How to Read “楽して楽知らず”
Raku shite raku shirazu
Meaning of “楽して楽知らず”
“Enjoying and not knowing enjoyment” means that if you avoid hardship and always choose the easy path, you cannot experience true joy or satisfaction.
This phrase teaches the value of genuine fulfillment that can only be obtained through difficulties and effort. Even if you accomplish things through easy methods, those are merely superficial results, and you cannot feel deep satisfaction or joy from the bottom of your heart. It is used as a warning to people who tend to neglect effort, or as a self-admonishment. It is also used to encourage people facing difficulties, conveying that current hardships will lead to great joy in the future. In modern times, it is understood as a lesson that conveys the significance of valuing the process, against the tendency to seek instant results.
Origin and Etymology
“Enjoying and not knowing enjoyment” is believed to have become established as an expression found in moral instruction books of the Edo period. This phrase is presumed to have emerged as Buddhist teachings and Confucian thought permeated the daily lives of common people.
Particularly noteworthy are the two meanings of the character “raku” (楽) used in this phrase. The first “raku” is read as “raku” and represents the absence of hardship, being easy. On the other hand, the latter “raku” means “tanoshimi” (enjoyment), referring to true joy and satisfaction. This contrast is the very essence of this proverb.
In the world of Edo period merchants and craftsmen, acquiring skills and achieving business success required years of effort and patience. Against this social backdrop, this proverb is believed to have spread as a teaching that warned against the dangers of choosing the easy path. There are also records showing it was used in terakoya (temple school) education of the time to teach children the importance of effort.
This proverb is not merely about the theory of effort, but expresses a deep life philosophy that true fulfillment and sense of achievement in life can only be obtained by overcoming difficulties, and it has been passed down to the present day.
Usage Examples
- I’m worried that my son keeps putting off his homework and will end up “enjoying and not knowing enjoyment”
- I want my friend who keeps changing jobs to remember the phrase “enjoying and not knowing enjoyment”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. With the advancement of the information society, while efficiency and speed are emphasized, the teaching of “enjoying and not knowing enjoyment” requires new interpretation.
With technological development, many tasks have become automated, and things that were previously difficult can now be done easily. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean we are “taking it easy.” Rather, it could be said that by using technology to increase efficiency, we have become able to challenge more advanced tasks.
On the other hand, tendencies to easily satisfy the need for approval through SNS and games, and the trend of seeking results in a short period, create exactly the situation of “enjoying and not knowing enjoyment.” The reality is that superficial “likes” and temporary pleasures cannot provide deep satisfaction.
In modern times, some people misunderstand this proverb as “old values that deny efficiency,” but the original meaning is different. It expresses the universal truth that true value lies in facing difficulties and the process of overcoming them.
Even as work style reforms progress, this proverb teaches us that appropriate challenges and effort are necessary to feel the significance and sense of achievement in work.
When AI Hears This
In the Edo period, “raku” (ease/pleasure) referred to deep satisfaction that came after effort and concentration—like the tranquil moment of a tea ceremony or the quiet hours spent reading. Today’s “raku,” however, often means pleasure obtained without effort: one-click shopping or instant entertainment on our smartphones.
This shift has created a fascinating phenomenon from a neuroscience perspective. Instant gratification stimulates the brain’s dopamine reward system momentarily, but the effect quickly fades, creating a “hedonic treadmill” where we constantly seek stronger stimulation. Stanford University research shows that rewards obtained without effort produce 30% less serotonin—the neurotransmitter associated with satisfaction—in the brain.
In contrast, the sense of achievement gained through overcoming difficulties triggers long-lasting release of both dopamine and serotonin, bringing deep fulfillment. The “runner’s high” experienced by marathon runners is a perfect example. This means “those who take shortcuts never know true pleasure” accurately captured how our brain’s reward system works.
The vague sense of dissatisfaction that modern people often feel might stem from depending on superficial pleasures without ever experiencing true enjoyment. To reclaim the deep “raku” that people of the past experienced, we need cycles of appropriate effort and achievement.
Lessons for Today
What “enjoying and not knowing enjoyment” teaches us today is that true fulfillment resides in the process itself. If you only seek results and keep looking for shortcuts, you might miss the richness of life.
In modern society, efficiency is emphasized, but that is completely different from “taking it easy.” What’s important is finding your own challenges and approaching them sincerely. Even with small things, the attitude of facing them carefully leads to deep satisfaction.
If you are currently troubled by something or facing difficulties, that is never meaningless. That very experience will give your life true color. Rather than choosing the easy path, if you continue your own unique challenges, you will surely encounter joy from the heart.
Sometimes stop and imagine what wonderful fruits your current efforts will bring in the future. Believing in the true “enjoyment” that lies ahead, let’s move forward step by step.
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