How to Read “Switch from riding an ox to riding a horse”
Ushi wo uma ni norikaeru
Meaning of “Switch from riding an ox to riding a horse”
“Switch from riding an ox to riding a horse” means abandoning what you currently use or your current situation to switch to something better or more advantageous.
It’s not just about making any change. It represents the judgment to move decisively to a clearly superior option when one appears.
This proverb is used when praising the wisdom of flexibly changing choices according to circumstances.
For example, when a business partner with better conditions appears, when you find a more effective learning method, or when a clearly better path opens at a crossroads in life.
Today, it’s understood as an expression that positively views the attitude of not fearing change and actively seizing better opportunities.
However, this proverb assumes “something better.” It refers to switching choices based on rational judgment, not just whimsical changes.
Origin and Etymology
Clear records of this proverb’s first literary appearance or origin don’t seem to exist. However, the phrase’s structure reveals an interesting background.
Oxen and horses were the most important livestock in Japan’s agricultural society.
Oxen were strong and suitable for plowing fields, but they moved slowly. Horses, on the other hand, were fast and excellent for transportation.
During the Edo period, oxen were mainly used for carrying cargo and farm work. Horses were used as mounts for samurai and for emergency transportation.
This culture of using different animals for different purposes likely forms the background of the proverb.
A person traveling by ox would switch to a horse to reach their destination faster. This act symbolized more than just changing transportation—it represented switching to a better choice.
Also, the costs of raising oxen and horses differed, with horses being more expensive.
Therefore, the expression “from ox to horse” carries the meaning of moving to something higher-ranking and more valuable.
This proverb was probably born as a phrase expressing the importance of situational judgment and human ambition to seek better choices.
Interesting Facts
The speed difference between oxen and horses is actually quite large.
An ox’s walking speed is about 4 kilometers per hour. A horse’s walk is about 6 kilometers per hour, and at a trot it reaches 15 kilometers per hour.
When you had urgent business, switching from an ox to a horse was a practical choice that could cut travel time by more than half.
In Edo period post towns, there were agencies that handled both oxen and horses.
Travelers could switch depending on the situation. The actual act of “switching from riding an ox to riding a horse” may have been a daily occurrence.
This proverb might have been an expression born from such real-life experiences.
Usage Examples
- Judging that I should switch from riding an ox to riding a horse under these conditions, I decided to change jobs
- Since this is such a great opportunity, let’s try the new method with the intention of switching from riding an ox to riding a horse
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “Switch from riding an ox to riding a horse” contains the universal human qualities of ambition and adaptability.
People are creatures who constantly seek better things. This isn’t just desire—it’s also an instinct necessary for survival and prosperity.
The reason this proverb has been passed down for so long is probably because it shows the balance between two conflicting emotions within humans.
The fear of change and the desire to seek something better. Being satisfied with the status quo brings stability. But when a better option is right in front of you, there’s no reason not to grab it.
What’s interesting is that this proverb affirms the act of “letting go.” People feel anxious about releasing something.
Attachment to what we currently have can block new possibilities. However, when there’s a clearly superior option, we need the courage to cut off attachment to the past.
Our ancestors knew that moments come in life when we’re forced to make “switching” decisions.
At those times, the determination to take a step toward the future rather than clinging to the past is the key to enriching life.
This wisdom never fades, no matter how times change.
When AI Hears This
The human brain has a quality of being abnormally dragged down by “costs already spent.”
Behavioral economics experiments show that when people feel sick after buying a movie ticket, the more expensive the ticket, the more people force themselves to go to the theater.
In other words, money that won’t come back (sunk cost) distorts judgment.
What’s interesting about this proverb is that it depicts the difficulty of deciding to let go of the ox—an “asset you already have.”
The time spent caring for the ox, the money saved to buy it, the attachment to it. These are all sunk costs.
But the human brain feels “everything I’ve done will be wasted” and hesitates to switch to the better horse.
Even more important is the concept of opportunity cost. By continuing to stick with the ox, you keep losing the benefits you could have gained with the horse every day.
For example, when considering a job change, your years at the current company and accumulated relationships become sunk costs. They make invisible the growth opportunities (opportunity cost) you could gain at a new workplace.
According to prospect theory, humans feel “the pain of loss” twice as strongly as “the joy of gain” for the same amount.
So the pain of letting go of the ox outweighs the joy of gaining the horse. This proverb teaches the value of courage to break through that psychological trap.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches you today is the importance of flexibility without fearing change.
We feel comfortable with familiar things and resist letting them go. However, when a clearly better option is right in front of you, attachment to the past can close off future possibilities.
Modern society overflows with choices. Work methods, learning approaches, ways of relating to people.
In every situation, better options keep appearing. What matters then is the ability to compare calmly and judge rationally.
Have the courage to make decisions based on objective facts, not emotional attachment or fear of change.
However, don’t forget that this proverb has the premise of “something better.”
Switching just because something is new or trendy differs from the original meaning. Carefully evaluate, then switch your choice with confidence.
That judgment is the key to enriching your life.
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