How to Read “Even if an empty boat bumps into you, you won’t get angry”
Kyoshū fune ni fururu tomo hito okorazu
Meaning of “Even if an empty boat bumps into you, you won’t get angry”
This proverb teaches that when a person stays in a state of selflessness, they won’t create conflict with others. When an empty boat drifts and bumps into your boat, you don’t feel angry. This is because there’s clearly no intention or malice behind it.
The same applies to human relationships. If you interact with others without ego or attachment, staying in a selfless state, you won’t provoke anger or resentment. Most conflicts arise when egos clash with each other.
However, if one person remains selfless like an empty boat, collision becomes impossible.
This proverb teaches the importance of approaching situations with a flexible and calm mindset. Don’t try to force your opinions or emotions on others. Even today, this teaching offers valuable guidance when you want to avoid relationship troubles or maintain inner peace.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb likely comes from a parable in the writings of Zhuangzi, a Chinese philosopher. Zhuangzi was a key figure in Daoist thought who taught about the state of natural spontaneity.
In the original parable, when an empty boat bumps into you while crossing a river, you don’t get angry. But if someone were in that boat, you’d yell at them loudly. Through this contrast, Zhuangzi showed that the root of human anger and conflict lies in the “self” or “ego.”
An empty boat literally means “an empty vessel” or “a boat with no one inside.” A boat without passengers has no intention. It simply drifts with the water’s flow. If it happens to bump into another boat, there’s no malice or fault involved. That’s why the person who gets bumped has no reason to be angry.
This teaching spread to Japan and became established as a proverb about the importance of selflessness and letting go of attachment. It contains deep wisdom: if you abandon your ego and remain selfless like an empty boat, you can avoid unnecessary conflicts with others.
Interesting Facts
In Zhuangzi’s philosophy, the empty boat story continues with these words: “If a person could become like an empty boat, who in the world would harm them?” This shows the ultimate state where someone who reaches selflessness won’t get caught up in conflicts anywhere in the world.
The “boat” in this proverb was an important means of transportation in ancient China and Japan. Boats bumping into each other on rivers and lakes was a common everyday occurrence. This made it a very relatable and easy-to-understand example for people of that time.
Usage Examples
- He approaches everyone with the mindset of “Even if an empty boat bumps into you, you won’t get angry,” so he never gets into arguments with anyone
- They say “Even if an empty boat bumps into you, you won’t get angry,” but I’ve recently realized how difficult it is to remain truly selfless
Universal Wisdom
Where does human anger and conflict come from? This proverb sharply identifies the root as the “ego.” We all have a sense of “self.” We value our own thoughts, our own justice, and our own emotions. When we feel these are threatened, anger wells up inside us.
We don’t get angry when an empty boat bumps into us because there’s no “other person” there. There’s no “ego” to direct our anger toward. In other words, much of the anger we feel daily arises because we perceive an “ego” in the other person that clashes with our own “ego.”
This insight strikes at the essence of human relationships. Most conflicts happen when both sides insist “I’m right.” But if one side lets go of ego and remains selfless like an empty boat, conflict can’t exist. There’s no opponent to clash with.
Our ancestors conveyed this truth through the everyday metaphor of boats. They knew the secret to maintaining inner peace lies in abandoning the ego. This wisdom remains an eternal truth as long as humans live together in society.
When AI Hears This
People’s emotions change 180 degrees for the same event depending on “who did it.” You don’t get angry when an empty boat bumps into you, but you do when someone’s in it. What causes this difference? Attribution theory in cognitive science reveals that the human brain instantly judges “where the cause lies,” and this determines the type and intensity of emotion.
According to Heider’s research, people classify the cause of events as either “internal factors (intention or personality)” or “external factors (chance or environment).” If someone’s in the boat, you attribute it to internal factors—”that person did it on purpose”—and anger arises. With an empty boat, you attribute it to external factors—”it just drifted here”—and no anger occurs. In other words, the emotion of anger isn’t produced by the physical collision itself, but by the brain’s causal analysis process.
Even more interesting is Weiner’s concept of “controllability.” When you judge that someone acted intentionally, you think “they could have prevented it,” and anger intensifies. Conversely, when there’s no intention, you accept it as “unavoidable.” The same pain becomes either suffering or acceptance depending on interpretation.
The essence of this proverb lies in pointing out that emotions aren’t automatically determined by external stimuli. They’re created by our cognitive judgments. If you want to control anger, change your interpretation rather than the event itself.
Lessons for Today
Modern society overflows with platforms for self-expression, especially social media. Everyone can voice their opinions and assert their correctness. But precisely because of this, the teaching of this proverb holds more value than ever.
“Even if an empty boat bumps into you, you won’t get angry” doesn’t teach us to completely abandon our ego. Rather, it teaches the importance of flexibility—keeping your assertions soft depending on time and situation. You don’t need to assert your correctness in every situation.
When someone’s words irritate you, take a breath before reflexively arguing back. Can you receive their words like an empty boat without intention? Doing so might help you avoid unnecessary conflict.
This isn’t weakness—it’s strength. Someone who can let go of ego has room in their heart. Why not try being like an empty boat sometimes, surrendering to the flow of water? When you do, you’ll discover how surprisingly light your heart feels and how peaceful your relationships become.
Comments