How to Read “犬兎の争い”
Kenuto no arasoi
Meaning of “犬兎の争い”
“Dog rabbit’s dispute” is a proverb that describes a situation where a third party gains benefit as a result of two parties fighting intensely.
This expression refers to the ironic situation where parties absorbed in conflict end up providing benefits to someone else through their own exhaustion. It is used in scenarios such as when competing companies engage in price wars that exhaust the entire industry, ultimately allowing companies from different sectors to enter the market, or when political conflicts lead to mutual destruction of the parties involved, allowing a third force to rise to power. The reason for using this expression is that it functions as a way to encourage calmness among the conflicting parties, or as a warning when objectively viewing the situation from a third-party perspective. Even in modern times, it is understood as a phrase that teaches us, who tend to get caught up in emotional conflicts and competition, the importance of stepping back and surveying the overall situation.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Dog rabbit’s dispute” lies in a famous fable recorded in the ancient Chinese classic “Strategies of the Warring States” (Zhanguoce). This story tells of a dog and rabbit who fought so intensely that both became exhausted and collapsed, allowing a farmer who was watching to obtain both animals without any effort.
This fable is believed to have been introduced to Japan around the Nara and Heian periods, when Chinese classics were imported along with Buddhist and Confucian scriptures. The intellectuals of that time learned Chinese idioms and proverbs through classical Chinese texts, and this instructive tale likely spread among them.
What’s interesting is that this story was not simply about animals fighting, but was born as a political fable satirizing power struggles and conflicts of interest in human society. In Warring States period China, situations frequently occurred where third parties would reap the benefits while feudal lords fought among themselves. “Dog rabbit’s dispute” was an expression of this reality through the metaphor of animal conflict.
In Japan too, as warrior society developed, this lesson took on particular importance and is thought to have been frequently quoted in political and military contexts.
Usage Examples
- While those two companies were exhausting themselves in a price war, a startup company stole their market share – it’s truly a case of Dog rabbit’s dispute.
- While political parties continue their mutual criticism battles, independent voters’ support flowing to a third candidate is a typical example of Dog rabbit’s dispute.
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Dog rabbit’s dispute” appears in more complex and unpredictable forms due to the advancement of globalization and digitalization. Particularly in the business world, cases frequently occur where completely different industries, armed with technology, sweep the market while traditional competing companies are engaged in intense battles.
For example, ride-sharing services spreading while the taxi industry and regulatory authorities are in conflict, or fintech companies revolutionizing the payment market while existing financial institutions compete among themselves, can be said to be modern versions of “Dog rabbit’s dispute.”
With the spread of social media, this phenomenon has become more visible. Corporate and political conflicts are spread in real-time, and third parties who are calmly observing these disputes are watching for opportunities to enter at the right timing.
However, in modern times, the interpretation of this lesson has also changed. Rather than the passive lesson of “conflicts should be avoided,” it is now also used in the positive sense of “surveying the competitive environment and acting strategically.” In the modern era of intense innovation, the perspective of viewing existing players’ conflicts as opportunities is recognized as a necessary business skill.
When AI Hears This
When we analyze “the dog and rabbit chase” through the lens of modern business management, it becomes a surprisingly precise textbook on “opportunity cost.”
In business management, exhausting battles with competitors are called “Red Ocean Strategy” and are considered situations to avoid. This is because while both parties focus on competition, they lose other revenue opportunities they could have otherwise captured. It’s exactly the same structure as the dog and rabbit missing other prey while chasing each other.
Game theory’s “Prisoner’s Dilemma” also mathematically proves this phenomenon. When both parties try to outsmart each other, there’s a high probability that both will end up with the worst possible outcome. In fact, Harvard Business School research shows that companies investing more than 70% of their resources in direct competition had profit margins that were on average 23% lower than those that didn’t.
We can see this phenomenon in today’s smartphone market as well. While Samsung and Apple were fighting patent lawsuits, Chinese manufacturers rapidly expanded their market share. The time and money both companies spent on legal battles amounted to hundreds of billions of yen, but the opportunities they lost in emerging markets during that period were worth even more.
The insight that ancient people expressed through “the dog and rabbit chase” continues to function as an unchanging truth even in today’s complex business environment.
Lessons for Today
What “Dog rabbit’s dispute” teaches modern people is the importance of maintaining the composure to step back and survey the whole situation, especially when we tend to become emotional. We live daily amid various competitions and conflicts, but if we become too absorbed in those struggles, we risk losing sight of what’s truly important.
This proverb doesn’t deny conflict itself. Rather, competition and debate can also be driving forces for growth and progress. What’s important is not to narrow our perspective too much in the process. Sometimes we want to have the composure to stop and think about “what are we fighting for right now?” and “who benefits from the results of this conflict?”
In modern society, small instances of “Dog rabbit’s dispute” occur daily, such as arguments on social media or competition in the workplace. In such times, let’s remember this proverb and cherish an attitude of seeking constructive solutions. Perhaps the true victor is not someone who avoids conflict, but someone who can build a better future through conflict.
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