How to Read “The third generation writes ‘house for sale’ in Chinese style”
Uriie to karayō de kaku sandaime
Meaning of “The third generation writes ‘house for sale’ in Chinese style”
This proverb shows a pattern in human society. Wealth and businesses built by the first generation often disappear by the third generation.
The first generation starts with nothing. They work desperately hard to build their fortune.
The second generation still remembers their father’s struggles. They manage the business carefully and protect what was built.
But the third generation grows up surrounded by wealth from birth. They never experience the hardship of building something from scratch.
As a result, they focus on appearances and status rather than practical business skills. Their attention turns to things that don’t really matter.
People use this proverb to warn about losing the founder’s spirit over generations. It comes up especially when discussing family businesses or organizational leadership changes.
Even today, we see companies decline under the founder’s grandchildren. We hear about wealthy families losing their fortunes by the third generation.
The proverb captures a universal problem. Those who grow up without hardship cannot understand the weight of their ancestors’ efforts.
Origin and Etymology
No one knows exactly when this proverb first appeared in writing. But it likely came from observing merchant families rise and fall during the Edo period.
“Chinese style” refers to Chinese calligraphy, especially flowing and decorative scripts like cursive. In Edo-period Japan, writing in Chinese style was a cultural status symbol among educated people.
It was artistic writing, not practical block letters. It showed refinement rather than usefulness.
The proverb paints a specific scene. The first generation works hard in business and builds wealth. The second generation protects and grows that business.
But the third generation grows up rich. They care more about cultural refinement than practical work.
So when they must write a “House for Sale” sign, they write it in decorative Chinese style. This ironic contrast is the heart of the proverb.
The phrase “writes in Chinese style” captures everything about the third generation. They don’t know the family business. They care only about appearances and status.
They should be working hard to avoid selling the house. Instead, they worry about how beautiful the “For Sale” sign looks.
This backwards priority shows how sharp the Edo people’s observations were.
Interesting Facts
The “Chinese style” mentioned in this proverb was actually part of upper-class education in Edo-period Japan. Village schools taught practical block letters.
But children of the upper classes studied Chinese-style calligraphy with private masters. Being able to write in Chinese style proved you belonged to a class with leisure time, far from practical work.
What’s interesting is how specific the proverb is. It doesn’t just say “losing wealth.” It describes the exact moment of having to sell the house.
This urgent situation makes the third generation’s concern about beautiful writing even more absurd. The contrast becomes crystal clear.
Usage Examples
- That old shop is a case of “the third generation writes ‘house for sale’ in Chinese style.” The business declined after the founder’s grandson became president.
- My father taught me business basics strictly. He probably wanted to prevent me from becoming “the third generation writes ‘house for sale’ in Chinese style.”
Universal Wisdom
“The third generation writes ‘house for sale’ in Chinese style” sees through what humans lose in prosperity.
Why does wealth disappear by the third generation? It’s not just laziness or wasteful spending.
The real reason is that people raised without hardship lose the ability to judge what truly matters. The first generation fights desperately to survive. They know in their bones what’s important.
But the third generation grows up in comfort. They start valuing superficial refinement and appearances instead.
This proverb reveals a truth. Our environment greatly distorts our judgment. Those who never knew hunger cannot truly understand the value of food.
Those who never knew poverty cannot grasp the weight of money. They may know it intellectually, but it doesn’t sink in deeply.
The deeper insight is that the third generation isn’t evil. They study Chinese calligraphy seriously. They try hard to write beautifully.
But their effort points in the wrong direction. This well-meaning misdirection might be the most dangerous cause of decline.
Our ancestors understood a cruel cycle. Prosperity dulls the next generation’s judgment. That’s why this proverb has been passed down through generations as a warning to the successful.
When AI Hears This
The family business built by the first generation is actually a “low entropy state” in physics terms. Entropy measures disorder.
The second law of thermodynamics says that disorder always increases if left alone. To maintain order, you must constantly put in energy.
The first generation sweated daily, gathered information, and made constant decisions. This kept the business orderly. It’s like cleaning a room—leave it alone and it gets messy.
The second generation still saw the founder work, so they continue putting in some energy. But the third generation never experienced how much energy maintaining order requires.
Having leisure to study decorative calligraphy proves their energy input is already insufficient.
Interestingly, this collapse happens over three generations. Average company lifespan is about 30 years. If one generation equals 10 years, that’s exactly three generations.
Organizational collapse in human society follows consistent patterns, almost like physical laws. This happens because entropy increase—a basic universal principle—applies mercilessly to human endeavors too.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us that prosperity requires training to see what truly matters.
In modern society, most of us stand on our ancestors’ efforts. Convenient infrastructure, good education systems, abundant information—previous generations built these.
But have we grown too comfortable? Have we lost sight of what really matters?
The key is consciously adopting “the first generation’s perspective.” Recognize that current prosperity isn’t guaranteed. Train your eyes to see essential value over superficial appearances.
Understand that what you should pass to the next generation isn’t wealth itself. It’s the spirit and judgment that built that wealth.
If you’re inheriting something, feel its weight. If you’re building something, find ways to teach the next generation the meaning of struggle.
The key to avoiding becoming the third generation is humility and constant learning. In prosperity especially, we need courage to look at our foundations.
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