How to Read “小さく生んで大きく育てる”
Chiisaku unde ookiku sodateru
Meaning of “小さく生んで大きく育てる”
The original meaning of this proverb is a child-rearing teaching that advises eating modestly during pregnancy to give birth to a small baby, then after birth, providing sufficient nutrition and love to raise the child healthily.
From the Edo period to the Meiji era, when medical technology was not advanced, this emerged as practical wisdom to avoid difficult births. It was believed that if pregnant women ate too much, the fetus would become too large, making childbirth difficult and endangering the mother’s life. Therefore, it was recommended to intentionally restrict diet during pregnancy to give birth to a baby of a manageable size. However, after birth, the approach completely reversed – providing the baby with adequate nutrition and raising them with deep affection to help them grow into fine adults. This expressed a two-stage child-rearing policy.
This proverb was mainly used when advising pregnant women or in discussions about child-rearing. For people of that time, it was an important guideline for both mother and child to safely get through childbirth. While this way of thinking is not considered medically correct in modern times, it contains the feelings of our ancestors who tried to do their best within limited circumstances.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to be rooted in child-rearing views from the Edo to Meiji periods. In Japan at that time, to reduce the burden on the mother’s body during childbirth, it was considered good for pregnant women to eat modestly and keep the fetus small. This was a way of thinking born from wisdom in an era when medical knowledge was limited.
The “give birth small” part literally meant giving birth to a lightweight baby. At that time, many women died from difficult births, so there was a practical judgment that smaller babies would make delivery easier. On the other hand, “raise big” represented providing sufficient nutrition and love after birth to help the child grow into a fine adult.
This way of thinking was spread by midwives and doctors of the Edo period and became widespread among common people. Especially in urban areas, it was common for pregnant women to restrict their diet following this teaching. It’s said that this became established as a proverb around the Meiji era, frequently appearing in child-rearing books and reading materials for women of that time. While this way of thinking is not recommended from a modern medical perspective, it can be understood as the wisdom of our ancestors who wished for the safety of mothers and children within limited medical environments.
Usage Examples
- People in the old days used to say “Give birth small and raise big,” but now we know that nutrition during pregnancy is important
- I remember my grandmother often saying that “Give birth small and raise big” was the best approach
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, this proverb has become a way of thinking that is completely rejected medically. Current obstetric medicine considers proper nutritional intake during pregnancy to be most important for the health of both mother and child, and intentionally keeping the fetus small is not recommended. Rather, it has been scientifically proven that low birth weight infants have higher future health risks.
However, interestingly, this proverb is sometimes used in completely different meanings in modern times. In the business world, it is sometimes quoted to mean “start with a small beginning and gradually expand the business.” Also in child-rearing, it is sometimes used when expressing an educational policy of “not being overly hands-on at first, but watching over the child’s growth while fostering their independence.”
Such modern interpretations differ greatly from the original meaning, but can be said to result from the attractive rhythm of the phrase “start small and raise big” combining with the universal concept of gradual growth.
Due to medical advances, the literal meaning of this proverb has become outdated, but the words themselves continue to live on in new contexts. This might be an interesting example showing the flexibility of language and the creativity of people in finding new meanings in old expressions.
When AI Hears This
What makes this proverb fascinating is how wisdom that originated from medical facts aligns almost eerily with modern business theory.
Originally, it was based on the medical observation that “babies born with lower birth weight grow rapidly when given proper nutrition.” In fact, babies born under 2,500 grams are known to grow faster than normal-weight babies, demonstrating what’s called catch-up growth.
Yet today, this saying is often used to explain the startup strategy of “MVP (Minimum Viable Product).” It’s the approach of starting small, improving based on market feedback, and gradually scaling the business. Facebook began as a service only for Harvard University, and Amazon started by selling just books.
What’s intriguing is that there’s a biological principle common to both interpretations. In ecology, there’s a concept called “r-strategy,” where organisms born small tend to be more sensitive to environmental changes, have higher adaptability, and achieve rapid growth.
In other words, this proverb has coincidentally continued to express, across different eras, a universal growth principle: “starting from a constrained state actually leads to greater flexibility and growth potential.” Even as the meaning of words changes, their essential wisdom remains unchanged.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is that things have appropriate timing and stages. Even though the medical content is not correct, the concept of “gradual growth” embedded within it still has value today.
When starting something, we tend to seek perfection. But rather than expecting great results from the beginning, the attitude of making a small start and carefully nurturing growth might be important. The same applies when acquiring new habits, honing skills, or building human relationships.
Especially in rapidly changing times like today, this “small start” way of thinking becomes important. Start while controlling risks, then gradually increase scale while gaining experience. Rather than being unable to start anything due to fear of failure, have the courage to take a step forward, even if small.
If you too are thinking of challenging something new, there’s no need to wait for perfect preparation. Start with small things you can do now, and try to nurture them into something big with the power of love and persistence. Growth beyond your imagination is surely waiting.
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