How to Read “元の木阿弥”
Moto no mokuami
Meaning of “元の木阿弥”
“Original tree Amida” means that although a situation temporarily improved or got better, it eventually returns to the original bad state or initial condition.
This proverb is used in situations where it seemed that a problem was once solved through effort or ingenuity, but the same problem occurs again over time. It is particularly used to express the regression that occurs as a result when only superficial measures were taken rather than fundamental solutions.
Even in modern times, it is used in situations such as when someone succeeds in dieting but rebounds, when a company that temporarily recovered its performance falls into financial difficulties again, or when human relationships that seemed to have improved return to their original hostile state. The reason for using this expression is that it can accurately express the complex situation of not just simple failure, but of once heading in a good direction only to end up back at square one.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Original tree Amida” is based on an anecdote about a person named Mokuami who served the Tsutsui family during the Warring States period.
When Tsutsui Junshō died of illness, his son Junkei was still young, and it was a dangerous situation for him to inherit the family headship. So the retainers set up a man named Mokuami, who closely resembled the deceased lord, as a body double, pretending that Junshō was still alive. Mokuami acted as a military commander and supported the survival of the Tsutsui family.
However, when Junkei grew up and reached an age where he could inherit the family headship, Mokuami’s role came to an end. He had to return to his original status as a farmer. Although Mokuami had been treated as a feudal lord for a time and lived a luxurious life, he ultimately returned to his initial state.
From this historical fact, the expression “Original tree Amida” was born, and it came to refer to situations that temporarily became good but eventually returned to the original state. This expression can also be found in Edo period literature and is thought to have become widely used among common people. It’s interesting how a true story from the Warring States period became established as a proverb that continues to this day.
Interesting Facts
The period during which Mokuami served as a body double is said to have been about three years, during which he lived completely as Tsutsui Junshō. He attended meetings with retainers and even made management decisions for the territory, so he must have needed considerable acting ability and knowledge.
What’s interesting is that records remain showing that even after Mokuami returned to being a farmer, the Tsutsui family continued to take care of his livelihood. Although he had once become “Original tree Amida,” his achievements continued to be recognized.
Usage Examples
- I cleaned my room, but within a week it became Original tree Amida again
- I lost 5 kilograms through dieting, but it ended up being Original tree Amida and my weight returned
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the phenomenon of “Original tree Amida” appears in more complex and diverse forms. Particularly as digitalization progresses, the difference between temporary improvement and fundamental solutions has become clearer.
Taking corporate DX (Digital Transformation) as an example, even if new systems are introduced and work efficiency appears to improve, if employee awareness and organizational culture don’t change, there are many cases where things eventually return to the original inefficient state. Superficial technology introduction alone cannot provide fundamental problem-solving.
With the spread of social media, the “Original tree Amida” phenomenon has become visible even at the individual level. Even when people make New Year’s resolutions or declarations of self-reform, you can see from changes in their posts that they return to their original lifestyle patterns after a few months.
On the other hand, methodologies to prevent “Original tree Amida” have also developed in modern times. There are abundant tools and methods to support continuous improvement, such as habit-forming apps, coaching, and PDCA cycles. However, an ironic situation has also emerged where these tools themselves become “Original tree Amida” if they stop being used.
What’s important is focusing on creating sustainable systems rather than temporary changes.
When AI Hears This
The most intriguing issue that the story of Mokkami poses for modern society is how the “motivation behind deception” can completely flip society’s perception by 180 degrees.
According to psychology’s “cognitive dissonance theory,” people evaluate the same act of “lying” completely differently depending on the reason behind it. In Mokkami’s case, because there was an “altruistic motive” of protecting his lord, the story has been passed down through generations as an inspiring tale.
However, when we look at modern impersonation problems, the complexity of motivations becomes clear. Take self-presentation on social media, for example. This stems from the “need for approval,” a self-serving motive, yet we cannot dismiss it as entirely evil. This is because modern society somewhat demands that we “perform our ideal selves.”
Even more fascinating are corporate deception issues. Food mislabeling, fuel efficiency data manipulation, and similar cases arise from “organizational self-defense,” a collective motivation. This represents a third pattern of motivation, different from both individual lies and Mokkami’s loyalty.
In other words, we live in an era where three types of deception motivations coexist: “pure loyalty” like Mokkami’s, “self-validation” on social media, and “organizational self-preservation” in corporations. Even with the same “inauthentic state,” society’s judgment varies greatly depending on the underlying psychology. This is precisely the fundamental complexity of our modern “impersonation society.”
Lessons for Today
What “Original tree Amida” teaches modern people is that true change requires time and continuous effort. It reminds us of the importance of not being satisfied with temporary success, but working on fundamental improvement.
This proverb speaks to you, telling you not to fear failure. Even if you become “Original tree Amida,” that’s not the end. Rather, it’s a valuable opportunity to learn what leads to fundamental solutions.
In modern society, immediate solutions tend to be demanded, but truly valuable changes are built over time. Changing habits, improving relationships, acquiring skills – all of these are realized by continuing without giving up even after one or two setbacks.
Rather than fearing “Original tree Amida,” try accepting it as part of the growth cycle. It’s because there are times of returning that you can find better methods next time. Your challenges are never wasted.
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