How to Read “Even if the crown is old, it is not worn as a shoe”
Kanmuri furukeredomo kutsu ni hakazu
Meaning of “Even if the crown is old, it is not worn as a shoe”
This proverb teaches that people of high status should never disregard courtesy and proper order.
Using a noble item like a crown as footwear, even if it has become old, ignores the original dignity of that object.
The proverb warns against people in positions of power who use their status to ignore courtesy or disrupt the order they should uphold.
It is used when powerful people behave arrogantly or when those in high positions disregard basic manners.
The message is clear: “Precisely because you have high status, you should maintain proper etiquette.”
Today, we understand this to mean that the higher your position, the more humility and courtesy are expected of you.
High status is not a free pass to ignore manners. Rather, it brings the responsibility to maintain even higher ethical standards.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written record of this proverb’s origin exists. However, we can learn much from examining the words themselves.
A “crown” has been a decorative item worn on the head by high-ranking people since ancient times. It symbolized rank and authority.
“Furukeredomo” means “even if it becomes old.” “Kutsu” refers to footwear. “Kutsu ni hakazu” means “not worn as a shoe.”
The teaching is simple: no matter how old and unusable a crown becomes, you would never disrespect it by wearing it on your feet.
A crown belongs on the head. Shoes belong on the feet. This distinction between high and low was absolute.
In ancient Japan, the class system was strict. Each object had its designated purpose and dignity.
Even when a crown lost its practical use through age, it remained a noble item.
Converting it to a lower purpose like footwear would disrupt social order. This was strictly forbidden.
This expression likely reflects the influence of Confucian ideas about propriety. Objects have their own hierarchy, and maintaining that hierarchy preserves social order.
This proverb captures a traditional Japanese value: dignity matters more than practicality.
Usage Examples
- Just because you became company president doesn’t mean you can forget basic greetings and gratitude. Remember, even if the crown is old, it is not worn as a shoe.
- The higher your position, the more important courtesy becomes. That’s exactly the spirit of “even if the crown is old, it is not worn as a shoe.”
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down because it addresses a universal human problem.
People who gain power or status often lose their humility and courtesy. This is a common human weakness.
When your position rises, people around you become obedient. Critical voices become harder to hear.
Then you start to believe you are special. Courtesy and consideration that once seemed important now feel like unnecessary burdens.
This is a trap that powerful people throughout history have fallen into, in every era and every culture.
But our ancestors understood this human weakness. That’s why they left this teaching in such concrete imagery.
“A crown, even when old, is never made into a shoe.” Objects have their proper dignity, and maintaining it preserves order.
Similarly, people have courtesy they must maintain. This applies regardless of status. In fact, the higher the position, the greater the responsibility to uphold it.
The deep wisdom here is recognizing that power and character are separate things.
Status is given from outside. Courtesy comes from within. Truly respected people are those who never forget basic manners, even in high positions.
When AI Hears This
Claude Shannon, founder of information theory, showed that a message’s information content depends on how unexpected it is.
“The sun will rise tomorrow” carries almost no information. It’s 99.9999% certain. But “tomorrow brings a total solar eclipse” carries high information value because it’s rare.
This proverb uses this principle as a linguistic device. “Crown” is an extremely low-frequency symbol.
Most people never wear one in their lifetime. So “wearing a crown as a shoe” creates a probabilistically impossible combination that generates intense cognitive dissonance.
This dissonance proves high information content. By contrast, “don’t wear old shoes” would carry near-zero information. It’s too obvious and everyday.
What’s fascinating is how this proverb maximizes information compression by combining two extreme symbols.
It conveys the abstract message “don’t use noble things for base purposes” in just a dozen characters with vivid impact.
If written explanatorily as “each object has its appropriate use,” the information content stays the same but character count doubles and impact fades.
This proverb maximizes information entropy through the collision of low-frequency and high-frequency symbols.
It achieves maximum meaning with minimum code length. It’s a linguistically optimized expression from an information theory perspective.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches you something crucial: “The higher your position, the more you should value the basics.”
In modern society, many people aim for career advancement and promotion. But when your position rises, what kind of person do you want to be?
An arrogant boss who treats subordinates poorly. A business owner who forgets gratitude toward customers. A professional who disregards basic manners.
Would you respect such people?
Truly excellent leaders never skip greetings, no matter how busy. They never forget words of gratitude, no matter how successful.
This isn’t weakness. It’s strength. By maintaining the “basics” of courtesy, they gain the “greatest power” of all: trust from others.
You can start practicing today. Treat juniors and subordinates with respect. Say “thank you” for small kindnesses. Keep your promises about time.
Continue these ordinary things even when your position changes. That’s what makes you truly “high” in the deepest sense.
Status elevates people. But courtesy deepens them.
Comments