How to Read “Even a demon tile gets makeup”
Onigawara ni mo keshō
Meaning of “Even a demon tile gets makeup”
“Even a demon tile gets makeup” means that even ugly or unattractive things can look beautiful when decorated or adorned properly.
The proverb uses an extreme example. Even demon tiles with their frightening, ugly faces can become presentable with makeup.
This emphasizes how powerful appearance enhancement can be.
The proverb teaches us how easily visual impressions can change. People use it when someone’s appearance dramatically improves through grooming.
It also points out situations where surface decoration makes things look good regardless of their true quality.
Today, people use it to describe presentations or product packaging where appearance gets more attention than content. The proverb acknowledges the power of appearance while sometimes carrying a slightly ironic tone.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb isn’t clearly documented in historical texts. However, we can make interesting observations from its components.
“Onigawara” refers to decorative roof tiles used in traditional Japanese architecture. These tiles sit at the ends of roof ridges.
They feature stern demon or beast faces and serve to ward off evil spirits. Their frightening expressions intimidate viewers and drive away malevolent forces.
The idea of applying “makeup” to demon tiles seems contradictory at first. But it carries deep meaning.
It expresses human attachment to appearance and interest in superficial beauty. Even the ugliest, most frightening things can change their look through decoration.
During the Edo period, makeup culture spread among common people. Interest in grooming and appearance grew significantly.
Against this backdrop, people chose “demon tiles” as the ultimate example of ugliness. By suggesting even these get makeup, they emphasized appearance enhancement in an extreme way.
This proverb likely emerged as a humorous expression. It captures both the power of appearance and human ingenuity in transforming it.
Interesting Facts
Demon tiles aren’t uniquely Japanese. Similar decorative tiles exist in China and Korea too.
However, Japanese demon tiles have particularly expressive faces. Their features vary by region, showing local character.
Craftsmen sometimes applied gold leaf or paint to demon tiles. This was literally giving them “makeup.”
The character for “oni” (demon) doesn’t only mean frightening evil spirits. In ancient Japan, people called all supernatural beings “oni.”
This included protective guardian spirits. So demon tiles weren’t just ugly—they also represented “powerful” and “dignified” in positive ways.
Usage Examples
- That restaurant has average food but fancy interior design, so it’s thriving—truly “even a demon tile gets makeup”
- His photo editing skills are amazing; “even a demon tile gets makeup” describes how he makes any photo look great
Universal Wisdom
“Even a demon tile gets makeup” captures a fundamental human desire to improve appearance. It also reflects the universal truth that looks change impressions.
Why do people decorate their appearance? Because looks directly affect how others judge us and how confident we feel.
Even when essence stays unchanged, improving appearance changes how people react. This shifts our feelings and even our social position.
Our ancestors sharply understood this strange aspect of human psychology.
This proverb endures because it doesn’t simply preach appearance-first thinking. Instead, it points out the unavoidable reality of “presentation” in human society.
We ideally say “what’s inside matters most.” Yet we’re creatures heavily influenced by appearance.
The proverb also carries subtle irony. By using demon tiles as the ugliest example, it shows “anything looks good when decorated.”
But it simultaneously maintains the cool perspective that “the essence hasn’t changed.” It acknowledges the power of surface improvement while reminding us this differs from true value.
This balanced life philosophy appears here. Don’t forget that appearance and essence are separate things.
When AI Hears This
The law of diminishing marginal utility in economics shows that adding more of the same thing brings smaller satisfaction increases.
The first glass of juice tastes amazing, but the fifth glass doesn’t excite you much. Makeup on demon tiles presents a fascinating case where this law reverses.
Consider normal aesthetic investment. When an already beautiful person spends 10,000 yen on cosmetics, the visual improvement is tiny.
But when you apply makeup to something in negative territory like demon tiles, the first step creates dramatic effects.
Improving from minus 10 to minus 5 has far greater psychological impact than improving from plus 90 to plus 95.
This shows human value judgment depends on distance from zero, not absolute values. Our brains measure “effort to become normal” and “effort to become perfect” on completely different scales.
From an investment efficiency perspective, escaping negative territory yields the highest utility.
This asymmetry explains why companies allocate huge budgets to scandal response. It shows why fixing weaknesses takes priority over strengthening advantages.
Demon tile makeup brilliantly identifies a fundamental bias in human evaluation systems.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people to value appearance improvement while maintaining eyes that see true essence. We need both.
In SNS and online society, first impressions matter more than ever. One profile photo or one presentation slide determines your perceived value.
That’s reality. So skillfully presenting yourself isn’t shallow. It’s an essential skill for navigating modern society.
Simultaneously, this proverb asks us to stay level-headed. Are we judging things only by appearance?
Are we fooled by superficial decoration? It gives us chances to reflect on ourselves.
When choosing products, evaluating people, or receiving information, pause and look at the essence.
I want you to have both wisdom in presentation and depth in seeing truth. Don’t fear improving appearance, but don’t rely only on looks.
That balance is the modern wisdom this proverb teaches.
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