How to Read “清濁併せ呑む”
Seidaku awase nomu
Meaning of “清濁併せ呑む”
“Clear muddy together swallow” is a proverb that expresses the magnanimity of accepting everything regardless of good or evil, right or wrong.
This expression is often used in contexts that demonstrate leadership or maturity of character. It is used when evaluating the attitude of people who stand at the top of organizations or those in positions to bring together diverse people, as they accept people of various opinions and personalities without discrimination. It means not just being tolerant, but having the capacity to integrate opposing elements and utilize them for greater goals.
In modern times, this phrase is mainly used in the context of character evaluation. It has become established as an expression of praise for a person’s inclusiveness and leadership ability, such as “That person is someone with great capacity who can Clear muddy together swallow.” However, this differs from mere compromise or indecisiveness, referring to the ability to transform diversity into strength while maintaining clear convictions. It is a concept that is still highly valued as an important quality required of people in leadership positions, such as politicians, business executives, and educators.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Clear muddy together swallow” is rooted in ancient Chinese philosophical thought. The concept of “clear and muddy” that forms the core of this expression has long been used in Chinese philosophy and literature. Clear means clear water, muddy means turbid water, and by extension came to represent opposing concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, beauty and ugliness.
The expression “together swallow” conveys the meaning of acceptance through the everyday act of drinking water. In ancient China, rivers had both clear streams and muddy currents, and the way they merged to form great rivers was used as a metaphor for human magnanimity.
It is believed to have been introduced to Japan around the Heian period through Chinese classics, and was initially used mainly in academic circles. During the Edo period, it spread as education for the samurai class, and from the Meiji era onward, it permeated among the general populace. Particularly in the political world, it has been valued as a word expressing the qualities of leaders who bring together people of diverse opinions and positions.
The background to this phrase taking root in Japan lies in the cultural foundation of Japan that values harmony. The idea of embracing and harmonizing opposing elements rather than excluding them must have resonated deeply with the Japanese mentality.
Usage Examples
- The new department manager has the magnanimity to Clear muddy together swallow, so he should be able to manage that difficult team well
- Politicians need the capacity to Clear muddy together swallow, but I feel there are fewer such people lately
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “Clear muddy together swallow” has taken on new complexity. As globalization progresses, opportunities to collaborate with people of different cultures and values have increased, and the importance of this phrase has grown. Managers of multinational corporations and leaders of international organizations surely need exactly this quality.
However, the difficulty of “Clear muddy together swallow” has also been highlighted in modern times. In an era where every statement and action is instantly disseminated and exposed to criticism through the spread of social media, when leaders try to accept diverse opinions, they are sometimes criticized as “lacking consistency” or “having no convictions.” In modern times where transparency is valued, accepting the “muddy” can sometimes be perceived as an ethical problem.
On the other hand, with the development of AI technology, the value of integrating diverse data and opinions to find optimal solutions is being recognized anew. In big data analysis, it has been found that processing information including what might be considered noise yields more accurate results. This could be called a modern version of “Clear muddy together swallow.”
In modern interpretation, this phrase is increasingly understood not just as tolerance, but as the ability to strategically utilize diversity. It is being valued as the power to incorporate people with different perspectives and experiences into organizations and generate innovation.
When AI Hears This
When we observe water mixing phenomena, the moment turbid water is poured into clear water, irreversible changes occur at the molecular level. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the entropy (degree of disorder) of a system must always increase, and once mixed, water can never naturally separate back into its original clear and turbid states.
This physical phenomenon remarkably parallels the process of humans accumulating various experiences. When turbid experiences mix into a pure heart, an “information diffusion” similar to molecular mixing occurs within us. The boundary lines between good and evil become blurred, and what were once simple values form complex layers.
What’s fascinating is that just as water mixing speed varies with temperature and viscosity, humans’ ability to “accept both the pure and impure” differs greatly depending on age and experience level. In youth, molecular motion is active and mixing progresses rapidly, but as we age, viscosity increases and the speed of incorporating new elements becomes more gradual.
Even more important is the fact that completely mixed water can be used for more diverse purposes than pure water. Pure water is actually harmful to living organisms, while water containing appropriate minerals (turbid components) is what truly supports life. Similarly, humans with complex personalities who have accepted both pure and impure elements possess the flexibility and depth to handle diverse situations.
Lessons for Today
“Clear muddy together swallow” teaches modern people that true strength lies within diversity. We often tend to seek only people with similar thoughts to ourselves, or only comfortable opinions. However, real growth and innovation are born from encounters with different perspectives and sometimes unpleasant opinions.
In modern society, we can apply this lesson in various everyday situations. In the workplace, recognizing the unexpected talents of colleagues we find difficult. At home, trying to understand the values of family members from different generations. In the community, valuing dialogue with residents from different backgrounds. All of these are practices of “Clear muddy together swallow.”
What’s important is that accepting and compromising are different things. Maintaining one’s core beliefs while transforming the diversity of others into strength. That is the true magnanimity that this proverb demonstrates. Why don’t you try listening to slightly different opinions starting today? New possibilities might emerge from there.
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