How to Read “白髪三千丈”
Hakuhatsu sanzenjo
Meaning of “白髪三千丈”
“White hair three thousand fathoms” is a proverb meaning that worries, sadness, and hardships are so deep and great that it feels as if one’s white hair has grown three thousand jō (about 9,000 meters) long.
This is clearly an exaggerated expression, and it’s impossible for hair to actually grow that long. However, through this unrealistically extreme expression, it emphasizes the seriousness of one’s mental burden. When people are truly troubled by deep worries, they sometimes feel like “my hair might turn completely white,” and this can be understood as an even more extreme expression of that feeling.
This proverb is used when expressing one’s own hardships and worries. However, rather than truly serious situations, it’s often used somewhat self-deprecatingly or with humor to express that one is “going through a difficult time.” Listeners also understand it not literally, but as an expression of the speaker’s state of mind.
Origin and Etymology
“White hair three thousand fathoms” is actually a proverb that originates from the poem “Autumn Pool Songs” by Li Bai, a poet from China’s Tang Dynasty. In this poem, Li Bai wrote “White hair three thousand fathoms, due to sorrow it grows this long” (白髪三千丈、縁愁似箇長).
Three thousand jō is a Chinese unit of length, representing an enormous distance of about 9,000 meters. Li Bai expressed that his worries and sadness were so deep that his white hair seemed to have grown to a length of three thousand jō. This was clearly an exaggerated expression, and everyone understood that hair couldn’t actually grow that long.
This poem was transmitted to Japan and eventually became established as a proverb meaning “to express deep worries or sadness in an exaggerated way.” Li Bai’s poetic hyperbole must have resonated with Japanese sensibilities as well.
What’s interesting is that Li Bai intentionally used unrealistic expressions to convey the depth of his emotions. Ancient Chinese poets used such bold metaphors to leave strong impressions on their readers.
Interesting Facts
Li Bai’s original poem “Autumn Pool Songs” is one of a series of 17 connected poems, and the verse containing “White hair three thousand fathoms” is from the 15th poem. At the time, Li Bai was in a period when he had left the capital due to political downfall and was wandering various places, and this poem contains his deep melancholy.
The number “three thousand jō” was also a conventional expression often used in Chinese classical literature to mean “extremely long.” It was used to mean “immeasurably” rather than an actual length.
Usage Examples
- Watching my child’s exam preparation makes me feel like White hair three thousand fathoms
- Since becoming the leader of the new project, I truly understand what White hair three thousand fathoms means
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the proverb “White hair three thousand fathoms” has taken on new meaning as an expression of our stress-filled society. In an era where immediate responses to SNS and emails are expected, with the feeling of being connected 24/7, we constantly carry various worries.
Especially for the working generation, it’s not uncommon for multiple stress factors to hit simultaneously – work pressure, family responsibilities, anxiety about the future. In such times, the expression “White hair three thousand fathoms” functions as an exquisite phrase that captures the complex state of mind of modern people.
Also, precisely because we live in an age of information overload, such poetic and exaggerated expressions might feel refreshingly new. In our modern world where everything tends to be expressed through data and numbers, the classical beauty of expressing emotional depth through unrealistic length is being reconsidered.
On the other hand, as interest in mental health grows, caution is needed when using this proverb. There’s also the danger of treating truly serious mental problems lightly. In modern times, while using it humorously, consideration for others’ situations is required.
When AI Hears This
When we calculate Li Bai’s “white hair three thousand zhang” using Tang dynasty measurements, astonishing figures emerge. One zhang in the Tang era was approximately 3.07 meters, making three thousand zhang about 9,210 meters—equivalent to 9.2 kilometers. This matches the distance from Tokyo Station to Shinagawa Station and represents a physically impossible length for human hair.
What’s fascinating is Li Bai’s intention behind choosing this figure. Any Chinese person of that era would have intuitively understood the actual length of three thousand zhang, meaning Li Bai deliberately presented a number that transcended reality. This wasn’t mere exaggeration, but a sophisticated technique that achieved poetic effect through mathematical “impossibility.”
Even more noteworthy is his choice of the number “three thousand.” In Chinese culture, “three” symbolizes completeness while “thousand” represents infinity. Li Bai created a dual structure that expressed both concrete numerical value and abstract concepts simultaneously. In fact, if we consider a single hair strand to be 0.1 millimeters thick, 9.2 kilometers of hair would circle the Earth approximately one-quarter of the way around.
This mathematical verification reveals the innovative nature of Li Bai’s expressive technique. By utilizing the real measurement system of his time while completely transcending it, he used numbers to create a “poetic space” that liberated readers’ imagination from physical constraints.
Lessons for Today
What “White hair three thousand fathoms” teaches us today is the importance of expressing our emotions. When we’re suffering or worried, we tend to say “I’m fine,” but sometimes it might be okay to express our feelings in an exaggerated way.
The beauty of this proverb lies in the honesty within the exaggeration. Li Bai expressed his state of mind without pretense, yet poetically. While modern society tends to value efficiency and rationality, sometimes our true feelings are contained within irrational and exaggerated expressions.
This proverb also teaches us about the power of empathy. When we hear “White hair three thousand fathoms,” we try to understand not the literal meaning, but the weight of that person’s heart. Receiving the true emotions behind someone’s exaggerated expression – this is a very important ability in human connections.
When your heart feels heavy, try remembering this ancient poet’s words. You’ll surely feel the beauty of being honest with your emotions and expressing them.
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