How to Read “A straight tree is cut down first”
Chokuboku mazu kiraru
Meaning of “A straight tree is cut down first”
This proverb means that talented people are more likely to face misfortune early in life.
People with outstanding abilities attract attention because of their talents. Sometimes this attention brings jealousy and envy from others.
As a result, they often encounter bad luck or disasters. This reflects a harsh reality of human society.
Just as a straight tree gets cut down first, people with noticeable talents face danger precisely because their abilities are recognized.
This saying is used when excellent people receive unfair treatment or meet with early misfortune. It expresses sadness about this unreasonable situation.
This lesson remains relevant today. We still see cases where talented young people are crushed by jealousy or excessive expectations from those around them.
“A straight tree is cut down first” contains deep insight. It warns us about both the joy of having talent and the dangers that come with it.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is believed to come from ancient Chinese classics. “Chokuboku” means a tree that grows straight.
It refers to trees that grow honestly toward the sky, not twisted or bent.
In ancient times, straight trees were extremely valuable as building materials. High-quality timber that could be used for pillars and beams was in far greater demand than crooked wood.
Therefore, the best straight trees in the forest were destined to be cut down first. Meanwhile, twisted and bent trees had little value as lumber, so they were left alone and survived much longer.
This proverb applies this natural phenomenon to human society. It teaches that talented people with excellent abilities attract attention because of their value.
Sometimes they are envied, which can bring disaster.
The writings of Zhuangzi, a Chinese philosopher, contain similar stories. They express the paradoxical wisdom that appearing useless can actually protect you.
This is called “the usefulness of uselessness.” “A straight tree is cut down first” contains deep insight, comparing the fate of talented people to the fate of trees.
Usage Examples
- That young employee was too excellent and stood out too much. Like “a straight tree is cut down first,” he was transferred away early.
- She was called a genius, but as “a straight tree is cut down first” suggests, she left the industry at a young age.
Universal Wisdom
The universal truth in “a straight tree is cut down first” is the ironic relationship between talent and danger in human society.
Why do excellent people face misfortune more easily? It’s because of jealousy lurking in human hearts and society’s tendency to “hammer down the nail that sticks out.”
Talented people make others around them aware of their own shortcomings simply by existing. Everyone has self-esteem.
Sometimes another person’s excellence appears as a threat to oneself. This psychology is a fundamental human trait that hasn’t changed from ancient times to today.
Also, talented people attract attention, which makes their failures more noticeable. The greater the expectations, the more a small failure creates big disappointment and becomes a target for criticism.
An ordinary person’s mistake might be overlooked, but an excellent person’s mistake is not forgiven. This unfairness is also a reality of human society.
Furthermore, talented people can become threats to those in power. Looking back at history, there are countless examples of people with outstanding abilities who were shunned and eliminated by rulers precisely because of their talents.
This proverb has been passed down for so long because this inseparable relationship between talent and danger is a timeless truth of human society.
When AI Hears This
The phenomenon where straight trees are cut first actually reveals a serious dilemma in ecosystem management.
In forests, when the most excellent individual grows too large, that tree blocks over 90 percent of the light. This drastically reduces the light reaching the ground.
Then understory plants cannot grow, and habitats for insects and small animals are lost. As a result, the biodiversity of the entire forest drops sharply.
Forest managers call this “dominant species runaway.” They intentionally thin out the most magnificent trees. In other words, trees that achieved the greatest success at the individual level become threats to the system as a whole.
This is the reverse pattern of what game theory calls “the tragedy of the commons.” One individual’s optimization strategy produces results opposite to overall optimization.
What’s interesting is that this phenomenon is also observed in corporate organizations. Research shows that when an outstanding high performer monopolizes information and resources, the team’s overall creativity drops by an average of 30 percent.
Cases have been reported where transferring that person actually improves the productivity of remaining members.
In other words, “straight trees” aren’t cut down simply because they stand out. They’re removed because their very existence disrupts the balance of the entire system.
Individual excellence and overall health are often in conflict.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the responsibility of having talent and the importance of wisdom to protect it.
If you have excellent abilities, they are both a blessing and a treasure you must handle carefully.
This doesn’t mean you should hide your talents. Rather, it means you need a sense of balance.
While demonstrating your talents, you should maintain humility and harmony with those around you. Using your abilities for others, rather than showing them off, becomes wisdom that avoids disaster.
This proverb also teaches lessons to those who watch over talented people. Instead of envying excellent individuals, we need the generosity to cherish their talents as assets for all of society.
Creating a culture that supports and develops young talent, rather than crushing it, leads to richness for society as a whole.
Talent is a double-edged sword. However, if you understand its dangers and face it with wisdom, your abilities can become a power that brings light not only to yourself but to many people.
Without fear but with caution, show your talents to the world.
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