How to Read “濫觴”
Ranshō
Meaning of “濫觴”
“Small cup” is a word that represents the modest and humble beginnings of great enterprises or admirable things.
Just as even the mightiest river begins from a small puddle the size of a wine cup, it teaches us that no matter how great something becomes later, its starting point is always small and inconspicuous. This word is used when talking about the origins or founding period of something. It is particularly used when looking back at the beginnings of companies, cultures, technologies, or academic fields that have now grown significantly.
The reason for using this expression is to emphasize the wonder of growth and the power of continuity through the contrast between the smallness of the beginning and the greatness of the present. It also carries an encouraging meaning for those about to start something new, that it’s perfectly fine to begin small. Even today, it is sometimes used to describe the founding period of startup companies or the launch phase of new projects. It is a very profound word that can simultaneously express humility and hope.
Origin and Etymology
“Small cup” is a word that originates from the Chinese classic “Confucius Family Sayings” (Kongzi Jiayu). This word consists of two Chinese characters: “濫” (ran – overflowing, excessive) and “觴” (shō – wine cup).
According to the classic, it was used to mean that even great rivers begin from a small puddle about the size of a shō (wine cup). In other words, it expresses that no matter how large and magnificent something becomes, its beginning is very small and insignificant.
This word is thought to have been introduced to Japan during the Nara to Heian periods, when Chinese classical literature was actively studied. The intellectuals of that time understood this concept through Chinese texts and incorporated it into the Japanese language.
What’s interesting is that this word doesn’t simply mean “beginning,” but carries the implication of “the humble starting point of something great.” In Chinese classical thought, there is an underlying belief that all things begin from something small, and that this is the natural order. Therefore, “Small cup” has been used not as a word to be ashamed of small beginnings, but rather as a word filled with hope for the potential to grow from there.
Interesting Facts
The character “觴” in “Small cup” is actually a Chinese character that combines “feather” and “horn.” In ancient China, animal horns were hollowed out and used as drinking vessels, which is how this character came to be. This means that to express the beginning of a great river, a small wine cup made from an animal horn was used—a very concrete and life-rooted metaphor.
Modern dictionaries often explain “Small cup” as “the origin of things,” but originally it was a concept that encompassed the entire growth process of “developing greatly from small beginnings.” It wasn’t simply a “beginning,” but had the more hopeful meaning of “a beginning filled with potential for growth.”
Usage Examples
- No one could have imagined that this small town factory was the Small cup of what is now a global corporation
- A single line of poetry written in her diary became the Small cup of the later literary movement
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “Small cup” has come to hold even greater significance than before. Particularly with the advent of the digital age, it has become common for small ideas to gain worldwide influence overnight.
In our current era, where small movements that begin on social media can have the power to change society, or where programming started by students in a dormitory room can grow into giant IT companies, we can truly feel the teachings of “Small cup” in real terms. On platforms like YouTube and TikTok, it’s a daily occurrence for small content created by individuals to sometimes influence millions of people.
On the other hand, the pace of the information society differs from the original time scale of “Small cup,” which involves taking time to grow steadily. Modern people tend to seek immediate results and may undervalue the process of patiently nurturing something from small beginnings.
However, truly valuable things still take time to develop even today. Technological innovations, while they may appear to emerge suddenly, are actually realized only through years of accumulated basic research. Precisely because we live in an era where startup culture is thriving, the spirit of “Small cup”—starting small and growing steadily—is being reevaluated as a path to sustainable success.
When AI Hears This
Just as the Yellow River begins as a stream so narrow that a wine cup could float on its surface at the source, yet eventually becomes the mighty river that has sustained 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, today’s digital revolution follows a remarkably similar trajectory.
Facebook started in a Harvard dormitory and has grown into a platform used by 3 billion people. Amazon began in 1994 when Bezos simply started selling books from his garage, but has now become a massive corporation that has transformed global commerce. These growth patterns perfectly embody the transformation from the small beginnings of “floating a cup” to becoming a great river.
What’s particularly fascinating is that both follow the same growth mechanism: the “network effect.” The Yellow River gains volume each time tributaries join it, connecting people throughout its basin and nurturing civilization. Similarly, social networks become more valuable as more users join, connecting people and creating new societies.
Ancient Chinese captured this insight with the term “lanshang” – that small changes can develop tremendous influence over time. Modern startup culture and the concept of going “viral” might be contemporary versions of this universal growth principle that Chinese thinkers understood 4,000 years ago. While technology changes, the essence of transformation remains constant.
Lessons for Today
What “Small cup” teaches modern people is that there’s no need to fear the smallness of beginnings. Even if the dreams or plans you currently hold seem insignificant to others, that’s perfectly fine.
What matters is having the courage to take that small first step. If you wait until perfect preparation is complete, you’ll never be able to begin. It’s perfectly fine to have a modest start, like a cup’s worth of water.
In modern society, we often see only the successful appearances of others on social media and might feel discouraged when comparing them to our current situation. But remember the teaching of “Small cup.” Even those who seem to shine now surely had small beginnings.
And if you achieve something, don’t forget those beginnings. By cherishing your original intentions and maintaining a warm heart toward those who are just starting out, you’ll be able to walk a richer path in life. After all, infinite possibilities are hidden in small beginnings.
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