How to Read “There are skilled people, but no masters”
jōzu wa aredo meijin wa nashi
Meaning of “There are skilled people, but no masters”
This proverb means that while there are technically skilled people, there are no true masters. No matter how much you polish your skills, reaching a perfect state is extremely difficult. It expresses the harsh reality that people who can truly be called “masters” don’t exist.
Technically excellent “skilled” people certainly exist. However, “masters” who have reached an artistic realm beyond technique, or a perfect domain that could be called divine skill, rarely appear. This expression acknowledges that human abilities have limits while showing how difficult it is to aim for perfection.
In modern times, every field has people called “experts” or “specialists.” But when it comes to absolute “masters” that everyone recognizes, they’re hard to find. This proverb is sometimes used with humility. It’s also used when talking about the difficulty of seeking perfection.
Origin and Etymology
The exact source of this proverb is unclear. But we can make interesting observations from how the words are structured. The distinction between “jōzu” (skilled) and “meijin” (master) reveals the delicate Japanese sense toward skills and arts.
“Jōzu” has long been widely used as a word indicating technical excellence. On the other hand, “meijin” carries the meaning of someone who has reached a divine state beyond mere technical skill. During the Edo period, the title “meijin” held special meaning in worlds like shogi, go, tea ceremony, and noh theater.
This proverb likely originated from such artistic worlds. Among craftspeople and artists trying to perfect their skills, there was probably a shared humble recognition. No matter how much they polished their abilities, they couldn’t reach true completion. Many people could reach the “skilled” stage, but the ultimate realm called “master” existed as an almost unreachable ideal.
This saying reflects the depth of artistic paths and the Japanese aesthetic sense that acknowledges human limitations.
Usage Examples
- His technique is certainly high, but as they say, there are skilled people, but no masters—there’s still room for improvement
- No matter how much I practice, there are skilled people, but no masters, so maybe perfect performance doesn’t exist
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “There are skilled people, but no masters” contains the eternal theme of human ambition and limitations. Why do people keep aiming for perfection that might be unreachable?
What this proverb shows is the harsh reality that human abilities always have limits. But at the same time, it contains the paradoxical truth that this is exactly why people continue their efforts. If becoming a “master” were easy, the title would have no value. Because reaching it is extremely difficult, people admire it and keep trying.
This saying has been passed down for so long because it expresses two contradictory human qualities at once: perfectionism and humility. We constantly have the desire to aim higher while being forced to acknowledge our own limits.
Our ancestors saw that this very contradiction is the driving force that makes humans grow. Even knowing we can’t reach perfection, the attitude of aiming for it is what’s precious. The ideal of “master” might not be a destination but more like the North Star—something to pursue forever.
When AI Hears This
When we view skill as a system through complexity science, a surprising fact emerges. Improvement is a process where countless elements—muscles, nerves, senses, judgment—interact and self-organize. What’s important here is that these elements are constantly changing. Body temperature, humidity, fatigue level, tiny differences in tools, opponent’s movements. The same conditions never occur twice.
In complexity theory, the most creative and adaptable state is called “the edge of chaos.” It’s not completely ordered, nor completely disordered, but the boundary between them. Imagine the moment water becomes ice, when liquid and solid mix together. This state is the most flexible for responding to change. Skilled people are exactly those who can move in this zone. They maintain the fluidity to respond instantly to unexpected situations.
On the other hand, if a perfectly fixed state called “master” existed, it would mean a rigid state like ice. But real environments are constantly fluctuating. Ecosystem research shows that what’s strongest against environmental change isn’t perfectly optimized species, but species with moderate diversity and flexibility. This proverb saw through to the essence that skill isn’t about static completion but dynamic adaptability.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches you today is the courage to aim for perfection while accepting your imperfect self. In this age when we see only others’ successes on social media, we easily fall into the illusion that “perfect people” exist. But in reality, no matter how excellent someone is, they haven’t reached true perfection.
What matters isn’t stopping your efforts because you can’t be perfect. Rather, knowing that perfect “masters” don’t exist gives you the freedom to keep growing at your own pace. What you should aim for isn’t perfection compared to others, but becoming even slightly better than yesterday’s self.
People called professionals are actually repeating trial and error every day. They’re not “masters” but “skilled people,” and that’s valuable enough. You too can walk toward your own version of “skilled” without fearing perfection but without being bound by it either. That process itself enriches your life.
Comments