How to Read “出物腫れ物所嫌わず”
Demono haremono tokoro kiraawazu
Meaning of “出物腫れ物所嫌わず”
This proverb means “unexpected events and troubles occur without choosing time or place.”
In life, unforeseen troubles and problems often occur at the most inconvenient times and places. We might fall ill the day before an important meeting, machines break down precisely when we’re busiest, or unexpected accidents happen during enjoyable trips.
This proverb expresses such inconvenient events by comparing them to physical symptoms called “appearing things and swelling things.” Just as growths and swellings can suddenly appear anywhere on the body, life’s troubles don’t consider our convenience. Rather, they tend to occur precisely when they’re most troublesome.
The reason for using this expression is to accept such reality and prepare ourselves mentally. It’s often used with a sense of resignation as something “that can’t be helped,” and even today it’s understood as words that express one’s state of mind when struck by sudden troubles.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to have emerged from the living conditions of common people during the Edo period. “Appearing things” was a term that referred to swellings and skin diseases at that time. It’s also the origin of the modern word “dekimono” (growths).
During the Edo period, medical technology was underdeveloped, and skin diseases and swellings were very common ailments. These diseases could suddenly appear anywhere on the body and would develop regardless of a person’s will or wishes. If they appeared on the face, they would be easily visible and embarrassing; if they appeared on hands or feet, they would interfere with daily life. However, diseases don’t choose their location.
People who observed this natural phenomenon likely created this proverb with the lesson that “just as diseases don’t choose locations on the body, there are things in the world that occur without choosing place or situation.”
It’s presumed that this became established as words expressing the reality that “unexpected things happen” and “unforeseen events are unavoidable” in business and human relationships, particularly within the townspeople’s culture of the Edo period. It can be said to be a truly practical Japanese proverb born from medical observation.
Interesting Facts
“Appearing things” in the Edo period included not only what we now call eczema and pimples, but also rashes caused by smallpox. Smallpox was called “hōsō” at the time and was a terrible disease that ranked among the top causes of death in children, but since immunity developed once you contracted it and survived, it was treated as “appearing things.”
The expression “place not dislike” in this proverb has an even broader meaning than the modern phrase “doesn’t choose location.” It contains the strong nuance of “making no distinctions whatsoever,” including not just location but also social status, position, and timing.
Usage Examples
- It’s raining on our wedding day of all days – truly “appearing things swelling things place not dislike”
- The train being delayed on the day of an important presentation is exactly “appearing things swelling things place not dislike”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. This is because while the development of the information society has made many risks predictable, new types of “unexpected events” have emerged.
System failures, cyber attacks, social media controversies, and other troubles unique to the digital age occur truly “without choosing place.” Communication troubles during online meetings or sudden loss of important data are unexpected difficulties that modern people experience that people of the Edo period could never have imagined.
Additionally, due to globalization, events in distant countries increasingly have direct impacts on our lives. Pandemics, changes in international situations, supply chain disruptions, and other major changes beyond individual control transform our daily lives “without choosing place.”
On the other hand, concepts like “risk management” and “crisis management” have developed in modern times, and many people have come to emphasize preparation for unexpected events. Improvements in insurance systems and the establishment of BCP (Business Continuity Plans) show that countermeasures against “appearing things and swelling things” have also advanced.
However, no matter how much we prepare, completely unpredictable events continue to exist. This proverb continues to teach us, even today, the importance of having the mental attitude to accept such reality.
When AI Hears This
The psychology behind Edo period people flocking to “unusual spectacles and oddities” bears a striking resemblance to how people gather around social media controversies today. Both phenomena are driven by an intense curiosity toward “things that aren’t normal.”
According to psychological research, humans possess an instinct called “negativity bias” – a tendency to react more strongly to bad news than good news. For example, survey results show that controversial posts on Twitter are about six times more likely to be shared than ordinary posts.
What’s fascinating is that Edo period “freak shows” and modern “controversy videos” share the same underlying structure. Both tap into our attraction to the forbidden – that feeling of “I probably shouldn’t look, but I can’t help myself.”
Even more remarkable is how this “compulsion to look” connects to our survival instincts. Our human ancestors survived by quickly detecting abnormal events and dangerous information. In other words, our tendency to peek at controversial posts is actually a manifestation of an ancient “information-gathering instinct” passed down through the ages.
Modern people with smartphones and Edo townspeople are fundamentally driven by the same psychology. Technology has advanced, but the true nature of human curiosity hasn’t changed in hundreds of years.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of “a way of living that doesn’t seek excessive control.”
In modern society, there’s a strong tendency to try to plan, manage, and predict everything. We make minute-by-minute schedules with scheduling apps and try to foresee the future through risk analysis. However, no matter how much we prepare, events that occur “without choosing place” will always exist.
What’s important is having the flexibility to accept such unexpected events as “part of life.” Rather than feeling excessive stress when plans go awry, let’s develop the ability to adapt to situations by muttering “appearing things swelling things place not dislike” in our hearts.
This proverb also teaches us “the importance of preparation.” Precisely because unexpected events are unavoidable, it’s important not to neglect mental preparation and basic readiness.
Unexpected events surely await you in your life too. But they’re also opportunities for new discoveries and growth. Try receiving the changes that come “without choosing place” as gifts that enrich your life.
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