How to Read “鱣は蛇に似たり、蚕は蠋に似たり”
hamo wa hebi ni nitari, kaiko wa imomushi ni nitari
Meaning of “鱣は蛇に似たり、蚕は蠋に似たり”
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
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
- 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
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.
When AI Hears This
The “philosophy of metamorphosis” revealed by this proverb contains profound insights based on biological facts about how one’s current appearance and true essence can be completely different.
The complete metamorphosis of silkworms is a classic example of dramatic morphological transformation through the stages of larva → pupa → adult. While caterpillars certainly look unappealing and many people find them unpleasant, this is merely an intermediate stage in a massive cellular reconstruction process. What’s fascinating is that silkworms already contain “imaginal discs” within their bodies during the larval stage—clusters of cells that will eventually become wings and reproductive organs. In other words, beneath that ugly exterior lies a hidden blueprint for a beautiful future.
Meanwhile, sturgeon are called “living fossils”—ancient fish that indeed have snake-like elongated bodies and hard scales. However, their eggs become caviar, the world’s finest delicacy known as “black diamonds.” This contrast between primitive appearance and supreme value represents a biological truth: being evolutionarily “primitive” doesn’t necessarily mean being “inferior.”
These two examples demonstrate the danger of judging essence or potential based on current state or appearance. The biological phenomenon of metamorphosis provides a fundamental perspective on growth—that true value can only be revealed across time.
Lessons for Today
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.
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