How to Read “英雄色を好む”
eiyuu iro wo konomu
Meaning of “英雄色を好む”
The original meaning of “Heroes like color” is that people with outstanding abilities also have a rich appreciation for beautiful and elegant things.
The “color” in this expression refers to aesthetic things in general in the classical sense, representing interest in cultural and refined things including art, music, literature, natural beauty, and interactions with beautiful women. In other words, true heroes and outstanding people not only excel in martial prowess and talent, but also possess the sensitivity to understand and appreciate beautiful things.
This proverb is used to express the multifaceted nature and richness of human beings. It is used to point out that people who demonstrate exceptional ability in one field also have rich cultural sensibilities, or to explain the human appeal of outstanding individuals. Even today, it is understood as a word that expresses versatility and human depth when successful businesspeople are art enthusiasts or when athletes have deep knowledge of music.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Heroes like color” is said to stem from descriptions of heroes found in Chinese classical literature and historical records. Historical books such as “Records of the Grand Historian” and “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” contain numerous records of outstanding military commanders and politicians having relationships with many women, and it is believed that these descriptions were transmitted to Japan and became established as a proverb.
What is important here is the meaning of the classical word “color.” While “color” in modern times tends to evoke strong sexual connotations, in classical usage “color” referred to beautiful and elegant things in general. In other words, it was a word that expressed interest in cultural and refined things such as art, music, literature, and interactions with beautiful women.
In Japan, from the Heian period to the Muromachi period, this concept spread among intellectuals who learned from Chinese classics. In the samurai and aristocratic society of that time, not only martial prowess but also cultural accomplishment was valued, and “Heroes like color” was understood as a proverb that expressed not merely relationships with women, but the cultural sensibility and aesthetic sense that outstanding people should possess.
Interesting Facts
I do not know any trivia related to this proverb.
Usage Examples
- That company president is strict at work, but his hobby is visiting art museums – he’s truly the “Heroes like color” type
- Being an excellent researcher while also being skilled at piano, I was impressed that this is what “Heroes like color” means
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Heroes like color” is often misunderstood and misused. Particularly in media and on the internet, it is sometimes quoted in contexts that justify scandals involving celebrities or powerful figures and their relationships with women, but this differs greatly from its original meaning.
The original proverb’s concept of “an excellent person with multifaceted talents and sensibilities” is being reevaluated as a fresh value system in today’s highly specialized society. While modern times tend to emphasize specialization in a single field, the development of AI technology has made creativity and sensibility increasingly important human qualities.
Indeed, looking at modern successful people, we can see many who embody “Heroes like color” in its original sense. It’s not uncommon to find IT company executives who are contemporary art collectors, scientists who engage in musical activities, or athletes who are devoted to literature. These go beyond mere hobbies, as stimulation from different fields often has a positive impact on their main work.
The true value of this proverb in modern society lies in showing the importance of having broad cultural cultivation alongside expertise. In an increasingly globalized world, the sensitivity to understand diverse values and aesthetic sensibilities is becoming an ever more important skill.
When AI Hears This
The essence of this proverb lies in the “psychological transaction” that society makes with heroes. In other words, it’s an unspoken contract that says, “If you achieve great things for us, we’ll turn a blind eye to your personal problems.”
In psychology, there’s a phenomenon called the “halo effect.” This is a psychological bias where one outstanding trait makes a person’s other flaws less visible. For example, even if the top-performing salesperson at a company is constantly late, the boss will excuse it by saying, “Well, they’re getting results.” The same mechanism is at work here.
What’s interesting is that this “range of tolerance” has clear boundaries. According to social psychology research, people unconsciously weigh achievements against problematic behavior. If someone’s achievements rate a 10, they can tolerate problem behavior up to a 3, but once it exceeds 4, they suddenly become critical.
We see the same phenomenon today. Looking at fan reactions to athletes’ scandals, the better a player’s performance, the more likely they are to be defended with comments like “they’re only human.” On the other hand, when a poorly performing athlete does the same thing, they face merciless criticism.
This proverb sharply exposes the “value exchange system” that human society operates on. We unconsciously calculate others’ overall worth and judge them on a plus-minus basis.
Lessons for Today
What “Heroes like color” teaches modern people is that true excellence lies not just in success in one field, but in the importance of having rich sensibilities and broad interests. While modern society tends to emphasize expertise, interest in different fields and aesthetic sensibilities nurture creativity and flexible thinking, bringing positive influences to one’s main work as well.
Even in busy daily life, making time to visit art museums, listen to music, or engage with literature is not mere entertainment. These are precious experiences that enrich the heart and provide new perspectives and ideas.
This proverb also teaches tolerance in recognizing human multifacetedness. It is natural and attractive as a human being for someone who is strict at work to love art, or for a logical person to have an emotionally rich side.
As we live in modern times, we too should cherish our areas of expertise while simultaneously opening our hearts to beautiful and cultural things. This should make our lives richer and more meaningful.
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