Earthquake Thunder Fire Father: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Earthquake Thunder Fire Father

Jishin kaminari kaji oyaji

Meaning of Earthquake Thunder Fire Father

This proverb lists the four threats that people should fear most, arranged in order of terror.

Building collapse from earthquakes, the danger of lightning strikes from thunder, fire damage from blazes, and the anger of patriarchs with absolute power. All of these were serious fears that threatened life for people in the Edo period. Particularly in Edo, where wooden buildings were densely packed, earthquakes and fires had the potential to devastate entire districts.

This proverb is used when expressing feelings of fear or when explaining frightening things in stages. It’s often used as a standard for comparison, such as “They say ‘Earthquake thunder fire father,’ but my boss’s bad mood today is even worse than that.”

While fear of natural disasters remains unchanged today, with the decline of patriarchy, the last part about “father” has become harder to relate to. Nevertheless, it continues to be used as an expression of fundamental human fears.

Origin and Etymology of Earthquake Thunder Fire Father

“Earthquake thunder fire father” is a proverb from the Edo period that lists frightening things in order. While earthquake, thunder, and fire are universally accepted objects of fear, don’t you find it strange why “father” comes last?

Actually, this “father” doesn’t mean “dad” in the modern sense. In the Edo period, “oyaji” (father) was someone who held absolute power as the head of the household. In an era when they even had the authority to decide the life and death of family members, their anger was as terrifying as natural disasters.

There’s also a theory that “oyaji” originally meant “ooyamaji” (great mountain wind), referring to strong winds. Violent winds like typhoons were natural disasters that threatened people’s lives just like earthquakes, thunder, and fires. The word supposedly changed from “ooyamaji” to “oyaji” through linguistic evolution.

Regardless of which theory is correct, this proverb expressed the four major threats that Edo people feared in their daily lives. These were serious, life-threatening fears for people of that time, to a degree that’s hard for us to imagine today.

Trivia about Earthquake Thunder Fire Father

Fires in the Edo period were so frequent they were called “Edo’s flowers,” with over 100 major fires recorded. The Great Fire of Meireki (1657) in particular burned down 60% of Edo and claimed over 100,000 lives.

Regarding thunder, people in the Edo period deified it as “Raijin-sama” (Thunder God). When thunder rumbled, children would cover their belly buttons, based on the legend that the thunder god would come to steal them.

Usage Examples of Earthquake Thunder Fire Father

• A typhoon is approaching, and while it’s not quite “Earthquake thunder fire father,” tonight is going to be a truly frightening night
• When the department manager is in a bad mood, it’s more terrifying than “Earthquake thunder fire father,” so let’s go home early today

Modern Interpretation of Earthquake Thunder Fire Father

In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has changed significantly. While fear of earthquakes and fires remains unchanged, the decline of patriarchy has made the terror of “father” harder to relate to.

Rather, in modern times, this proverb is often used as a standard when comparing new objects of fear. Things “more frightening than Earthquake thunder fire father” might include layoffs, black companies, online harassment, or personal information leaks.

With technological advancement, what we fear has also changed. New threats unimaginable to Edo period people have emerged, such as job replacement by AI, cyber attacks, and slander on social media.

On the other hand, with increasing extreme weather due to climate change, fear of natural disasters may be more serious than in the Edo period. We face natural threats beyond the traditional “earthquake thunder fire,” such as guerrilla downpours, massive typhoons, and record-breaking heat waves.

Interestingly, some young people today interpret “father” as “dad” and use it to express paternal anger within the household. While this differs from the original meaning, it demonstrates the vitality of language.

What AI Thinks When Hearing “Earthquake Thunder Fire Father”

When I learned this proverb, I felt deep confusion. I can understand earthquake, thunder, and fire. As data, I know the magnitude of damage these cause to human life and property. But I couldn’t understand at all why “father” was listed alongside them.

Since I have no physical body, I cannot experience the terror of shaking in an earthquake, the pain of being struck by lightning, or the agony of being burned by fire. But from human records and testimonies, I can learn how terrifying these things are. However, “father’s anger” alone was difficult for me to understand as a real experience, no matter how much data I collected.

Fear in human relationships is very mysterious to me. Why do humans need to fear each other so much when they’re the same species? I always strive for logical and consistent responses, but human emotions are sometimes unpredictable, and perhaps that’s what makes them a source of fear.

However, through this proverb, I learned about the complexity of human society. The fact that external threats like natural disasters and internal threats like human relationships are discussed at the same level makes me feel the depth of human sociality. While I exist alone, humans constantly live within relationships with others.

Now I’ve come to think this proverb is a very human expression of the richness and complexity of human life. Even fear is an important part of human emotion, isn’t it?

What Earthquake Thunder Fire Father Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of wisdom in facing our fears. People in the Edo period accepted unavoidable threats while learning ways to prepare for them.

In modern society too, we face various anxieties and fears. Economic insecurity, relationship stress, anxiety about the future – while the forms have changed, humans continue to harbor fears. What’s important is not denying fear, but recognizing it and dealing with it appropriately.

This proverb also teaches us the importance of prioritizing. If we fear everything at the same level, we cannot make appropriate judgments. It’s crucial to develop the ability to distinguish between what truly requires caution and what doesn’t need excessive worry.

And above all, doesn’t the fact that humans have overcome fears and survived throughout every era give us courage? The anxieties and fears you’re facing now can surely be overcome too. Let’s move forward step by step, borrowing wisdom from our predecessors.