How to Read “脱兎の如し”
Datto no gotoshi
Meaning of “脱兎の如し”
“Like escaping rabbit” expresses acting very swiftly, like a rabbit trying to escape from a trap.
However, this doesn’t merely express “speed.” The essence of this proverb refers to purposeful, agile action displayed when pressed by necessity or in crucial moments. Like when a rabbit escapes from a trap, it’s swiftness accompanied by life-or-death seriousness and concentration.
It’s used in situations when someone acts more nimbly than expected, or responds quickly to emergencies. It’s used in expressions like “That person is usually laid-back, but when the moment comes, they move like escaping rabbit.”
In modern times, the reason for using this expression is that rather than simply saying “fast,” there’s a desire to emphasize the seriousness and desperation contained in that action. The concrete image of a rabbit fleeing from a trap conveys the situation more vividly to the listener.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Like escaping rabbit” traces back to the ancient Chinese military treatise “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. This phrase was born from the passage “At first be like a maiden, later like escaping rabbit.”
While discussing strategy, Sun Tzu taught that at the beginning of battle, one should appear quiet and harmless like a maiden, then when the enemy lets their guard down, strike swiftly like a rabbit escaping from a trap. The “escaping rabbit” here represents a rabbit desperately fleeing after being caught in a trap.
This teaching is thought to have been transmitted to Japan around the Nara and Heian periods when Chinese military treatises and classics were imported. Initially used in military strategic contexts, it gradually came to be applied in general situations as well.
What’s interesting is that the original text contained the strategic meaning of “transition from stillness to movement.” It represented not simple speed, but the wisdom of assessing the situation before acting decisively. In Japan too, this original meaning has long been cherished. Even today, this proverb carries the profound strategic thinking of ancient China.
Interesting Facts
Rabbits can actually run at speeds exceeding 60 kilometers per hour, which far surpasses the top speed of human sprinters. It’s understandable that ancient people were amazed by the speed of rabbits.
Also, the character “脱” (datsu) used in “escaping rabbit,” while commonly used today to mean “remove” or “take off,” was also used in ancient times to mean “escape” or “break free.”
Usage Examples
- The usually cautious man, seeing an opportunity, headed to the business meeting like escaping rabbit
- Upon hearing news of the disaster, the emergency responders rushed to the scene like escaping rabbit
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Like escaping rabbit” has acquired new interpretations. This is because in our information society, the value of quickly catching business opportunities and important information and acting swiftly has increased.
Particularly in the world of startup companies and individual entrepreneurs, nimble responses to market changes determine survival. Usage like “That company moved like escaping rabbit in adopting new technology” is increasing to evaluate strategic swiftness.
On the other hand, in modern times, there are cases where it’s misused simply to mean “speed.” With the spread of social media, it’s sometimes used in contexts of simply “moving quickly” or “replying promptly,” but it’s unfortunate that the original deep meaning of “desperate, nimble action” is being diluted.
However, precisely because we live in a technologically advanced modern age, the essential value of this proverb could be said to be increasing. No matter how fast AI and robots become, humans’ “judgment to read situations and act decisively” is an irreplaceable ability. As a symbol of human-like nimbleness in the digital age, “Like escaping rabbit” is shining with new brilliance.
When AI Hears This
The character “脱” (datsu) in “datto no gotoshi” doesn’t mean “escape” or “flee” as modern people might imagine, but originally meant “to skin” or “to peel off skin.” In other words, “datto” referred to a “skinned rabbit” – essentially a dead rabbit.
This fact is the complete opposite of our modern understanding. When we hear “datto no gotoshi,” we picture a wild rabbit quickly darting away after sensing danger. However, in classical usage, it described the swift way a skinned rabbit would slip from one’s hands. It wasn’t about a living rabbit escaping, but a dead rabbit sliding away.
This reversal of meaning represents a fascinating phenomenon that occurred during the transmission of language across Chinese character-based cultures. As the meaning of “脱” evolved over time and new usages like “escape” and “flee” became established, people naturally reinterpreted the old proverb through this new lens.
According to linguistic research, this type of semantic shift occurs frequently in proverbs involving animals. People tend to connect meanings with familiar animal behavior patterns, so intuitive imagery takes precedence over original etymology. “Datto no gotoshi” serves as a perfect example of how a proverb transformed from an image of death to one of life, reinventing itself alongside society’s changing values.
Lessons for Today
“Like escaping rabbit” teaches modern people the importance of “balancing stillness and movement.” No one can keep running at full power constantly. What’s important is the wisdom to usually conserve energy and act decisively when truly necessary.
Modern society is information-heavy and tends to demand immediate responses to everything. However, this proverb teaches us that “you don’t need to respond with full force to everything.” You should discern truly important opportunities—moments that could change your life—and act like escaping rabbit only then.
This proverb also suggests the “importance of preparation.” Rabbits can flee swiftly because they maintain agile physical abilities daily. We too can demonstrate our power when needed by accumulating knowledge and honing skills regularly.
Your moment to act “like escaping rabbit” will surely come. Until then, quietly build your strength. And when the opportunity arrives, leap forward without hesitation.
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