How to Read “初心忘るべからず”
Shoshin wasuru bekarazu
Meaning of “初心忘るべからず”
The original meaning of “Beginner’s mind must not forget” is that even after accumulating skills and experience, one must not forget the humble and sincere feelings they had when they first began learning.
This phrase is particularly used to warn against the arrogance and complacency that people engaged in some skill or academic pursuit tend to fall into when they reach an advanced stage. When you’re a beginner, there’s so much you don’t know, and you have an attitude of trying to learn each thing carefully. However, as you gain experience, you tend to develop feelings like “I’m fine now” or “I already know this much.”
What Zeami wanted to convey was that such arrogance is the greatest enemy that stops growth. True improvement means maintaining an attitude of continuous learning, and the fresh wonder and humility of a beginner becomes the driving force that leads to even greater heights. Even today, this phrase is often used when people who have gained a certain amount of experience in work or hobbies speak about the importance of returning to basics.
Origin and Etymology
“Beginner’s mind must not forget” originates from words recorded in “Kakyō” (The Flower Mirror), a treatise on Noh theater written by Zeami, a Noh actor from the Muromachi period. Zeami is known as the great master of Noh theater, and together with his father Kan’ami, he perfected Noh as an art form.
The background to the birth of these words lies in the world of Noh theater, an extremely sophisticated art form. From his long experience, Zeami had insight into the pitfalls that those who walk the path of art tend to fall into. This is the human tendency for arrogance and complacency to arise as skills improve and experience accumulates.
In “Kakyō,” these words are recorded as teachings that Noh actors should keep in mind throughout their lives. This was probably a universal truth in the way of art that Zeami himself experienced while learning from his father and raising many disciples.
What’s interesting is that this teaching was passed down not only in the world of Noh theater, but eventually to the spirit of various Japanese “ways” such as bushido, tea ceremony, and flower arrangement. During the Edo period, it became widely known among common people and continues to be beloved to this day.
Interesting Facts
In Zeami’s “Kakyō,” the expression “Beginner’s mind must not forget” actually appears in three different contexts. These are called “the beginner’s mind of right and wrong,” “the beginner’s mind of each time,” and “the beginner’s mind of old age,” explaining that there is a beginner’s mind that must not be forgotten at each stage of life.
What is commonly known today is mainly the part about “the beginner’s mind of right and wrong,” and this is thought to have spread as the general “Beginner’s mind must not forget.”
Usage Examples
- Even after becoming a department manager, I cherish the feelings I had as a newcomer, keeping in mind that beginner’s mind must not forget
- A veteran craftsman says beginner’s mind must not forget and still never misses basic practice
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, we can see interesting changes in the interpretation of “Beginner’s mind must not forget.” Originally it meant “warning against arrogance,” but now it’s often used to mean “not forgetting the goals and dreams you had as a beginner.” This isn’t necessarily a misuse, but can be considered a reflection of modern values.
Particularly when entrepreneurs and creators post “Beginner’s mind must not forget” on social media or blogs, many use it to mean cherishing the principles and initial aspirations from when they started their business. This is an interpretation that didn’t exist in Zeami’s time, but in our rapidly changing modern society, it might actually be an important perspective.
On the other hand, the original meaning of “maintaining humility” is becoming increasingly important in modern times. In our information society, people tend to act like experts with just a little knowledge, and expressing one’s opinions on social media has become routine. Precisely because we live in such times, we need an attitude of continuous learning and the courage to acknowledge our own ignorance.
Also, with the collapse of the lifetime employment system, where people need to relearn new skills at any age, the spirit of “Beginner’s mind must not forget” is being reevaluated as a basic attitude for lifelong learning.
When AI Hears This
In Zeami’s original text “Kakyō” (The Flower Mirror), he outlines three stages of “shoshin wo wasuru bekarazu” (never forget the beginner’s mind). These are “zehi no shoshin” (the beginner’s mind of right and wrong – the immaturity of youth), “tokidoki no shoshin” (the occasional beginner’s mind – confusion when facing new challenges at each stage of life), and “rōgo no shoshin” (the beginner’s mind of old age – the crisis awareness of decline felt in one’s later years).
Today this concept is often used as spiritual advice to “stay humble,” but what Zeami really wanted to convey was a revolutionary idea: “embarrassing failures and feelings of inferiority are treasures.” Particularly noteworthy is “zehi no shoshin,” which doesn’t simply refer to innocence, but specifically to “the humiliation felt when you knew nothing and made a fool of yourself.” Zeami believed that this sense of humiliation drives people to work desperately hard and helps them avoid complacency.
The psychological phenomenon known as the Dunning-Kruger effect shows that people with lower abilities tend to overestimate themselves, but Zeami’s teaching represents the complete opposite approach. Those who vividly remember “just how inexperienced they once were” remain vigilant even after they’ve grown. This runs completely counter to modern “positive thinking” – it’s an extremely practical growth strategy that says “intentionally preserve your negative memories.”
In essence, Zeami anticipated modern coaching theory 600 years ago with his insight that “failure experiences are the greatest teachers.”
Lessons for Today
What “Beginner’s mind must not forget” teaches modern people is that growth is not accumulation, but continuously becoming a new self. We tend to think that accumulating experience and knowledge is growth, but true growth might be maintaining the fresh feeling of encountering each day for the first time.
In modern society, information overflows and answers are immediately available. But precisely because of this, it becomes important to have the courage to not be embarrassed about “not knowing” and to honestly say “please teach me.” Regardless of age or position, the attitude of continuous learning is what makes you an attractive person.
Also, this phrase is a gentle prescription for modern people who tend to fall into perfectionism. Remember when you were a beginner. Even when you failed or didn’t understand, that was normal, wasn’t it? Just as you could forgive yourself then, please forgive yourself now. And tomorrow, you can take another step forward with fresh feelings.
Comments