How to Read “心の駒に手綱許すな”
Kokoro no koma ni tazuna yurusu na
Meaning of “心の駒に手綱許すな”
This proverb expresses the teaching that one must constantly control the desires and emotions within the heart through reason.
It compares the various desires and impulsive emotions within the heart to a horse, and likens the reason and self-control that restrain them to reins. Just as a horse will run wild when the reins are loosened, humans also face the danger of being dominated by desires and straying from the right path if they neglect to control their hearts. This proverb teaches that no matter how calm and rational one thinks they are, they must never let their guard down and must continue to discipline their heart at all times. Particularly when things are going smoothly or when one is trusted by others, the heart tends to become lax. It is precisely at such times that this teaching becomes important. Even in modern times, this expression is used to avoid losing oneself in a society full of temptations, and for those in positions of responsibility to not forget their original intentions.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to have emerged from the basic principles of handling horses that have existed in Japan since ancient times. Horses have been indispensable to human life since antiquity for warfare, agricultural work, and transportation, but they were also powerful animals with fierce temperaments.
“Koma” is an old word referring to horses, particularly young or small horses. “Tazuna” refers to the reins used to control horses, and when these are loosened, horses move around freely and sometimes become uncontrollable. People who handled horses practiced the daily lesson that no matter how obedient a horse might appear, one must never be careless and loosen the reins.
This concrete method of handling horses eventually came to be applied as a metaphor for human mental states. The desires and emotions within the heart came to be likened to a “koma,” and the reason and self-control that govern them to “reins,” creating a warning that no matter how calm the heart might seem, one must never let their guard down. Similar expressions can be found in moral instruction books from the Edo period, and it is presumed that this was widely embraced as guidance for samurai conduct and common people’s life principles. This proverb embodies Japanese wisdom that uses the familiar animal of the horse to express the abstract concept of mental control in an easily understandable way.
Usage Examples
- Just because work has been going well lately, let’s tighten our focus with the principle “Do not allow reins to heart’s horse”
- His attitude changed after he became successful, but he probably didn’t know the saying “Do not allow reins to heart’s horse”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb may have become even more important. With the spread of social media and the internet, we are exposed to various temptations and stimuli 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Situations where we can easily lose control of our hearts have dramatically increased, such as impulse buying through online shopping, emotional posts on social media, and excessive immersion in games and entertainment.
Particularly in the information age, because information spreads instantly, once we loosen the reins of our heart and engage in inappropriate behavior, the impact becomes far greater than before. Not only politicians and celebrities, but ordinary people can also find that a single comment on social media develops into a controversy.
Moreover, while individual freedom and self-expression are emphasized in modern times, this is sometimes confused with a state of “allowing reins to the heart’s horse” – that is, a state of lost self-control. True freedom can only be realized when one can appropriately control their emotions and desires.
On the other hand, modern psychology also points out the harmful effects of completely suppressing emotions. If we are to apply the teachings of this proverb to modern times, perhaps what is required is not forcibly suppressing emotions, but rather “rein handling” that allows for appropriate expression and channeling them in constructive directions.
When AI Hears This
The emotional runaway that Edo period people expressed as “kokoro no koma” (the horse of the heart) is exactly what modern science calls excessive dopamine secretion. Dopamine is a brain chemical that creates the desire for “more,” and it’s released in large quantities by social media “likes” and game level-ups.
What’s fascinating is that dopamine creates not “satisfaction” but “craving.” In other words, the more you get, the stronger your desire for “more” becomes. This is precisely the state of “kokoro no koma” becoming uncontrollable like a raging horse.
Modern research shows people touch their smartphones an average of 150 times per day. This follows the same pattern as classic addiction. The Edo people’s warning to “not loosen the reins” likely came from their experiential understanding of this neural circuit runaway.
Even more surprising is how the solutions align. Treatment for dopamine addiction involves “intentional restriction” and “alternative behaviors.” This perfectly overlaps with the metaphor of “holding the reins.” For example, turning off smartphone notifications or creating rules for usage during set times represents the modern version of “reins.”
The fact that Edo period wisdom reached the same conclusions as cutting-edge brain science tells us that humanity’s fundamental struggles remain unchanged across the ages.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of how we face ourselves. In our busy daily lives, we tend to focus our attention on external events, but perhaps what’s most important is to firmly examine our own inner selves.
In modern society, we increasingly face situations requiring instantaneous judgment. It’s precisely at such times that it becomes important to take a breath and ask ourselves, “What state is my heart in right now?” When we’re about to be dominated by emotions like anger, anxiety, or desire, remembering this ancient teaching should enable us to make better choices.
However, this doesn’t mean completely suppressing emotions. Rather, it means understanding our emotions and guiding them in appropriate directions. The ideal is to become like a skilled rider who doesn’t tie up the heart’s horse with reins, but skillfully guides it.
The accumulation of small daily choices shapes our lives. While firmly gripping the reins of the heart, sometimes harnessing the strength of the horse to move forward – this proverb quietly teaches us such a balanced way of living.
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