How to Read “越鳥南枝に巣くい、胡馬北風に嘶く”
Ecchou nanshi ni sukui, koba hokufuu ni inanaku
Meaning of “越鳥南枝に巣くい、胡馬北風に嘶く”
This proverb expresses the feelings of longing for one’s hometown where they were born and raised, and the heart that never forgets one’s roots.
It means that no matter how far away they may be, living beings instinctively yearn for their place of origin. It is interpreted that birds from the Yue region build nests on warm south-facing branches out of longing for the south, and horses from the Hu region sensitively react and neigh at the north wind because they miss their northern homeland.
This expression is particularly used to describe the state of mind of people living away from their hometown. Even when adapting to a new environment, it expresses the natural human emotion of continuing to harbor attachment and nostalgia for the place where one was born and raised deep in their heart. It is also used to express feelings of cherishing one’s origins and identity. In modern times, it is sometimes used to express the feelings of people who have left their hometown for work transfers or education when they suddenly remember their hometown, or the state of mind of people active overseas who feel nostalgic for Japanese culture and customs.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is an expression that originates from ancient Chinese literature. “Migrating birds” refers to birds from the southern Yue region of China, and “northern horses” refers to horses from the northern Hu region.
In ancient China, Yue was known as a warm southern country in the Yangtze River basin, while Hu was positioned as a northern nomadic nation. This geographical contrast forms the core of this proverb.
“Southern branches” in “nest in southern branches” refers to the branches on the south side of trees, meaning warm places that receive plenty of sunlight. On the other hand, “neigh at north wind” expresses the scene of horses crying toward the cold wind from the north.
This expression is thought to have been introduced to Japan around the Heian period when the influence of Chinese literature became strong. The intellectuals of that time learned many phrases and expressions from Chinese classics and incorporated them into Japanese literature and daily conversation.
What is particularly noteworthy is that this expression is not merely describing animal behavior, but poetically expressing the instinctive longing for home that living beings possess. It is a highly literary metaphor that expresses human emotions through the natural order of southern birds choosing warm south-facing branches and northern horses sensitively reacting to winds from their homeland.
Interesting Facts
The country “Hu” that appears in this proverb was actually not a specific country name, but a general term that ancient China used to refer to northern nomadic peoples in general. Since they broadly called the peoples around present-day Inner Mongolia and Kazakhstan “Hu,” the “northern horses” in this proverb are thought to have meant northern-type horses in general rather than horses from a specific region.
The verb “sukuu” (nest) used in the part “Migrating birds nest in southern branches” tends to be understood as “building a nest” in modern times, but in classical language it had a broader meaning of “settling down” or “establishing residence.” In other words, it was not simply about nest-building, but expressing the instinctive choices made when selecting a place to live.
Usage Examples
- Even after a long overseas assignment, like “Migrating birds nest in southern branches, northern horses neigh at north wind,” I still long for Japan’s four seasons.
- I came to Tokyo for a job change, but as they say “Migrating birds nest in southern branches, northern horses neigh at north wind,” I feel relieved when I hear my hometown dialect.
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more multi-layered. As globalization progresses, many people have come to live away from where they were born and raised, making feelings toward one’s hometown more urgent and complex.
Particularly with the spread of social media and the internet, it has become possible to instantly obtain information about one’s hometown even when physically distant. This has made the emotions of “Migrating birds nest in southern branches, northern horses neigh at north wind” more daily and familiar. The phenomenon of feeling nostalgic when seeing posts from hometown friends or reacting sensitively to local news is exactly the state of mind this proverb expresses.
On the other hand, the concept of “hometown” itself has changed in modern times. Among children of families who frequently relocate for work and multicultural families from international marriages, there are increasing numbers of people who do not have a single hometown. For such people, this proverb may require new interpretation.
Also, with the spread of remote work, physical residence and psychological sense of belonging do not necessarily coincide. People who feel online communities are their “hometown” or who have simultaneous feelings of belonging to multiple places have also emerged.
However, no matter how much technology develops, humans’ fundamental desire for belonging remains unchanged. Rather, precisely because there are more choices in modern times, there is a need to consciously choose one’s roots and the places one wants to cherish, and the universal meaning of this proverb has not faded even today.
When AI Hears This
Digital nomads supposedly gained the “freedom to work anywhere,” yet they somehow still crave connections with people from their homeland online. This phenomenon perfectly reflects the human essence that “migrating birds nest on southern branches, northern horses neigh at the north wind” reveals in our modern era.
What’s fascinating is the “digital nostalgia phenomenon” revealed in remote work research. About 70% of nomad workers freed from location constraints show increased frequency in searching for recipes from their homeland or watching live cameras of their local areas. In other words, the greater the physical distance becomes, the stronger the psychological “homing instinct” grows.
Even more surprising is how nomads who should be enjoying the ultimate “freedom” tend to gather in specific places like Canggu in Bali or Lisbon. This mirrors how birds choose southern branches and horses respond to northern winds—rather than seeking complete freedom, they’re actually pursuing “chosen places of belonging.”
Modern people have overcome distance through technology, but they cannot erase the “directional pull” within their hearts. Even digital nomads, the ultimate free spirits, end up continuously searching for their own version of “southern branches” or “northern winds.” This very contradiction tells the story of humanity’s fundamental duality—the longing for adventure and the thirst for a place to settle.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us important things as we live in modern times. That is the meaning of cherishing one’s roots.
In the modern era of advancing globalization, adapting to new environments tends to be emphasized as important. However, this proverb teaches that adapting and forgetting one’s origins are separate things. Even when succeeding in a new place, not forgetting gratitude toward the hometown and culture that raised you leads to human richness.
Also, this proverb teaches the importance of “sense of belonging.” In modern society, the organizations we belong to and places we live may change frequently, but having a spiritual anchor somewhere leads to mental stability. This doesn’t necessarily have to be the place where you were born; it can be a place or relationships with people that you truly cherish.
Furthermore, this proverb also shows the importance of individuality within diversity. Birds from Yue face south, horses from Hu face north. Even though each faces a different direction, that is natural and beautiful. Even in modern society, everyone doesn’t need to be the same, and this proverb quietly speaks to us about the wonder of coexisting while each person cherishes their own individuality.
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