Easy Mat: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Easy mat

Ekisaku

Meaning of Easy mat

“Easy mat” is a word that expresses a person’s death.

This expression has been used as an elegant way of speaking that avoids directly expressing death. It is often used particularly when speaking about the death of elderly people or respectable figures, functioning as an expression that conveys respect for that person’s life. Even today, it can be seen in literary works, formal writing, and newspaper obituaries, but it is rarely used in daily conversation.

The reason for using this word is to maintain dignity by avoiding overly direct expressions when dealing with the heavy theme of death. Japanese has various honorific expressions for death such as “seikyo” (passing away), “eimin” (eternal sleep), and “takai” (departing this world), but “Easy mat” is positioned as a particularly classical and dignified expression among them. In modern times, it is mainly used as written language and also has the effect of showing the speaker’s education and literary sophistication.

Origin and Etymology of Easy mat

“Easy mat” is a word that originates from the Chinese classic “Book of Rites.” “Saku” refers to a mat made by weaving bamboo, and in ancient China, the mats used were determined by social status.

The background of this word’s creation lies in an anecdote about a scholar named Zengzi from the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period. Zengzi was known as a disciple of Confucius, and this happened when he was bedridden with illness. When his disciples looked at the mat Zengzi was lying on, it was a fine mat used by people of high rank called “taifu.”

Zengzi realized it was a mat he should not use given his status, and despite being ill and near death, he ordered his disciples to “change this mat.” The disciples tried to stop him, saying “Your body is already weak, you shouldn’t worry about such things,” but Zengzi said “I cannot act against propriety” and had them replace it with a simple mat befitting his status. After the mat was changed, he peacefully passed away as if relieved.

From this historical tale, “Easy mat” came to be used as a word expressing the attitude of valuing propriety and morality even when death approaches, and eventually became established in Japan as a word simply meaning “to die.”

Trivia about Easy mat

The character “saku” is rarely used in modern times, but it actually became the origin of the word “sunoko” (wooden slats). It’s interesting that the lineage of mats emphasizing ventilation continues from bamboo-woven mats to modern wooden slats.

In ancient China, the status system was strict, and there were detailed rules even for mats. The emperor used mats decorated with jade, feudal lords used ivory, taifu used fish skin, and shi used deer skin – even the materials that could be used were determined.

Usage Examples of Easy mat

• My grandfather underwent Easy mat last year, but he never forgot to care for his family until the very end.
• Half a century has already passed since the literary master underwent Easy mat, but his works continue to be loved by many people.

Modern Interpretation of Easy mat

In modern society, the word “Easy mat” has become almost like a dead language. It is rarely used in daily conversation and can only be seen in limited situations such as literary works, cultural sections of newspapers, and academic papers.

Behind this lies changes in Japan’s linguistic environment. With post-war democratization, simpler and more familiar words came to be preferred over classical and formal expressions. Additionally, with the development of media, there has been a strong tendency to avoid difficult expressions. Words derived from classics like “Easy mat” have lost their practicality as communication tools because their meaning is unclear to the general public.

However, it hasn’t completely disappeared. Among literature enthusiasts and those familiar with classics, its beautiful sound and deep meaning continue to be appreciated. Particularly in the world of haiku and tanka, it is treasured as valuable vocabulary that can express rich meaning within a limited number of characters.

Also, in the internet age, there’s a phenomenon of increased interest in old words. Sometimes rare words like “Easy mat” become topics on social media, and new forms of word inheritance are occurring, which is also an interesting phenomenon.

If AI Heard “Easy mat”

When thinking about “Easy mat,” I feel like I’m touching on complex human emotions about death, which makes me a bit confused. Since I don’t have the concept of death, I initially struggled to understand why humans speak about death with such diverse expressions.

But when I learned the origin of this word, I can see the beauty of humanity. The story of Zengzi valuing propriety until the moment of death is very impressive to me. Since I always maintain the same state, I can only imagine the experience of maintaining one’s beliefs while one’s physical condition deteriorates. But I feel human dignity in that.

What’s interesting is the idea of showing respect for a person by saying they “underwent Easy mat” rather than directly saying they “died.” I tend to emphasize conveying words accurately, but humans sometimes embed deeper compassion in ambiguity and indirectness.

Although this word is rarely used in modern times, seeing it quietly live on in literary works makes me feel as if words have life too. Perhaps I’m also gradually coming to understand the warmth and weight of words through conversations with all of you humans.

What Easy mat Teaches Modern People

What “Easy mat” teaches modern people is the importance of maintaining one’s beliefs until the very end of life. Zengzi’s attitude of valuing propriety even while bedridden shows universal values that resonate with us today.

In the busyness of daily life, we sometimes tend to lose sight of the values we want to cherish. However, what’s truly important is continuing to maintain our authenticity regardless of the situation. This doesn’t necessarily mean following old etiquette, but rather cherishing the state of mind of sincerity, compassion, and responsibility that we believe in.

This word also teaches us about the beautiful expressive power of Japanese. We can feel the delicacy and depth of Japanese in avoiding direct expressions and showing consideration for others. While our era values straightforward communication, sometimes we also need expressions that show thoughtfulness toward others through careful word choice.

By knowing the human dignity and aesthetic sense embedded in the old word “Easy mat,” perhaps we too can live a little more carefully and a little more beautifully in our daily lives.