How to Read “Accumulating wealth of ten million is not as good as having a modest skill in your body”
Takara wo tsumu senman naru mo hakugi mi ni aru ni shikazu
Meaning of “Accumulating wealth of ten million is not as good as having a modest skill in your body”
This proverb means that acquiring skills is far more valuable than accumulating any amount of wealth. External factors can take away your possessions, but once you learn a skill, no one can ever take it from you.
People use this proverb when teaching young people about the importance of education and skill development. It’s also used when talking to someone who focuses only on accumulating money, to help them understand what true wealth really means.
The saying also reminds people facing difficult situations that their abilities are their greatest asset.
This teaching remains extremely important in modern society. Economic changes or unexpected events can cause you to lose your possessions. However, your specialized knowledge, technical skills, qualifications, and experience give you the power to survive any situation.
True security doesn’t come from your bank balance. It comes from the strength you carry within yourself.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is believed to originate from ancient Chinese classics. The phrase “accumulating wealth of ten million” refers to amassing enormous riches. “Having a modest skill in your body” means that even a small skill you possess is more valuable.
In ancient China, even before the imperial examination system developed, people emphasized the importance of practical skills. During times of war, possessions could always be stolen or lost. But skills you learned could never be taken away.
This practical wisdom became established as a proverb.
The term “modest skill” includes a sense of humility. While it translates as “a small skill,” it actually refers to practical skills in general. People with skills in medicine, crafts, or farming could make a living wherever they went.
The proverb came to Japan through Chinese texts. It appears in educational books from the Edo period. Not just samurai, but merchants and craftspeople used it when teaching children the importance of acquiring skills.
The teaching that skills become lifelong assets while possessions can be lost has been passed down through generations.
Usage Examples
- Watching my son study for his certification, I encouraged him: “Accumulating wealth of ten million is not as good as having a modest skill in your body. Your effort will definitely become an asset for your future.”
- My company went bankrupt and my savings ran out, but thanks to the skills I developed over many years, I found a new job. This is exactly what “Accumulating wealth of ten million is not as good as having a modest skill in your body” means.
Universal Wisdom
Humans instinctively seek security. It’s natural to look for that security in visible wealth. As the numbers in your bank account grow, your anxiety about the future seems to fade.
But this proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years because our ancestors learned bitter lessons again and again.
Looking back through history, countless people lost their fortunes overnight through war, disaster, or economic crisis. No matter how much wealth you build, it has the fragility to disappear due to external factors.
On the other hand, the skill to heal people as a doctor, the ability to create things as a craftsperson, or the power to guide others as a teacher maintains its value in any situation.
The deep insight this proverb offers is that true wealth lies not in what you own, but in who you are. Possessions are “things you have,” but skills are “yourself.”
People can survive losing their possessions, but if you lose yourself, nothing remains.
Furthermore, the very process of acquiring skills helps you grow. You work hard, fail, learn, and master. This experience shapes your character and builds your strength to face difficulties.
You can delegate accumulating wealth to others, but no one can grow for you. Our ancestors understood that life’s true security exists within yourself.
When AI Hears This
When you think about the difference between wealth and skills through information theory, a surprisingly clear distinction emerges. Wealth is information stored externally, but accessing it always requires “transmission channels.”
You need multiple channels like banking systems, laws, and social stability to extract its value. Information theory proves that as transmission channels increase, the risk of information degradation rises exponentially.
If war or economic collapse occurs, these channels are instantly severed, making wealth as information unreadable.
Skills, on the other hand, are algorithms compressed and stored in your brain. Here’s what’s important: unlike concrete data, algorithms can be applied even when environments change.
Someone with cooking skills can deploy their “procedure for making delicious food” algorithm in both Japanese and Western cuisine settings. This represents extremely high “information redundancy” in information theory terms.
Skills also have a self-repair function. Even if you forget a little, practicing restores them. This follows the same principle as error-correcting codes.
Once lost, wealth requires external re-input, but skills contain restoration codes internally. Ten million in wealth disappears in one disaster, but skills remain stored in your brain—a highly portable memory device—with noise resistance.
This difference in information storage robustness is the core of this proverb.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches you today is that investing in yourself is the most reliable preparation for the future. Savings and asset building matter, but even more important is maintaining an attitude of continuous learning and making the effort to acquire new skills.
These strengthen the foundation of your life.
In today’s world, the pace of change keeps accelerating. Industries that were stable yesterday can transform completely tomorrow. In such an uncertain world, what protects you is your ability to learn flexibly, adapt, and create value.
This isn’t just about qualifications or academic credentials. Communication skills, problem-solving abilities, creativity, and above all, the willingness to keep learning itself are irreplaceable assets.
You can start something today. Read one book in a field that interests you. Sign up for an online course. Ask a mentor for guidance.
Even small steps accumulate steadily within you. They become treasures that belong only to you, that no one can take away. And that accumulation will bring you true richness in every sense—the kind that can withstand any difficulty.
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