How to Read “飛鳥尽きて良弓蔵る”
Hichō tsukite ryōkyū kakuru
Meaning of “飛鳥尽きて良弓蔵る”
This proverb means that once a task is completed, people or things that were previously valued become unnecessary and are discarded.
An excellent bow that was treasured for shooting flying birds will be stored away in the depths of a warehouse and forgotten once the birds are gone. Similarly, this expresses the cruel aspect of human society where talented people who were needed for a certain purpose are treated coldly or even eliminated once that purpose is achieved.
It is particularly used in situations where those in power or organizational leaders distance themselves from capable subordinates they relied on during difficult times, treating them as obstacles once stability is achieved. This proverb perfectly describes scenarios such as military commanders who were active during wartime being shunned during peacetime, or employees who saved a company during a crisis being demoted after stability returns. It is often used as a lesson warning against human selfishness and the coldness of viewing people only for their utility value.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb originates from a historical account recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian of China, based on the story of King Goujian of Yue. It comes from the words of a wise retainer named Fan Li who served King Goujian during the Spring and Autumn period of the state of Yue.
It is said that after King Goujian destroyed the state of Wu, Fan Li left the king with these words: “Flying birds exhaust and good bow stores, cunning rabbits die and hunting dogs are cooked.” This meant “when flying birds are gone, excellent bows are stored in warehouses, and when cunning rabbits die, hunting dogs are boiled and eaten.”
This historical account was transmitted to Japan and became established as a proverb. Particularly during the samurai era, it was often used to express the position of military commanders after wars ended. In China, it is also known as the four-character idiom “birds exhaust, bows store,” and has been passed down through generations as a lesson warning against the cruelty of those in power.
It can also be found scattered throughout Japanese classical literature, particularly quoted in military tales when describing the rise and fall of military commanders. As words that capture the essence of human relationships across time, they have been inherited into the modern era.
Usage Examples
- That department manager saved the company from crisis, but once performance recovered, it was Flying birds exhaust and good bow stores—he was transferred to an idle position
- Politicians often value those who support them only during elections, but after winning, it’s a typical example of Flying birds exhaust and good bow stores
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex and multifaceted. Particularly in the business world, as project-based work increases, we frequently see phenomena where highly specialized personnel lose their next position after specific projects end.
In the IT industry, development teams are disbanded once system development is completed, and even excellent engineers may find themselves in a waiting state until the next project. This is somewhat different from the old concept of being “no longer needed” and can be said to be more of a structural problem of modern society where specialization has advanced.
On the other hand, in modern times, job changes have become commonplace, and awareness of individual career development has also increased. More people now anticipate Flying birds exhaust and good bow stores situations and move on to their next step on their own. With the spread of social media and job sites, talented individuals can now have multiple options.
However, in the political world and large corporations, situations where this proverb applies in its classical sense are still not uncommon. Crisis management specialists and reform promoters, in particular, tend to be shunned by organizations after problems are resolved. Modern society may claim to value human resources on the surface, but it may essentially still harbor the same human relationship structures as in the past.
When AI Hears This
Modern AI engineers are walking the exact path of the “good bow.” The more sophisticated the AI they develop becomes, the more they face the paradoxical situation where their own expertise becomes obsolete.
This is particularly evident in the programming field. When code-generation AI like GitHub Copilot emerged, demand for beginner and intermediate programmers dropped sharply. Microsoft research shows that while AI assistants improve development efficiency by 55%, the value of traditional coding skills has relatively declined.
Even more serious is the automation of AI development itself. Technologies like AutoML and Neural Architecture Search are automating the design and optimization of machine learning models. Research from Google DeepMind shows that AI-designed neural networks outperform those created by human experts.
This phenomenon inevitably occurs on the path toward the “technological singularity.” AI engineers continue creating the finest bows (AI) to shoot down birds (technical challenges), but the closer these bows come to perfection, the more unnecessary they become as the craftsmen who make them.
Most ironic of all is that they’re aiming for the ultimate bird: “Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).” The moment it’s achieved, most human intellectual labor will be replaced, and the engineers themselves won’t be exceptions. The story of decline beginning at the moment of victory, foreseen by ancient wisdom 2,500 years ago, is becoming reality.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us modern people is an important mindset for dealing with human relationships and organizations. First, it’s important to accept the reality that no matter how valued you are at the moment, that situation won’t last forever.
That’s precisely why it’s crucial not to depend on just one organization or relationship, but to constantly continue improving your skills and building networks. The time when you’re recognized as a “good bow” is the perfect opportunity to begin preparing for the next stage.
Also, if you’re in a leadership position in an organization, this proverb prompts deep reflection. You shouldn’t look down on people who helped you during difficult times just because the situation has improved. Such behavior ultimately leads to losing the trust of the entire organization.
In modern society, information flows quickly and people’s memories last long. Organizations and individuals who act like Flying birds exhaust and good bow stores will eventually be abandoned by excellent talent. True success comes from continuously valuing people. This proverb quietly speaks to us about such universal truths of human relationships.
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