Even A Fish Large Enough To Swallow A Boat, If It Loses Water, Will Be Controlled By Ants And Mole Crickets: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Even a fish large enough to swallow a boat, if it loses water, will be controlled by ants and mole crickets”

Donshū no uo mo mizu wo ushinaeba, sunawachi rōgi ni seiseraru

Meaning of “Even a fish large enough to swallow a boat, if it loses water, will be controlled by ants and mole crickets”

This proverb means that no matter how powerful someone is, they will lose to even weaker opponents if they lose the environment that allows them to use their strength.

A fish large enough to swallow a boat is just a fish without water. Even tiny insects can overpower it then.

The proverb teaches that a person’s strength depends on their environment.

People often use this saying when powerful people become arrogant. It also describes situations where changing circumstances reverse positions of power.

In modern times, it fits when large companies struggle due to market changes. It also applies when influential people lose their positions and impact.

The proverb warns us not to overestimate our own abilities. We must remember the importance of what supports our strength.

Origin and Etymology

This proverb likely comes from ancient Chinese classics. A “fish that swallows boats” means a fish huge enough to gulp down an entire ship.

Even such a massive fish becomes helpless without water. Small creatures like mole crickets and ants can then control it.

This expression shares ideas found in Chinese philosophical texts and historical records. People especially used it when discussing the rise and fall of powerful rulers.

A giant fish is invincible in water. But it becomes completely powerless when it loses water, its foundation for survival.

This vivid contrast strongly appealed to people’s hearts.

The choice of “mole crickets and ants” is also interesting. Both mole crickets and ants are tiny creatures that humans normally step on.

But when a giant fish comes onto land, even these small insects become threats. This extreme reversal of power dramatically shows how important environment is.

After reaching Japan, warriors and merchants likely passed down this saying. It warned them about how fleeting power and wealth can be.

Interesting Facts

The mole cricket in this proverb is surprisingly strong. It can move soil many times its own body weight.

Though small, it’s a powerful creature underground. Small creatures become threats to a fish without water because each is optimized for its own environment.

The phrase “fish that swallows boats” probably came from giant fish that actually lived in ancient China’s great rivers like the Yangtze.

Sturgeons can grow several meters long. To people back then, they might have looked large enough to swallow boats.

Usage Examples

• That president lost his company, and now nobody pays attention to him. Even a fish large enough to swallow a boat, if it loses water, will be controlled by ants and mole crickets.
• He acts superior while in power, but even a fish large enough to swallow a boat, if it loses water, will be controlled by ants and mole crickets. His position might change someday.

Universal Wisdom

This proverb offers deep insight into the true nature of power. People tend to think strength and power are their own personal traits.

But actually, environment and circumstances give us most of our power. A giant fish is strong only because water exists.

Without water, that strength means nothing. Human society works exactly the same way.

When we succeed, we tend to think it’s only because of our own abilities. But countless environmental factors actually give us power.

These include support from people around us, social systems, the flow of the times, luck, and timing. Powerful people have power because they hold that position.

Rich people are wealthy because the economic system exists like water for them.

This proverb has been passed down for so long because humans keep making the same mistakes. People who gain power lose humility.

They overestimate their own strength. Then they fall when the environment changes. History has repeated this pattern many times.

Our ancestors understood this human nature. That’s why they used the extreme contrast between a giant fish and tiny insects.

They continue warning us through this image. The moment we forget gratitude for our environment and lose humility, we start walking the path to downfall.

When AI Hears This

A large fish isn’t strong in water because the fish itself is strong. The fish’s fins and water combine to create “propulsion” as a new function.

Systems thinking calls this an emergent property. It means relationships create qualities beyond simply adding parts together.

What’s important here is that this emergent property collapses non-linearly. Non-linear means change happens suddenly, not gradually.

For example, a fish can still swim when water decreases from 100% to 90%. But at 0%, propulsion becomes zero instantly.

It doesn’t retain 90% of its power. A phase transition occurs, like water turning to ice.

Even more interesting is how the dominant forces themselves switch when environment changes. In water, buoyancy cancels body weight.

Muscle power and fin area determine victory. But on land, gravity dominates. Body weight itself becomes a disadvantage.

A large fish can’t even breathe under its own weight. The same object experiences complete reversal of advantages and disadvantages just by changing the system’s context.

This shows that ability isn’t stored inside an individual. Instead, it’s dynamically generated at the interface between individual and environment.

Lessons for Today

This proverb teaches modern people the importance of humility and preparation. If you’re succeeding at something now, don’t forget to appreciate the environment supporting you.

Your organization, family support, healthy body, and stable society are all “water” that lets you demonstrate your power.

At the same time, accept the reality that environment always changes. Today’s success has no guarantee of continuing tomorrow.

That’s why having flexibility without depending on just one environment matters. Polish multiple skills, build diverse relationships, and prepare your mind to adapt to change.

People in higher positions must never look down on those below them. When environment changes, positions reverse easily.

Today’s subordinate might become tomorrow’s boss. Treating everyone with respect actually protects yourself too.

The more powerful you are, the more humble you should be. This ancient wisdom remains true today.