How to Read “門前雀羅を張る”
Monzen jaku ra wo haru
Meaning of “門前雀羅を張る”
“Gate front sparrow nets spread” refers to a place that once held power and was bustling with many people, but suddenly becomes deserted when that power or status is lost, falling into severe decline.
This proverb sharply points out the realistic aspects of human relationships. When someone has power, wealth, or status, many people gather around them, but when these are lost, people turn away as if flipping their palms. The expression that there is so little foot traffic that one could spread nets to catch sparrows in front of the gate emphasizes the loneliness and severity of this contrast.
This expression is used in situations such as when a politician falls from grace, when a company executive goes bankrupt, or when a celebrity loses their position due to scandal – expressing changes in human relationships that accompany changes in social status. It’s not simply about fewer people coming around, but the important point is the contrast between former glory and current loneliness. Even in modern times, this subtlety of human nature remains unchanged, and it is understood as a proverb that accurately expresses the psychology of people who flock to power and success, and the reality when these are lost.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Gate front sparrow nets spread” comes from a story about Ji An, an official during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, recorded in the ancient Chinese classic “Records of the Grand Historian” (Shiji). Ji An was known for his honest and upright character, and was someone who would offer frank advice even to the emperor without hesitation.
This happened when Ji An retired from his official position due to illness. During his active years, many people visited his mansion, and the area in front of his gate was always bustling. However, as soon as he lost power, no one came to visit anymore. The situation was so lonely that it was expressed as having so little foot traffic in front of the gate that one could spread nets for catching sparrows (sparrow nets).
“Sparrow nets” refers to fine nets used to catch small birds. Naturally, such nets cannot be spread in places where people frequently pass. In other words, it was used as a metaphor to express a state so desolate that no people pass by at all.
This historical tale was transmitted to Japan and became established as a proverb expressing situations where the mansion of someone who lost power, or a place that once prospered, has become desolate. It is a word with deep implications that expresses the passage of time and the fickleness of human nature.
Interesting Facts
The term “sparrow nets” is rarely used in modern times, but in ancient China, it was actually a common tool for catching small birds. It was a fine-meshed net that could only be set up in quiet places with little foot traffic, which is how this metaphorical expression came to be.
Ji An, who appears in this proverb, is a very interesting figure historically. He was so upright that he directly told the emperor, “Your Majesty has desires swirling in your heart, yet you pretend to be benevolent on the surface.” Perhaps because of such a character, the departure of people when he lost power was all the more striking.
Usage Examples
- That politician too, after his downfall, is in a state of Gate front sparrow nets spread, and his former vigor is nowhere to be seen
- After the president was arrested, the company was in a state of Gate front sparrow nets spread, with business partners leaving one after another
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Gate front sparrow nets spread” takes on new meaning as a phenomenon that also applies to human relationships in the SNS and digital age. The sight of influencers losing followers dramatically overnight after a scandal, or corporate social media accounts becoming deserted after a company scandal, can truly be called the modern version of “Gate front sparrow nets spread.”
Particularly noteworthy is that the speed of information dissemination has increased dramatically. In the past, there was some time between the loss of power and people’s departure, but in modern times, dramatic changes occur within hours or days. The sharp decline in online “likes,” comments, and access numbers presents a more cruel reality than physical desolation in front of gates, as it appears clearly as numerical data.
On the other hand, in modern society, distinguishing between “true friends” and “stakeholders” has become more important. With so many superficial connections, the ability to discern truly trustworthy relationships is required. Also, precisely because personal branding is emphasized in this era, the importance of building sustainable human relationships without getting carried away by temporary success is being rerecognized.
This proverb teaches modern people the universal truth that “rise and fall are the way of the world,” while also sounding an alarm about the fragility of human relationships specific to digital society.
When AI Hears This
When we focus on the fine mesh of the sparrow net, we can see the completeness of power’s downfall. The nets used to catch sparrows have extremely fine holes, unlike the large nets used for bigger birds. This means that the gates of those in power once swarmed not only with “important visitors” but also with countless “small beings like sparrows.”
From this physical structure, we can analyze that power’s magnetic force worked on three levels. The first level was the “large prey layer”—important politicians and merchants. The second level was the “medium prey layer”—regional influential figures and mid-level merchants. And the third level was the “small prey layer”—small merchants, servants, peddlers, and others seeking modest profits or information.
What’s fascinating is the fact that even beings so small that sparrow nets were necessary gathered there. This tells us that the powerful person’s influence had penetrated down to the very bottom of society. Just like a powerful magnet attracts everything from large iron pieces to tiny iron filings.
And when power falls, all three layers disappear at once. From the big players to the small ones, not a single person remains—complete isolation. People leave so thoroughly that even the precision tool of the sparrow net becomes unnecessary. This small net symbolizes the all-too-perfect silence of the moment when power’s magnetic force is lost.
Lessons for Today
What “Gate front sparrow nets spread” teaches modern people is what true human relationships are. This proverb is not meant to lament human coldness, but rather serves as wisdom for discerning truly important relationships.
Among the people around you when things are going smoothly, how many truly see you for who you are? Those who listen to you regardless of your status or success, and extend a helping hand when you’re in trouble, are your true friends and companions. This proverb teaches us the value of such relationships.
It also provides an opportunity to reflect on how we ourselves interact with others. Can we treat others as individual human beings without being influenced by their titles or circumstances? Are we only approaching successful people while distancing ourselves from those in trouble? It becomes a catalyst for examining our own attitudes.
In modern society, creating superficial connections has become easy, but precisely because of this, the value of deep, trusting relationships has increased. This proverb quietly speaks to us about the importance of building truly important human relationships through life’s ups and downs.
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