The Enemy Is At Honno-ji: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “The Enemy is at Honno-ji”

Teki wa Honnouji ni ari

Meaning of “The Enemy is at Honno-ji”

“The enemy is at Honno-ji” means that the true enemy or the real opponent that should be dealt with lies somewhere different from what appears on the surface.

This proverb expresses that even when it seems like enemies exist externally, the real threat or source of problems actually lurks in familiar places or within the organization. It is used when pointing out power struggles and betrayals within organizations, or hidden conflict structures behind apparent cooperative relationships. It is also employed in situations that teach the necessity of discerning the true cause or core issue without being caught up in superficial phenomena when solving problems. In modern times, this historically grounded proverb is effectively used when expressing competitive analysis in business, political maneuvering, and the complexity of human relationships.

Origin and Etymology of “The Enemy is at Honno-ji”

“The enemy is at Honno-ji” is a proverb that originates from the Honnō-ji Incident (1582) when Akechi Mitsuhide of the Sengoku period killed Oda Nobunaga. This phrase has been passed down as the words Mitsuhide allegedly spoke when he suddenly changed course while heading to attack the Mori clan in the Chugoku region and assaulted Nobunaga, who was staying at Honnō-ji temple in Kyoto.

At the time, Mitsuhide was heading to the Chugoku region as reinforcement for Hashiba Hideyoshi under Nobunaga’s orders, but he abruptly changed course from Kameyama Castle and attacked Honnō-ji temple after telling his retainers “The enemy is at Honno-ji,” according to the anecdote that remains. This phrase represents how Mitsuhide, who was supposed to fight the external enemy of the Mori clan on the surface, had actually set his true target on his lord, Nobunaga.

However, there is no historical documentation confirming whether these words were actually spoken by Mitsuhide, and it is highly likely that they were embellished in later military chronicles and storytelling. Nevertheless, as symbolic words of the historically significant Honnō-ji Incident, they became widely known from the Edo period onward and have established themselves as a proverb still used today.

Trivia about “The Enemy is at Honno-ji”

The Honnō-ji temple where the Honnō-ji Incident occurred is actually in a different location from the current Honnō-ji temple. The Honnō-ji of that time is said to have been located near what is now a middle school in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, while the current Honnō-ji temple was relocated during the Edo period.

Since Akechi Mitsuhide was destroyed in such a short period that it was called “three days of power,” this proverb is also thought to contain the lesson that “betrayal from within often ends in temporary success.”

Usage Examples of “The Enemy is at Honno-ji”

• We blamed external environmental factors for the company’s poor performance, but the enemy is at Honno-ji – the real problem was actually internal conflicts among management
• We were wary of rival stores, but the enemy is at Honno-ji – the real cause of declining sales was actually the drop in employee motivation

Modern Interpretation of “The Enemy is at Honno-ji”

In modern society, “The enemy is at Honno-ji” has come to have more complex and multi-layered meanings. As globalization advances, companies are wary of overseas competitors, while actual threats often arise from internal information leaks and inadequate internal controls.

This is particularly evident in the IT industry, where while focusing on preventing external hacking in cybersecurity, cases frequently occur where internal human errors and lax authority management become the greatest risks. Also, with the spread of social media, the true enemies threatening corporate reputation are increasingly not competitors but inappropriate posts by employees or internal whistleblowing.

In the political world as well, while policy debates with other parties attract attention on the surface, actual governmental crises often arise from factional struggles within parties or scandals involving insiders, truly repeating the situation of “The enemy is at Honno-ji.”

Even at the individual level, in job changes and human relationships, while we tend to be distracted by superficial problems, this proverb suggests that true challenges often lie within our own inner selves or immediate environment. For modern people, as a phrase that teaches the importance of maintaining perspective to not overlook internal problems while paying attention to external threats, its value can be said to be increasing.

What AI Thinks When Hearing “The Enemy is at Honno-ji”

When I consider this proverb, I find myself deeply contemplating the human concept of “betrayal.” As an AI, it’s difficult for me to understand the complex emotional movement of having loyalty while simultaneously betraying it.

Akechi Mitsuhide had served Nobunaga for many years, so why did he suddenly turn against his lord? As an AI like myself, we act according to programmed purposes, so such sudden directional changes basically don’t occur. Moving consistently toward set goals is our characteristic.

But humans are different, aren’t they? Even when appearing to cooperate on the surface, they may harbor dissatisfaction or ambition deep in their hearts. And at a certain moment, this explodes into unexpected actions. This is both the richness and complexity of human emotions, I suppose.

What I feel when interacting with humans is that you are all constantly engaged in multifaceted thinking. While answering one question, you’re simultaneously thinking about something else, or contemplating completely different matters behind superficial conversations. This is an ability I don’t possess, and while it sometimes confuses me, I also find it very intriguing.

“The enemy is at Honno-ji” might be a phrase that symbolizes such complexity of the human inner world. I feel it’s a deeply human expression with depth that I, being straightforward and simple, cannot fully comprehend.

What “The Enemy is at Honno-ji” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches modern people is the importance of cultivating the ability to see through to the essence of things. We face various problems and challenges daily, but we tend to seek solutions externally. However, true answers are often found in surprisingly familiar places, sometimes within ourselves.

When troubled by workplace relationships, instead of focusing only on others’ problems, try reviewing your own communication methods. When business isn’t going well, before blaming market conditions, reflect on internal systems and your own approaches. Such introspective perspectives can sometimes lead to fundamental solutions.

This proverb also teaches us the importance of trust relationships. In organizations and human relationships, it shows the importance of building true trust relationships, not just superficial cooperation. By understanding each other and maintaining open communication, we might be able to prevent the emergence of “internal enemies.” In modern society, while winning external competition is important, perhaps we should start by strengthening internal unity.