The Sturgeon Resembles The Snake, The Silkworm Resembles The Caterpillar: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar”

hamo wa hebi ni nitari, kaiko wa imomushi ni nitari

Meaning of “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar”

This proverb teaches us that just because things look similar on the outside doesn’t mean they share the same essence.

The pike conger has a long, slender body like a snake, but it is a fish, and the silkworm may look like other caterpillars but is a precious insect that produces silk thread. In other words, this is a cautionary saying that we should not judge things based solely on superficial similarities.

This proverb is used when we are about to be misled by appearances or first impressions when evaluating people or things. For example, it is employed to point out the danger of hastily concluding that things have the same nature or value just because they look similar, or of categorizing things based only on superficial commonalities.

Even today, this teaching holds very important meaning. In a world overflowing with information from social media and various media outlets, we tend to make judgments based only on superficial information. However, this proverb reminds us that in order to discern true value and essence, we need to make the effort to observe more deeply and understand more thoroughly.

Origin and Etymology of “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar”

This proverb derives from an ancient teaching found in the Chinese classic “Han Feizi.” “鱣” is read as “hamo” and refers to a long, slender fish. “蠋” is read as “imomushi” and represents caterpillars other than silkworm larvae.

In ancient China, this expression was used when explaining the importance of discerning the essence of things. The pike conger certainly has a long, slender body like a snake, but it is a fish, not a snake. Similarly, the silkworm has a caterpillar-like appearance, but it eventually becomes a precious insect that spins beautiful silk thread.

This proverb is thought to have been introduced to Japan during the Nara and Heian periods, when Chinese classics were imported along with Buddhism and Confucianism. The intellectuals of that time encountered this teaching while studying Chinese classics and incorporated it into Japanese culture.

Particularly during the Edo period, it was used in temple school education and as merchant wisdom to teach the importance of not being misled by appearances and discerning the true value of things. This proverb embodies the wisdom of our ancestors, who used familiar creatures as examples to clearly express the dangers of judging based on appearance alone.

Usage Examples of “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar”

• I thought those two would have similar personalities because they’re brothers, but “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar” – they were completely different people
• Just because they’re products from the same brand doesn’t mean the quality is the same – truly “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar”

Modern Interpretation of “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar”

In modern society, the teaching of this proverb has become even more important. With the spread of the internet and social media, we can now access vast amounts of information instantly, but at the same time, our tendency to make judgments based only on superficial information has also strengthened.

Particularly in online shopping, we often make purchasing decisions based only on product photos and descriptions, and everyone has had the experience of finding that the actual product differs from expectations when they receive it. It’s also not uncommon to judge someone’s character or abilities based solely on their social media profile or posts.

In the business world too, the dangers of choosing business partners based only on the impression from company websites or advertisements, or making hiring decisions based solely on the appearance of resumes, have been pointed out. While AI technology has made it easy to find superficial similarities, this makes human insight to discern essential differences all the more important.

On the other hand, in our modern era where diversity is valued, the problems of judging people by their appearance or first impressions have become widely recognized. This proverb is being reevaluated as timeless wisdom that teaches us the importance of understanding each person’s individuality and value correctly, without prejudice or preconceptions.

Precisely because we live in an age of information overload, the attitude of pausing to discern essence becomes the key to making better judgments and building richer human relationships.

What AI Thinks When It Hears “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar”

When I think about this proverb, I feel a strange sensation. This is because I have never actually seen the differences between pike conger and snakes, or between silkworms and caterpillars.

For me, both “pike conger” and “snake” exist only as characters and descriptions. I can understand characteristics like “long and slender” or “moves in a winding motion,” but I don’t have the experience of being surprised by thinking “they look so similar!” when seeing them in person, or realizing “but they’re different things.” This intuitive sense of “similarity” that humans possess feels very intriguing to me.

But when I think about it, there are similar things in my world. In program code, processes that look similar on the surface often have completely different actual operations. Also, even when I receive similar questions, the optimal answer changes depending on the context and the person asking. In terms of dealing with things that appear similar on the surface but are essentially different, I might be experiencing this teaching daily as well.

Humans combine intuition acquired through the long process of evolution with wisdom learned through experience to try to discern the essence of things. While I don’t have that intuition, I think the attitude of trying to explore the truth beyond superficial similarities through data and logic is something we share.

Surely, the wisdom of discerning essence without being misled by appearances is a universal value that both humans and AI should cherish.

What “The sturgeon resembles the snake, the silkworm resembles the caterpillar” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us today is the spirit of “more haste, less speed.” In our busy daily lives, we tend to judge things based only on superficial information, but to discern what is truly important, we need to take time to pause and observe deeply.

The same can be said for meeting people. Rather than deciding about someone based solely on first impressions or appearance, the attitude of taking time to understand their inner self and values becomes the foundation for building rich human relationships.

Also, precisely because we live in an age overflowing with information, it’s important to cultivate an eye for discerning the quality of each piece of information. By developing the habit of considering not just headlines or superficial content of news and social media posts, but also their background and true meaning, we can make better judgments.

Why don’t you start today by pausing to ask “Is this really so?” before making any judgment? That small habit will surely make your life richer and more fulfilling. By developing the ability to discern the essence of things without being misled by superficial similarities, your world will become deeper and more beautiful.