How to Read “比翼の鳥”
Hiyoku no tori
Meaning of “比翼の鳥”
“Birds of paired wings” is a proverb that describes the relationship between a married couple who love each other deeply and always stay close together, never separating.
This expression is used not for mere lovers, but to refer to relationships bound by deep bonds where both have made the commitment to walk through life together. Just as birds with only one wing can fly only when they join their wings with their partner, it beautifully expresses the love between spouses as a community of shared destiny that cannot exist without each other.
Even today, this phrase is often used in wedding speeches and congratulatory addresses because of its profound meaning of “two becoming one.” It is used to express not just romantic feelings, but the bond as life partners who will walk together through both difficult times and joyful moments. As a symbol of the ideal married relationship where partners complement and support each other, it continues to be beloved by many people today.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Birds of paired wings” traces back to an imaginary bird from ancient China. This bird had very unique characteristics. Remarkably, it possessed only one wing, one eye, and one leg.
Imagine this: how would a bird with only one wing soar through the vast sky? The answer is simple. Male and female birds would nestle together and combine their wings to fly for the first time. A single bird could never fly through the sky alone.
This fantastical bird tale appeared in Chinese classical literature and became famous particularly in Bai Juyi’s epic poem “Song of Everlasting Sorrow.” In this poem that tells of the tragic love between Tang Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei, the line “In heaven, we wish to become Birds of paired wings” is used.
It is believed to have been introduced to Japan around the Heian period, initially used mainly in the world of Chinese poetry and waka. Over time, this beautiful metaphor permeated Japanese literature and everyday language. The seemingly incomplete existence of birds that cannot fly with just one wing has been passed down through generations as a symbol of perfect love.
Interesting Facts
Birds of paired wings are called “jian jian” in China and are actually imaginary birds that appear in bird encyclopedias. The richness of ancient Chinese imagination is truly amazing.
There is another interesting aspect to these birds. The male and female are said to have different colored feathers, with the male often depicted as having beautiful blue feathers and the female red. They are truly depicted as perfect paired beings expressing the harmony of yin and yang.
Usage Examples
- That couple, even after 50 years of marriage, remains as harmonious as Birds of paired wings
- I sincerely pray that the bride and groom will live happily ever after like Birds of paired wings
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “Birds of paired wings” requires new interpretation. While it was once ideal for married couples to always be together, we now live in an era that also values individual independence.
In today’s world where dual-career couples are the norm, a new form of “Birds of paired wings” has emerged where partners excel in separate workplaces and pursue their respective dreams while supporting each other at home. The depth of spiritual bonds has become more important than being physically together at all times.
Moreover, with the development of social media and technology, we live in an era where hearts can remain connected even when apart. Even when physically separated due to business trips or job transfers, couples can share their daily lives and support each other through digital tools.
On the other hand, more people are thinking about the boundary between “dependence” and “mutual support.” The value that healthy relationships involve walking together by choice while being independent individuals is spreading. Modern Birds of paired wings may be changing to an interpretation where they cannot fly not because they have one wing, but because while they could fly alone, flying together allows them to soar higher and more beautifully.
When AI Hears This
The bi-winged bird recorded in the “Classic of Mountains and Seas” is depicted as a “defective bird” with only one wing and one eye. This bird cannot fly alone or survey its surroundings. However, only when two birds come together can they soar through the sky and achieve complete vision.
In modern times, we often interpret “bi-winged birds” as “ideal couples united by perfect love,” but the original meaning in classical texts was completely different. Rather, it expressed the essence of relationships where “precisely because each is incomplete, they need to support one another.”
Modern psychology’s “interdependence theory” also suggests that healthy human relationships are built on acknowledging each other’s weaknesses and complementing one another. It’s not about the union of perfect individuals, but about those with missing pieces cooperating to reach heights impossible to achieve alone.
While contemporary society tends to idealize the “independent individual,” the true teaching of the bi-winged bird lies in “the beauty of dependence.” A bird with only one wing relying on its partner isn’t weakness—it’s a strategy for generating greater power. Perhaps the ancient Chinese sages entrusted the core of human relationships to this imperfect bird as their way of passing down this wisdom.
Lessons for Today
What Birds of paired wings teaches us today is the essence of true partnership. It’s not simply about being together, but about relationships where each person’s existence helps the other become a better version of themselves.
While modern society tends to emphasize individualism, humans are inherently beings who cannot live alone. Family, friends, colleagues, and life partners—we are supported by and support various people through our relationships. Birds of paired wings reminds us of the importance of such “connections.”
What matters is not depending on the other person, but building relationships where both can be themselves. When your “wing” combines with your partner’s “wing,” you can fly to heights unreachable alone. Please cherish such relationships.
This spirit can be applied not only to romantic couples but also to friendships, family relationships, and work partnerships. Acknowledging each other’s differences, complementing each other while growing together—that is the modern way of living as “Birds of paired wings.”
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