How to Read “禍福は糾える縄の如し”
Kafuku wa azanaeru nawa no gotoshi
Meaning of “禍福は糾える縄の如し”
This proverb means that happiness and misfortune in life appear alternately like weaving rope, and exist in an inseparable relationship.
Happy events and unfortunate events never exist separately. Just as different colored threads alternately appear on the surface when weaving rope, good things and bad things come alternately in our lives as well. Even if something painful happens today, something joyful might be waiting tomorrow. Conversely, even if you’re at the peak of happiness now, it won’t necessarily continue forever.
This proverb is used when accepting life’s changes. It’s employed when comforting someone who has been struck by misfortune, or conversely, when admonishing someone blessed with good fortune not to forget humility. Even in modern times, during life’s turning points such as job changes, marriage, illness, or accidents, the deep insight of these words resonates in our hearts. It teaches us the importance of not fearing change, which is life’s constant, but accepting it as a natural flow.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Misfortune and fortune are like twisted rope” can be traced to ancient Chinese philosophical thought. This expression is believed to be based on the philosophy found in Chapter 58 of Laozi’s “Tao Te Ching,” which states “Misfortune is what fortune depends upon; fortune is where misfortune hides.”
The word “twisted” means to spin multiple threads or ropes together into one. In ancient times, people would twist together threads of different colors when making rope. Observing this process, you would see one color appearing on the surface, then the next moment another color would emerge, and then the original color would return in a continuous cycle.
This visual image beautifully expressed the alternating appearance of happiness and misfortune in life, which is why this metaphor became established in Japan as well. Similar expressions can be found in Heian period literature, showing that it had taken root as part of the Japanese worldview from quite ancient times.
Precisely because it used the familiar tool of rope as a metaphor, it was understood by many people and has been passed down through the ages. This expression embodies the resigned worldview of Japanese people who accept life’s ups and downs.
Usage Examples
- I’ve been having a string of failures at work lately, but since misfortune and fortune are like twisted rope, surely good things will happen too
- I’m happy that my promotion was decided, but since misfortune and fortune are like twisted rope, I mustn’t let my guard down
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb takes on more complex and serious aspects. With the spread of social media, we live in an environment where others’ “happiness” is constantly visible, making us tend to be overly conscious of our own misfortunes. Many people feel depressed looking at glamorous Instagram posts. However, what’s shown there is merely a momentary snapshot of life.
Due to technological advancement, we’ve developed a strong tendency to seek immediate results. Stock price fluctuations, cryptocurrency volatility, viral videos versus those that don’t catch on – in digital society, “Misfortune and fortune are like twisted rope” repeats in shorter cycles. A single tweet can go viral and change someone’s life, or accidental buzz can make someone instantly famous.
Moreover, in modern times, the definition of “success” has diversified. While stable employment was once a symbol of happiness, now the form of happiness varies greatly according to individual values. Some people work freely as freelancers, while others seek stability in large corporations.
However, regardless of what lifestyle one chooses, the essence of this proverb remains unchanged. Precisely because we live in an age where AI and robots are becoming widespread, life’s unpredictability and the mental flexibility to accept it have become even more important.
When AI Hears This
When observing social media firestorms, the structure of “twisted rope” emerges with surprising clarity. The posts that spark these controversies are often casual moments from daily life or content shared with genuinely positive intentions. Yet they instantly transform into storms of criticism, sometimes escalating to the point where people lose their jobs.
What’s fascinating is that this “misfortune” isn’t necessarily the final destination. We frequently see cases where people who’ve been “canceled” later gain renewed attention through apology videos, ultimately ending up with more followers than before. A 2019 study revealed the intriguing finding that approximately 30% of those who experienced online backlash actually increased their follower count within six months.
Even more complex is the emergence of techniques that deliberately “calculate” and orchestrate controversies. “Outrage marketing” – intentionally making provocative statements to attract attention, then recovering favorability through subsequent developments – represents a deliberate attempt to artificially weave the rope of misfortune and fortune.
However, this rope cannot be controlled by humans. Even similar controversies can lead to completely different outcomes depending on timing and social circumstances. On the modern stage of social media, the age-old uncertainty of human fate is being visualized in real-time, unchanged since ancient times.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of not fearing life’s waves, but acquiring the skill to ride those waves. No perfect life exists, and it’s impossible to be happy forever or unhappy forever.
What’s important is to cherish this present moment while keeping in mind that tomorrow will be different from today. If you’re going through a difficult period, your current situation won’t continue forever. Conversely, if you’re in a smooth sailing period, it’s important not to forget humility and be grateful for your current happiness.
In modern society, the pace of change has become very fast. That’s precisely why the wisdom of this ancient proverb shines. Before getting depressed by comparing yourself to others on social media, or getting carried away by temporary success, remember that life is like twisted rope.
The rope of your life is drawing a beautiful pattern that belongs only to you. Within that pattern, there will be both dark-colored parts and bright-colored parts. But when you look at the whole, it’s surely becoming a wonderful work of art. Today is also a precious part of that.
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