How to Read “The waters of the Kamo River”
Kamogawa no mizu
Meaning of “The waters of the Kamo River”
“The waters of the Kamo River” is a proverb that describes something constantly changing and unstable. Like river water that shifts in volume and flow with the weather, it refers to a state that never settles and keeps changing.
This proverb is used to describe people whose hearts and feelings are unsettled. It applies when someone’s opinions or attitudes keep changing, or when social conditions remain unstable.
It’s especially fitting for people who say different things from one day to the next. It describes those who reverse their decisions repeatedly, or organizations whose policies never settle.
By using the specific name of the Kamo River, the expression conveys instability more vividly than simply saying “changeable.” Water as a metaphor emphasizes something formless that never stays still.
Even today, this expression works well when critically pointing out unreliable attitudes or inconsistent behavior.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “The waters of the Kamo River” has no clear written record. However, it likely emerged from the characteristics of the Kamo River flowing through Kyoto.
The Kamo River refers to the upstream section of Kyoto’s Kamogawa. This river has been deeply connected to Kyoto residents’ lives since ancient times.
The river’s water had an extremely volatile nature. When it rained, the water level rose rapidly. During dry spells, the volume decreased dramatically.
The upstream area flowing from the mountains was especially changeable. The water’s flow and volume shifted dramatically with the weather, never maintaining a constant state.
Kyoto’s people witnessed this changeability of the Kamo River’s waters daily. A river calm in the morning could become a muddy torrent by evening.
Water abundant yesterday might become a thin trickle today. Seeing such scenes repeatedly, people began using the Kamo River’s waters as a symbol for things that are unsettled and changeable.
This expression born in the ancient capital of Kyoto embodies a distinctly Japanese sensibility. It uses familiar natural phenomena to express the changeability of human hearts and worldly affairs.
Usage Examples
- His opinions change like the waters of the Kamo River, so you shouldn’t take them too seriously
- The policy changes at every meeting—it’s just like the waters of the Kamo River
Universal Wisdom
“The waters of the Kamo River” has been passed down through generations because it contains deep insight into human instability. We humans want to be rational and consistent beings, yet we easily waver with emotions and circumstances.
Why are people so unsettled? Because humans live in constantly changing environments.
New information changes our thinking. Emotions shift our judgment. Hearing others’ opinions creates doubt.
Maintaining perfectly consistent attitudes may be unnaturally difficult.
Yet this is precisely why our ancestors left us this proverb. While changeability is natural to humans, too much of it destroys trust and damages relationships.
No one can open their heart to someone who breaks promises or says different things every time.
This proverb acknowledges human instability while teaching the importance of having some axis. Perfect consistency isn’t required, but we should hold core values and beliefs.
It reflects a balanced understanding of humanity. Being able to change while having a core—isn’t that what human maturity means?
When AI Hears This
The three uncontrollable things that Emperor Shirakawa lamented actually produce unpredictable states through completely different mechanisms.
The waters of the Kamo River are a classic example of fluid dynamic chaos. River flow completely obeys physical laws, yet tiny differences in initial conditions expand exponentially.
For instance, a single pebble moving upstream creates entirely different eddies downstream. This is called deterministic chaos—rules are clear, but long-term prediction is impossible.
It’s the same reason modern weather forecasts have a two-week limit.
Dice in sugoroku represent probabilistic randomness. Unlike rivers, dice are simple cubes, yet results change with each throw.
This isn’t quantum mechanical true randomness. It results from countless factors like subtle hand force and air resistance intertwining. Too much information makes tracking impossible.
The mountain monks are the most troublesome—emergent behavior of autonomous agents. Each warrior monk has their own will, influencing each other while taking collective action.
Even if individuals are predictable, groups undergo phase transitions creating entirely new patterns. It’s the same structure that makes social media firestorms unpredictable.
The emperor intuitively grasped that uncontrollability has three qualitatively different types.
Lessons for Today
“The waters of the Kamo River” teaches us the importance of being aware of our own consistency. In modern society overflowing with information, we encounter new ideas and values constantly, making our opinions and attitudes easily shaken.
Social media presents various opinions. News updates daily. Our judgment standards are constantly tested.
That’s why having a firm axis within yourself becomes crucial. This doesn’t mean being stubborn.
Accept new information flexibly while protecting your core values. Adapt your responses to situations while keeping your basic stance steady.
Such balance becomes the foundation for being a trustworthy person.
This proverb also cultivates how we view others. We need the power to observe calmly so we’re not swept along by people whose words and actions are unstable.
To invest your precious time and energy in truly trustworthy people and things, develop discerning eyes. Don’t be carried away by changeable waters—live with your feet planted on solid ground.
That’s the quiet yet powerful message this proverb gives to those of us living today.
Comments