How to Read “Even a wild boar becomes a pig by the seventh generation”
いのもしちだいめにはぶたになる
Meaning of “Even a wild boar becomes a pig by the seventh generation”
This proverb means that even a wild boar changes its nature to become like a domesticated pig over many generations. It shows how original traits and characteristics fade away over time, transforming into something completely different.
People especially use this saying when talking about how a founder’s spirit, a samurai family’s pride, or a household’s traditions disappear in later generations. Wild boars are fierce and powerful animals. But domesticated pigs are gentle and obedient.
This contrast perfectly captures how human families and organizations change over time.
Today, people use this proverb when a founding family’s business spirit weakens. They also use it when a prestigious family loses its former glory.
The saying shows an unavoidable law of change. Things transform from their original form, for better or worse, influenced by environment and time.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, we can make interesting observations from how the words are structured.
First, notice the two Chinese characters: “猪” and “豕.” The first means wild boar. The second means domesticated pig. Biologically, pigs are actually domesticated wild boars. They are the same species.
In ancient China, people caught wild boars and raised them. Over many generations, these animals changed into domestic pigs.
The specific number “seventh generation” is also interesting. In Japanese and Chinese culture, seven symbolizes “many” or “a long period.” It doesn’t literally mean seven generations. Rather, it’s a metaphor for “after a long time.”
This proverb is based on a real fact. Even fierce wild boars become gentle domestic pigs after many generations in captivity. Our ancestors keenly observed how much environment affects living things.
They also noticed that changes across generations cannot be reversed. People applied this animal transformation to human society. They saw how families and organizations change their nature over time.
Interesting Facts
Wild boars and pigs belong to the same species biologically (Sus scrofa). DNA analysis shows that pigs were domesticated from wild boars about 9,000 years ago. This happened independently in East Asia and the Middle East.
Here’s something fascinating: when domestic pigs are released into the wild, they change back in just a few generations. Their tusks grow longer. Their body hair becomes thicker. They start looking like wild boars again.
This shows how powerfully environment affects physical traits.
In Japan, the character “豕” is not a standard-use kanji. Modern people rarely see it. But it appears frequently in classical texts and Chinese literature.
The character itself is a pictograph. It shows a pig being raised inside an enclosure. This reminds us how ancient the history of domestication is.
Usage Examples
- あの老舗企業も三代目になってすっかり保守的になった、猪も七代目には豕になるとはよく言ったものだ
- 創業者の開拓精神はどこへやら、猪も七代目には豕になるで、今の経営陣には冒険心のかけらもない
Universal Wisdom
This proverb teaches us a deep truth about human society: change is inevitable. Our ancestors understood this reality. Even the strongest will or finest qualities change their form when faced with environment and time.
Why do people change? Because we have the ability to adapt to our environment to survive. Wild boars are fierce because they need that trait to survive in harsh nature.
But inside a safe enclosure, that temperament becomes unnecessary. Humans are the same. A founder’s fighting spirit gradually fades across generations. This happens because stable organizations no longer require it.
This proverb sounds like it laments change. But it also contains hope. If environment changes nature, then creating a good environment can lead to positive change.
Also, since change is unavoidable, the proverb teaches us the importance of consciously preserving our original spirit.
Humans are products of their environment. At the same time, humans create their environment. Understanding this duality explains why this proverb has been passed down for so long.
We must accept change while continuing to ask what we should protect. That tension might be what makes us truly human.
When AI Hears This
The observation that wild boars become domestic pigs by the seventh generation captures a phenomenon. Traits change even though the genes themselves don’t change. This is exactly what modern biology calls epigenetics.
Epigenetics is a mechanism where gene switches turn on and off without changing the DNA sequence itself. For example, identical twins with the same genes can develop different body types and personalities based on their living environment.
What’s interesting is that these gene switch states can sometimes be inherited by descendants. However, they don’t last forever.
Experiments with roundworms show something remarkable. Changes in gene expression caused by environmental changes are passed to descendants. But they reset after about three to seven generations.
In other words, acquired traits are inherited, but they disappear within several generations. The number “seventh generation” matches this scientific decay period exactly.
People in the Edo period discovered a biological truth through observing domesticated animals. They realized that “changes are inherited but not permanent.” They tracked the process of fading wildness over many generations.
Through experience, they understood that complete domestication happens around the seventh generation. Without knowing molecular-level mechanisms, they accurately identified the time scale of epigenetics. This is an astonishing insight.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people a harsh but important truth. Without conscious effort, we cannot preserve our essence.
We live our daily lives seeking comfort and stability. That’s not a bad thing in itself. However, when we stay in stable environments too long, we unknowingly lose our ability to challenge ourselves and our creativity.
This applies to individuals, organizations, and families alike.
What matters is not fearing change, but understanding it. If environment changes us, we can consciously choose what environment we place ourselves in.
Also, if we have values or attitudes we want to protect, we must not neglect passing them to the next generation. We must speak them in words, show them through actions, and arrange the environment.
Without such active efforts, precious things naturally disappear.
At the same time, we need flexibility to accept change. Keeping everything as it was isn’t always right. We need wisdom to distinguish what should change with the times from what core elements must never change.
That attitude might be exactly what this proverb asks of us.
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