect static beauty through concepts like the “golden ratio” and “symmetry.” However, this Japanese expression demonstrates an extremely dynamic aesthetic perspective—one that recognizes how the optimal expression of beauty changes according to a person’s movements, even for the same individual.
Particularly noteworthy is the exquisite selection of flowers corresponding to each movement. The peony’s straight stem captures the dignified beauty of standing posture, the tree peony’s heavy, luxurious blooms represent the settled elegance of sitting, and the lily’s graceful swaying in the wind expresses the flowing beauty of walking. This isn’t merely metaphorical—it can be seen as the result of scientific observation of the physical characteristics of both human movement and plant behavior.
This aesthetic sensibility connects to concepts like “borrowed scenery” in Japanese gardens and “once in a lifetime” in tea ceremony. Rather than fixed perfection, it represents a sensitivity that seeks optimal harmony in response to changes in time and circumstance. The modern concept of “TPO” (Time, Place, Occasion) can actually be considered a contemporary version of this dynamic aesthetic.
Born during the Edo period, this expression represents a crystallization of dynamic aesthetics unique in the world—one that linguistically captures Japan’s distinctive value system of viewing beauty as “adaptability.”
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of “having richness of expression according to situations within consistent authenticity.”
In modern society, we move daily between various scenes: online and offline, work and private life, time with family and time with friends. We don’t need to show the same face in all situations, but it’s important that “your authenticity” can be felt in every scene.
The dignified strength like a peony when standing, the calm refinement like a tree peony when sitting, the pure positivity like a lily when walking. If we interpret these in a modern way, they could be said to represent courage when facing difficulties, sincerity when dealing with people, and hope when walking toward the future.
You too should try to express the most beautiful version of yourself while cherishing who you are in that moment, regardless of what situation you find yourself in. This is not beauty of appearance, but beauty of the heart’s way of being.
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