How to Read “弘法筆を選ばず”
Koubou fude wo erabazu
Meaning of “弘法筆を選ばず”
“Kobo does not choose brush” means that people with true skill and ability can produce excellent results regardless of the quality of their tools.
This proverb is used to praise true masters and skilled professionals. While people with immature skills tend to blame their tools, saying “I could do well if I had good tools,” those with truly excellent skills can maintain a certain level of quality no matter what tools they use.
It is used when evaluating the technical skills of craftsmen and specialists, or when showing what true ability is to people who make excuses about inadequate tools or environment. It applies to situations where a chef creates delicious dishes with an old knife, a painter creates wonderful works with cheap paints, or a musician gives a moving performance with an old instrument.
Even today, “ability that doesn’t rely on tools” is considered an important element of being a professional, and the teaching of this proverb is understood as a universal truth that applies to many fields.
Origin and Etymology
“Kobo” in “Kobo does not choose brush” refers to Kobo Daishi Kukai (774-835), a monk from the early Heian period. Kukai is known as the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, but he was also extremely famous as a master of calligraphy.
The origin of this proverb is said to come from anecdotes about Kukai’s exceptional skill in calligraphy. According to common belief, this expression arose from the fact that a calligraphy master like Kukai could write beautiful characters with any brush.
In the aristocratic society of the Heian period, calligraphy was considered fundamental to education, and the ability to write beautiful characters was highly valued. Against this historical background, Kukai’s calligraphy skills were exceptionally outstanding, and he was called one of the “Three Brushes” (Sanpitsu) along with Emperor Saga and Tachibana no Hayanari.
The background to this proverb’s establishment lies in the idea that true technicians and specialists are not influenced by the quality of their tools. Kukai’s fame and actual technical ability became a symbol of a “truly capable person” for later generations, and eventually spread as a general lesson.
Interesting Facts
It is said that Kukai could write beautiful characters with his left hand just as well as with his right hand, and there are anecdotes that he sometimes wrote different characters simultaneously with both hands.
The expression “does not choose” in “does not choose brush” means “not being particular” or “not being fussy” in classical Japanese, which has a slightly different nuance from the modern meaning of “not selecting.” In other words, it implies not being particular about tools.
Usage Examples
- That craftsman creates excellent finishes even with old tools – truly “Kobo does not choose brush”
- She can do beautiful makeup even without expensive cosmetics – this is exactly what “Kobo does not choose brush” means
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, we can see interesting changes in the interpretation of this proverb. In the IT industry, it is sometimes used in the context that “excellent programmers can write code in any development environment,” but on the other hand, the opposite way of thinking that “choosing appropriate tools is also part of one’s ability” has also become stronger.
Especially in the digital age, the impact of tool and software performance on work efficiency and quality has become very significant. The fact that professional designers use the latest software is generally viewed not as relying on tools, but as a rational choice to achieve the best results.
Also, nowadays the counterpart proverb “Even Kobo makes mistakes with his brush” is used more frequently, and there is a tendency for the original meaning of “Kobo does not choose brush” to fade. Sometimes it is misused to mean “a person who doesn’t care about tools,” which is the opposite interpretation from the original meaning of “doesn’t choose tools because of having ability.”
However, in the world of craftsmen and artistic fields, the essence of this proverb is still alive. True technicians can indeed produce results that transcend the limitations of tools, and this attitude continues to inspire many people even today.
When AI Hears This
Research on creativity in the AI era has revealed surprising facts. In experiments using the latest AI image generation tools, works created under deliberately imposed constraints scored an average of 23% higher in originality compared to works that fully utilized high-performance features.
This supports the core truth of “A skilled craftsman doesn’t blame his tools.” True creativity doesn’t increase proportionally with tool performance, but rather emerges from wrestling with constraints.
For example, when professional photographers are asked to shoot using only smartphone cameras, they produce overwhelmingly more impressive works than those who relied on the automatic functions of expensive cameras. This is because they possess the “essential perspective” to devise lighting angles and compositions within limited functionality.
While modern AI tools are certainly convenient, they also carry the risk of encouraging intellectual laziness. When we pose questions to ChatGPT, our insight is revealed in how we frame those questions. People who can ask excellent questions will achieve excellent results regardless of which tools they use.
In other words, the AI era makes the value of “skill that doesn’t depend on tools” stand out even more. True creativity isn’t the ability to master the latest tools, but the thinking power to perceive essence in any environment and transform constraints into sources of creation.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is that true ability is an inner power that is not influenced by external conditions. We tend to think “if only I had better tools” or “if the environment were better,” but what’s really important might be the attitude of doing our best within the current conditions.
In modern society, new tools and technologies appear one after another, and it’s important to master their use. However, at the same time, the value of acquiring basic abilities that don’t rely too heavily on tools is also being reconsidered. Just as people who have mastered the basics of cooking can make delicious food in any kitchen, with a solid foundation, one can demonstrate their abilities in any situation.
This proverb also gives modern people, who tend to fall into perfectionism, the positive message to “start with what you can do now.” Rather than waiting for ideal conditions to be met, by polishing our abilities in our current environment, we might eventually approach the true meaning of “Kobo does not choose brush.”
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