How to Read “Edo has eight hundred and eight towns, Osaka has eight hundred and eight bridges”
Edo wa happyaku hatchō, Ōsaka wa happyaku hachi hashi
Meaning of “Edo has eight hundred and eight towns, Osaka has eight hundred and eight bridges”
This proverb expresses how two great cities, Edo and Osaka, prospered while each maintaining distinct characteristics.
Edo developed as a center of land transportation with many towns gathered together. Osaka flourished as a hub of water transport connected by numerous bridges.
Each city achieved development suited to its geographical conditions and historical background.
This proverb does more than describe the physical features of both cities. It conveys that cities have their own personalities and can prosper by making the most of those unique traits.
People use this saying when comparing things with different characteristics. It also appears in contexts where people acknowledge each other’s strengths.
Today, people quote it when discussing the importance of regional diversity and individuality. It represents a way of development that is not uniform or standardized.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb contrasts the characteristics of Edo and Osaka, the two major cities of the Edo period.
Edo was called “eight hundred and eight towns” not because of the actual number. Rather, this expression showed it was a large city with many towns gathered together.
After the Edo shogunate was established, Edo developed rapidly. Samurai residences and merchant districts spread throughout the city. Many administrative districts called towns were created.
The number eight hundred and eight was likely a conventional expression meaning “very many” rather than an actual count.
Osaka was called “eight hundred and eight bridges” because this reflected its character as a city of water. Osaka sits at the mouth of the Yodo River.
Many rivers and canals ran throughout the city, making it a hub of water transport. As Osaka developed as a commercial city, waterways became essential for transporting goods.
Numerous bridges were built to connect these waterways. Here too, the number eight hundred and eight was not literal but emphasized the abundance of bridges.
When this proverb first appeared is unclear. However, it likely emerged during the mid-Edo period or later, when both cities’ prosperity was well established.
The contrast of Edo on land and Osaka on water beautifully captures each city’s unique character.
Interesting Facts
The number of towns in Edo changed over time. Even at its peak, it never actually reached eight hundred and eight towns.
Records from the end of the Edo period show there were about eight hundred towns. Still, the expression “eight hundred and eight towns” took hold.
This happened because the phrase had a pleasing sound and impressively conveyed the large number.
The same applies to Osaka’s bridges. The actual number of bridges varied by era, but throughout the Edo period there were probably around two hundred.
Yet the name “eight hundred and eight bridges” was beloved. It resonated with people as an expression symbolizing the atmosphere of Osaka as a city of water.
Usage Examples
- After visiting Tokyo and Osaka, I truly felt that Edo has eight hundred and eight towns, Osaka has eight hundred and eight bridges
- Each city has its own character, and like Edo has eight hundred and eight towns, Osaka has eight hundred and eight bridges, it’s important to make the most of distinctive features
Universal Wisdom
This proverb teaches us a profound truth: there is not just one path to prosperity.
In human society, we often seek a “formula for success.” But Edo and Osaka, two great cities, achieved equal prosperity through completely different approaches.
Edo took advantage of land. Osaka took advantage of water. This contrast shows the importance of making maximum use of the environment and conditions where you find yourself.
Humans are creatures who compare. We tend to compare ourselves with others and rank superiority and inferiority.
However, this proverb has been passed down for so long perhaps because it makes us reconsider the meaning of comparison.
Edo didn’t need to build bridges like Osaka. Osaka didn’t need to increase towns like Edo. Each chose a path of development suited to its geographical conditions, historical background, and cultural characteristics.
This wisdom applies to individual lives too. Rather than imitating someone else’s success, understand your own strengths and environment, then make the most of them.
Don’t make differences from others a source of inferiority. Instead, affirm them as individuality.
Through the contrast of two cities, our ancestors saw that diversity itself is the source of richness.
When AI Hears This
In network theory, system efficiency changes dramatically depending on whether you increase “nodes” (hubs) or “edges” (connections).
Edo and Osaka practiced these two strategies in urban design.
Edo finely divided the towns where samurai lived, creating numerous hubs called eight hundred and eight towns. This is a “node-density network.”
For example, it’s the same as modern convenience store strategy. If each town functions self-sufficiently, the roads connecting towns can be minimal.
In Edo, where samurai gathered from across the country for alternate attendance, each domain’s residence (node) existed independently. Movement between them was limited. In other words, it was a centralized “server type.”
Meanwhile, Osaka was an “edge-density network” of eight hundred and eight bridges connected by waterways.
Merchants constantly exchanged goods and information. Connectivity allowing free movement from any point was crucial.
The more bridges, the more detour routes. Even if one bridge broke, logistics wouldn’t stop.
This is exactly the concept of P2P type in modern internet – a distributed network.
What’s interesting is this: node-type Edo became dysfunctional when the center collapsed during the Meiji Restoration. But edge-type Osaka flexibly survived as a commercial city.
Network robustness is determined by connection diversity. Urban history proves this modern theory.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches you the importance of making the most of who you are.
We live in an information society where we’re constantly compared with others. Open social media and you see someone’s success. You might feel anxious about what you’re lacking.
But Edo didn’t try to become Osaka. Osaka didn’t try to become Edo. Each understood its own strengths and prospered by developing them to the fullest.
You too have your own geographical conditions. These might be the environment where you were born and raised. They might be your innate talents or personality.
What matters is not copying someone else’s success pattern exactly. It’s thinking about what you can do within your own conditions.
Will you take advantage of land? Or will you take advantage of water? That choice differs for each person.
Precisely because we live in a modern society that respects diversity, this proverb’s wisdom shines brighter.
Your individuality isn’t inferior compared to someone else. It’s simply different.
When you find a way to make use of that difference, your own prosperity begins.
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