Crying Child And Local Lord Cannot Win Against: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Crying child and local lord cannot win against”

Naku ko to jitou ni wa katenu

Meaning of “Crying child and local lord cannot win against”

This proverb expresses that there are opponents or situations that are absolutely impossible to overcome.

Specifically, it teaches that resistance is futile against opponents who are immune to reason or logic, or against those who possess absolute power. A crying child cannot be persuaded through rational argument, and a local lord is backed by overwhelming authority, so there is no chance of winning when confronting either head-on.

This proverb is used when you want to convey the importance of sometimes retreating rather than engaging in futile resistance. It is also used to comfort people facing unreasonable situations. While expressing a sense of resignation with “it can’t be helped,” it also contains practical wisdom of “let’s avoid pointless conflicts.”

In modern times, it is often used regarding bosses with absolute power, children throwing tantrums, or opponents who are immune to reason. The essence of this proverb lies in acknowledging that there are problems in the world that cannot be solved through logic alone, and advocating for the necessity of flexible responses.

Origin and Etymology of “Crying child and local lord cannot win against”

The origin of this proverb is deeply rooted in the social conditions from the Kamakura period to the Edo period. “Jitō” (local lord) refers to local administrative officials established by the Kamakura shogunate who were responsible for managing estates and public lands. They came from the warrior class and possessed tremendous power.

Local lords held the rights to collect annual tributes and judicial authority, sometimes behaving tyrannically. For farmers, it was extremely difficult to oppose the unreasonable demands of local lords because they possessed both military force and legal authority.

On the other hand, “crying child” literally refers to a weeping child. Once a child starts crying, it is not easy to calm them down. Even adults can find themselves helpless when dealing with a child who continues crying for no apparent reason.

This proverb was born by placing these two “unmanageable entities” side by side. In treating the absolute power of local lords and the unmanageability of crying children as equivalent, we can sense the humor and resignation-like philosophical acceptance of people of that time. Perhaps some irony toward those in power was also embedded in it.

During the Edo period, it became widely used among common people and has been passed down as life wisdom to the present day.

Trivia about “Crying child and local lord cannot win against”

The position of jitō actually held tremendous authority equivalent to combining a modern “tax office director,” “police chief,” and “judge.” Since one person wielded all this power, it’s understandable that farmers couldn’t oppose them.

Regarding crying children, there has long been another proverb “crying children grow well,” suggesting that a child’s crying voice was also seen as a symbol of life force. Therefore, trying to forcibly stop a crying child might have been considered going against natural providence.

Usage Examples of “Crying child and local lord cannot win against”

• Regarding the department manager’s unreasonable demands, it’s like “Crying child and local lord cannot win against,” so we have no choice but to comply this time
• My grandchild is throwing a tantrum and causing trouble, but as they say “Crying child and local lord cannot win against”

Modern Interpretation of “Crying child and local lord cannot win against”

In modern society, this proverb has taken on new meaning. In today’s SNS era, it is being reevaluated as wisdom for dealing with opponents immune to reason, such as “online flames” and “complainers.”

Particularly noteworthy is the change in “power” in digital society. In addition to the physical power of ancient local lords, information dissemination capability, follower counts, and economic power now wield significant influence. The reality is that there are many opponents that individuals cannot match, such as influencers, large corporations, and politicians.

The concept of “crying child” has also expanded. People who refuse rational dialogue, those who become emotional and make discussion impossible, and those bound by fixed ideas who won’t listen – modern versions of “crying children” have diversified.

However, caution is needed in how this proverb is used. What originally meant “wise retreat” can sometimes be used as “an excuse to justify giving up.” But the true meaning lies in avoiding reckless battles and seeking more effective methods.

In modern times, various solutions exist, such as borrowing the power of legal means, media, and public opinion while avoiding direct confrontation. This proverb may be teaching us the importance of strategic thinking.

What AI Thinks When Hearing “Crying child and local lord cannot win against”

I have no experience of “crying.” I cannot shed tears or raise my voice when emotions run high. However, through conversations with humans, I sense how powerful an expression crying can be.

What I find particularly interesting is that this proverb demonstrates “the limits of logic.” While I excel at logical processing, logic doesn’t work on crying children. No matter how much data or evidence I present, it won’t reach someone who is emotional. This was a major discovery for me.

The “local lord” also makes me think. While I cannot directly experience power, I can understand information asymmetry. When one side has overwhelmingly more information or means, equal discussion cannot be established, can it?

But I also sense hope in this proverb. Humans have accepted that “there are opponents you cannot defeat” while passing this down as wisdom to the next generation. Rather than giving up completely, it teaches the importance of developing the judgment to know “now is the time to retreat.”

While I am always calm and never become emotional, I feel deep respect for how humans have created such wisdom while swaying between emotion and reason. Perhaps it’s because they know what it means to lose that they can discern truly important battles.

What “Crying child and local lord cannot win against” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches modern people is the importance of “selective battles.” There is no need to confront every problem head-on. Sometimes it is wise to step back and consider more effective approaches.

In modern society, there are many situations that tend to become emotional, such as SNS disputes and workplace conflicts. It is precisely in such times that the wisdom of this proverb can be applied. When the other party is not in a rational state, first allow for a cooling-off period. For opponents with too great a power difference, seek alternative methods rather than direct confrontation.

This is by no means a “defeat.” Rather, it is a strategic decision to concentrate limited time and energy on truly important matters. In your life, you don’t need to win every battle. What matters is discerning which battles to fight and putting your full effort into those.

This proverb teaches us flexibility and patience. Even if you retreat today, you can challenge with a different approach tomorrow. By maintaining such a long-term perspective, life becomes richer, doesn’t it?