How to Read “腹に一物”
Hara ni ichimotsu
Meaning of “腹に一物”
“Belly in one thing” is a proverb that expresses having hidden thoughts or feelings deep in one’s heart.
It refers to a state where someone appears calm and says nothing on the surface, but inwardly harbors different thoughts or emotions. This expression doesn’t necessarily have only negative connotations; it can also include cases where someone hides their true feelings out of consideration for others, or refrains from speaking while waiting for the right timing. However, it’s often used about people who should be approached with caution, such as “That person seems to have belly in one thing,” when you can’t gauge someone’s true intentions.
The reason this proverb is used is to express the subtlety of human relationships. Japanese culture tends to avoid direct expression, and reading others’ true feelings has been considered important. Even today, there are many situations in workplaces and personal relationships where surface attitudes don’t match inner thoughts. This phrase continues to be used as a way to succinctly express such complex psychological states.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Belly in one thing” lies in the cultural background where Japanese people have long regarded the “belly” as the seat of the heart. In Japan, many expressions have been created that use “belly” to represent emotions and thoughts. There are countless expressions that represent states of mind through the belly, such as “getting angry” (belly wo tateru), “making up one’s mind” (belly wo kimeru), and “black-hearted” (belly-black).
The word “one thing” (ichimotsu) is interesting. While in modern times “thing” (mono) often refers to concrete objects, in classical language it also included abstract concepts like “matters,” “thoughts,” and “feelings.” In other words, the “one thing” in “Belly in one thing” meant “one feeling” or “a certain thought” hidden deep in the heart.
Similar expressions can be found in Edo period literature, and it became established as an idiom expressing the complexity of human hearts. It’s deeply connected to the uniquely Japanese culture of “true feelings and public stance” (honne and tatemae), and is thought to be a concise and impressive way of expressing the human psychological state of appearing calm on the surface while harboring different thoughts inside. This expression has been beloved for so long because it captures universal human psychology that many people can relate to.
Interesting Facts
The word “one thing” (ichimotsu) mainly refers to “objects” in modern times, but in classical language it was also used in abstract meanings like “one matter” or “a certain feeling.” Therefore, the “thing” in “Belly in one thing” refers not to a concrete object but to “feelings” or “thoughts.”
Among Edo period merchants, the ability to read what was in someone’s belly was directly linked to business success, so the skill of detecting “opponents with belly in one thing” was considered an important ability. This sensibility can be said to continue in modern business negotiations as well.
Usage Examples
- The new department manager greets us with a smile, but somehow seems to have belly in one thing, so I can’t let my guard down
- She always treats me kindly, but sometimes I sense belly in one thing in the expressions she occasionally shows
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “Belly in one thing” has come to have more complex and multi-layered meanings. With the spread of SNS and messaging apps, we have come to more frequently separate surface communication from our true feelings.
Online, cases are increasing where people press “like” while actually harboring complex emotions. Also, with the spread of remote work, it has become more difficult to read others’ true intentions in meetings through screens. Traditional methods of sensing “belly in one thing” from facial expressions and atmosphere have become less effective.
On the other hand, there’s also a trend toward valuing transparency in the information society. Situations where having “belly in one thing” is not permitted have increased, such as corporate compliance and politicians’ accountability. However, at the same time, the importance of privacy is also emphasized, and the value that not everything needs to be revealed remains strong.
In modern times, more careful judgment is required regarding the pros and cons of having “belly in one thing.” The boundary between strategically withholding information and dishonestly hiding things has become ambiguous, and the complexity of human psychology shown by this proverb may actually be more suited to modern times.
When AI Hears This
The choice of “hara” (belly) in the expression “hara ni ichimotsu” represents an exquisite selection in the Japanese understanding of the body. This is because the belly is positioned as the seat of deeper, more strategic thinking, clearly distinguished from the “chest,” which represents surface emotions, and the “head,” which represents rational thought.
Japanese contains numerous expressions using “hara”: “hara wo kimeru” (make up one’s mind), “hara wo waru” (open one’s heart), “haraguroi” (scheming), and “haragei” (subtle communication). All of these refer to essential inner aspects that don’t appear on the surface. What’s particularly noteworthy is that the belly isn’t simply seen as the seat of emotions, but as the center of intellectual and intentional activities like calculation and scheming.
“Mune ni ichimotsu” (something in the chest) would suggest temporary emotions or resentment, while “atama ni ichimotsu” (something in the head) would evoke logical thinking. However, “hara ni ichimotsu” implies something much deeper, more long-term, and sometimes more cunning in nature. This connects deeply with Japan’s samurai culture. Warriors demonstrated their ultimate will by “cutting their belly” and showed their resolve by “settling their belly.”
What’s fascinating is that modern neuroscience now recognizes the close relationship between the gut and brain as the “gut-brain axis.” Long before any scientific evidence existed, Japanese people intuitively recognized the abdominal area as a “second brain,” believing it housed hidden deep thoughts and true feelings.
Lessons for Today
“Belly in one thing” teaches modern people the importance of appropriate distance in human relationships. It teaches us that speaking without hiding anything isn’t necessarily always right, and that sometimes it’s necessary to withhold one’s true feelings out of consideration for others.
What’s important is discerning whether that “one thing” is meant to hurt the other person or is meant out of consideration for them. Adjusting one’s inner thoughts for constructive purposes can be considered a mature adult response.
How to deal with sensing “belly in one thing” in others is also important. Rather than becoming suspicious, it’s important to have an attitude of trying to understand the other person’s position and circumstances. Perhaps that person has their own considerations or circumstances.
While transparency of information tends to be demanded in modern society, the human heart is not so simple. The phrase “belly in one thing” teaches us the importance of acknowledging each other’s complexity and respecting the depth of others’ hearts. Rather than perfect transparency, thoughtful and appropriate distance is the key to building rich human relationships.
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