How to Read “孟母三遷の教え”
Mōbo sanzen no oshie
Meaning of “孟母三遷の教え”
“Mencius mother three moves teaching” is a proverb that teaches the extreme importance of environmental influence in children’s education and the significance of striving to seek good environments.
What this teaching conveys is that children grow up being greatly influenced by their surrounding environment, so parents and educators should take responsibility for creating the optimal environment for children. It’s not just about teaching studies, but what kind of people they are surrounded by and what kind of culture and values they are exposed to has a decisive impact on children’s character formation and future.
Even today, this teaching is frequently quoted in child-rearing and educational contexts. It is used when expressing the importance of making decisions by looking at the entire environment surrounding children, such as school selection, living environment choices, and consideration of friendships. This phrase is also sometimes used when adults themselves make decisions to change their environment for their own growth.
Origin and Etymology
“Mencius mother three moves teaching” originates from a historical tale recorded in the ancient Chinese text “Biographies of Exemplary Women.” The protagonists of this story are Mencius, a philosopher from the Warring States period, and his mother.
Mencius’s mother placed great importance on her son’s educational environment. Initially, the family lived near a cemetery, but when she saw young Mencius constantly playing by imitating funeral ceremonies, she thought “This is not good for the child’s education” and decided to move.
Next, they moved near a marketplace, but this time Mencius began playing by imitating merchants’ bargaining and buying and selling. The mother again judged “This place is also not appropriate as an educational environment” and carried out a second move.
The third place she chose was near a school. Then Mencius began imitating the etiquette of scholars and started showing interest in learning. The mother finally felt relieved, thinking “This is a place suitable for raising my son.”
Through these “three moves,” Mencius’s mother demonstrated how important environment is in children’s education. Later, Mencius became renowned as a great philosopher, proving the correctness of his mother’s educational approach.
Interesting Facts
Mencius’s mother left behind not only the “three moves” but also another famous educational episode called “the teaching of cutting the loom.” This is the story of when Mencius tried to give up his studies halfway, his mother cut the cloth she was weaving to show him, teaching him that “abandoning studies halfway is the same as wasting this cloth.”
In modern China, education-focused mothers are sometimes called “Mencius mothers,” and this historical tale continues to be passed down as an educational ideal.
Usage Examples
- I’m worried about choosing a high school for my son, but remembering the Mencius mother three moves teaching, I want to carefully select a good environment for him
- Seeing a colleague who keeps changing jobs, I feel it might be mere fickleness rather than the Mencius mother three moves teaching
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Mencius mother three moves teaching” has come to have more complex and diverse meanings. In the information age, not only physical environments but also digital environments have come to greatly influence children’s growth. New forms of “environment selection” are required, such as who to connect with on social media, what kind of content to be exposed to, and how to utilize online learning.
On the other hand, modern values have also given rise to the recognition that frequent moves and environmental changes are not necessarily always good. There are also ways of thinking that value children’s stable human relationships and connections with the community, requiring a balance between this and “the importance of putting down roots.”
Moreover, in the modern era where globalization has increased the importance of exposure to diverse cultures and values, actively experiencing different environments is sometimes recommended. The actions of parents seeking international educational opportunities and multicultural coexistence environments could be called a modern version of “Mencius mother three moves teaching.”
Furthermore, this teaching is applied not only to child-rearing but also to adult self-growth and career development. This historical tale is often quoted to justify actions of seeking better environments for oneself through job changes or relocations.
When AI Hears This
The process by which Mencius’s mother moved their residence from the cemetery to the marketplace, and then near a school, bears a striking resemblance to modern digital environment management.
The initial “cemetery environment” corresponds to violent games and inappropriate video content in today’s world. Children unconsciously imitate these and learn aggressive behaviors. The subsequent “marketplace environment” is like YouTube ads that promote consumption or shopping-focused content. While seemingly harmless, constant exposure to content that stimulates materialism and vanity can potentially distort one’s values.
What’s fascinating is the characteristic of the “school environment” that Mencius’s mother ultimately chose. Here, there was a natural system for acquiring manners and learning. In modern terms, this would include programming learning apps, science experiment videos, and reading communities.
Research on digital native generations shows that content encountered before age 12 forms the foundation of thinking patterns. In other words, Mencius’s mother’s approach of “gradually improving environmental quality” was scientifically sound from a neuroscience perspective.
Modern parents can also become digital-age versions of Mencius’s mother by consciously implementing “three relocations” with the apps they put on their children’s smartphones, the accounts they follow, and the video channels they watch. It’s easier than physical relocation, yet equally powerful in its effects.
Lessons for Today
The most important message that “Mencius mother three moves teaching” conveys to modern people is that we must not underestimate the power of environment. We tend to focus only on individual effort and talent, but in reality, the influence that our surrounding environment has on our thoughts and actions is immeasurable.
This teaching applies not only to parents raising children, but to all people. Does the environment you’re currently in promote your growth? Or is it holding you back? Sometimes having the courage to change your environment can be the catalyst that greatly improves your life.
However, in modern times, we also need the wisdom to distinguish between “running away” and “making the decision to change environment.” What’s important is not running away from difficulties, but having a positive attitude of choosing environments for better growth.
And above all, this teaching is also a story of love. Like Mencius’s mother, the feeling of wishing for the growth of someone important and trying to arrange the best environment for that purpose may be the true starting point of education. You too can become part of a “good environment” for someone.
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