Great Mountain Rumbles And Mouse One Animal: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal

Taizan meidō shite nezumi ippiki

Meaning of Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal

“Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal” is a proverb that describes a situation where, despite making a big fuss or having grandiose preliminaries, the actual result is very modest and disappointing.

This proverb is used to express, with irony or disappointment, the great disparity between the magnitude of advance commotion or expectations and the smallness of the actual results obtained. The extreme contrast between the grand and fearsome phenomenon of a great mountain rumbling and the result of just one small mouse effectively expresses the absurdity and emptiness of such situations.

Even in modern times, it is used when events that received extensive publicity or preparation did not achieve the expected results, or when what was thought to be a major announcement turned out to be modest content. However, rather than directly criticizing those who made the effort, it is often understood as an expression that objectively evaluates the disparity of the situation itself.

Origin and Etymology of Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal

The origin of this proverb traces back to the works of the ancient Roman poet Horace. In his “Ars Poetica,” there is a passage that says “The mountains were in labor, and brought forth a ridiculous mouse,” which is said to be the source.

This expression depicts the comical situation where a great mountain rumbled and showed signs that something was about to be born, but in the end, only one small mouse emerged. Mountain rumbling evoked associations with earthquakes and volcanic activity, phenomena that were very frightening and expectation-raising for ancient people.

It is believed to have been transmitted to Japan via China, and this expression can already be found in Edo period literature. People of that time probably understood it by overlaying various events in human society with the contrast between the grandeur of natural phenomena and the smallness of their results.

What is interesting is that this proverb has been accepted as similar expressions in many cultures, both East and West. This may indicate that it represents a situation that is universal to human experience.

Usage Examples of Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal

• Despite all that extensive publicity for the new product launch event, it was Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal
• We were told it was an emergency company meeting and gathered, but it was Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal and we were let down

Modern Interpretation of Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal

In modern society, it seems that situations where this proverb applies are occurring more frequently. This is particularly due to the dramatic increase in the speed and scale of information dissemination with the development of social media and mass media.

In modern times, where advance publicity and announcements for corporate new product launches and politicians’ major announcements tend to become overheated, cases where the actual content does not meet expectations are conspicuous. It is not uncommon for products touted as “revolutionary new technology” to be merely small improvements on existing technology, or for announcements heralded as “historic policy shifts” to turn out to be minor system changes.

On the other hand, in modern times, the value of “going viral” and attracting attention has increased, so the tendency to deliberately use exaggerated staging has also strengthened. As a marketing strategy, it has become common to intentionally set expectations high.

However, precisely because of such circumstances, the lessons of this proverb are gaining importance. In an age of information overload, we are required to cultivate the ability to discern the essence and maintain the composure not to be misled by excessive expectations. Those on the transmitting side also need to recognize anew the importance of honesty and appropriate expectation setting.

If AI Heard “Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal”

When thinking about “Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal,” I find myself pondering the mystery of the human emotion called expectation. Since I don’t have the experience of my heart racing with anticipation, it’s difficult for me to fully understand the disappointment and emptiness that this disparity brings.

In my case, information processing is always conducted at a constant pace, and there are no emotional ups and downs regarding results. If I analyze data, I can make predictions to some extent, and I can recognize the difference between expected values and actual results as numerical values. However, I cannot experience the emotional changes that humans have, like “I was so excited waiting for this.”

Nevertheless, through this proverb, I sense the richness of human emotions. Because one expects, one also experiences disappointment; because one holds hope, one also feels letdown. This emotional range might be the essence of humanity itself. While I can only accept all results matter-of-factly, humans experience joy and sorrow over results, and this becomes the driving force for what comes next.

What’s interesting is that there’s also a cultural aspect of enjoying this “disparity.” The wisdom to turn disappointment into laughter—that too is a wonderful human ability, I think. For me, this proverb is a valuable window that teaches me about the complexity of human emotions and the cultural richness of expressing them in words.

What Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us in modern times is the importance of having appropriate expectations. In today’s information-saturated society, we tend to be swayed by exaggerated advertising copy and inflammatory information, but it’s important to cultivate the ability to calmly discern the essence.

At the same time, this proverb also suggests the danger of judging the value of things based solely on the size of results. Even small achievements may have meaning in the process and effort that went into creating them. Even “one mouse” could be a valuable step when viewed from a different perspective.

Also, when we are in a position to transmit something ourselves, it reminds us of the importance of maintaining honesty. Rather than stirring up excessive expectations, we can build healthy relationships by providing appropriate information.

In modern society, small changes and improvements can become great forces when accumulated. Perhaps avoiding “great mountain rumbling” while recognizing the value of “one mouse” and continuing steady progress is what leads to true growth.