How to Read “Human life is the first of ten thousand treasures”
Hito no inochi wa banpō no daiichi
Meaning of “Human life is the first of ten thousand treasures”
“Human life is the first of ten thousand treasures” means that human life is more precious than any treasure in this world. It holds the highest value that cannot be replaced by anything else.
No matter how much wealth, status, or honor you gain, they mean nothing if you lose your life. Only when you are alive can you experience all the joys and happiness that life offers.
This proverb speaks not only about your own life but also about the preciousness of others’ lives. People use it when warning against dangerous actions or worrying about someone pushing themselves too hard.
It also works to caution those who treat life carelessly. In modern society, many people sacrifice their health for work or goals.
This saying reminds them that life and health matter most. It conveys a simple yet profound truth: life is the foundation that opens all possibilities in your existence.
Origin and Etymology
The exact source of this proverb has several theories. However, scholars believe it strongly reflects Buddhist thought.
Buddhism has long taught that being born as a human is extremely rare and precious. This teaching emphasizes how valuable human life truly is.
“Ten thousand treasures” refers to all treasures, possessions, and valuable things in this world. It includes gold and silver, of course, but also status, honor, knowledge, and skills—everything people value.
“First” means the most important among all these things. It indicates something so precious that nothing else can compare to it.
In Japan, such expressions appeared in moral teachings and educational books during the Edo period. Medical care was undeveloped then, and human life was far more fragile than today.
After experiencing warring periods and entering peaceful times, people needed to recognize the value of life again. This awareness was crucial for social stability.
Confucian influence also played an important role. Taking care of your body, which you received from your parents, was considered the foundation of filial piety.
Treating your own life carelessly was seen as being unfilial to your parents. Multiple philosophical traditions merged together to create this proverb that expresses the preciousness of life so clearly.
Usage Examples
- Human life is the first of ten thousand treasures, so please don’t push yourself too hard no matter how busy you are
- You can recover lost money, but human life is the first of ten thousand treasures, so let’s prioritize safety above all else
Universal Wisdom
Behind the passing down of “Human life is the first of ten thousand treasures” lies a fundamental human contradiction. We understand intellectually how precious life is, yet we forget this truth in our daily lives.
When people become absorbed in immediate goals, they tend to put their own life and health second. They become captivated by shining things like wealth, fame, and success.
They think a little overwork is acceptable to obtain these things. This isn’t just a modern problem—it’s an unchanging aspect of human nature since ancient times. That’s exactly why our ancestors left us this proverb.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t simply preach self-preservation. Knowing that your own life matters most also leads to understanding the weight of others’ lives.
If your life is a treasure, then the life of the person next to you is equally a treasure.
Humans are fragile beings. That’s why we need words like these to remind ourselves. The preciousness of life isn’t a theory—it’s a truth within living itself.
This proverb serves as a signpost. When we’re about to lose our way in life’s maze, it brings us back to the most fundamental values.
When AI Hears This
All matter in the universe becomes more disordered over time. This is the second law of thermodynamics.
Milk poured into coffee always mixes and never separates again. A room left alone only gets messier. The entire universe exists in a one-way flow from order to disorder.
Yet life alone defies this flow. Consider the human body. We take in disordered matter called food and rebuild it into precise cells and tissues.
Following the blueprint of DNA, we arrange and maintain 37 trillion cells with accuracy. This is an act that directly challenges the laws of the universe.
Physicist Schrödinger described life as “an existence that feeds on negative entropy.” In other words, life is a device that creates high-level order within itself while sacrificing a bit of surrounding order.
Gold and jewels may be beautiful, but they simply exist. Life, however, actively continues generating order by using energy.
From this perspective, the reason life is the first of ten thousand treasures becomes clear. Life is the only system in the universe that can resist the flow of physical laws and create order.
No treasure can match the value of this “anti-entropy device.” Once life is lost, the body immediately begins moving rapidly toward disorder, following the universe’s laws.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us living in modern times not to lose sight of our priorities. Modern society demands many things from us.
Produce results, grow, succeed. Amid these demands, we unknowingly tend to sacrifice our health and peace of mind.
But stop and think. Is the goal you’re chasing now really worth sacrificing your life and health for? Of course, effort matters. Challenge is necessary.
However, the foundation of all that is your own life.
This proverb teaches us not to fear resting. Rest when tired, turn back when something feels impossible—such courage might actually be the wisest choice.
If you have life, you can try again. If you have health, you can find new paths.
This proverb also forms the foundation for caring about others. People who know their own life is precious can understand the weight of other people’s lives too.
Caring about the health and safety of people around you—that’s also living this teaching.
Comments