How to Read “六馬和せざれば造父も以て遠きを致す能わず”
rikuba wa sezareba zōho mo tte tōki wo itasu atawazu
Meaning of “六馬和せざれば造父も以て遠きを致す能わず”
This proverb means that no matter how excellent a leader may be, great goals cannot be achieved unless team members cooperate with each other.
Just as even Zaofu, a master charioteer, could not travel far if six horses moved in different directions, this teaches us that in organizations and teams, overall coordination is more important than individual abilities. There are limits to what a leader’s skills alone can accomplish, and everyone’s cooperation is essential for success. This proverb is used in situations involving multiple people, such as company projects, sports teams, and school committee activities. It is particularly effective when there are members who tend toward individual play or when emphasizing the importance of teamwork. It contains universal truths that remain applicable today and is understood by many as a fundamental principle of organizational management.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb originates from a historical tale that appears in the ancient Chinese classic “Han Feizi.” Zaofu refers to a legendary charioteer from ancient China’s Spring and Autumn period, a master at controlling horse-drawn carriages. He was known as a person who served King Mu of Zhao, and his equestrian skills became legendary even in his time.
“Six horses” refers to six horses, and in ancient China, the carriages ridden by emperors and kings were pulled by multiple horses. The proverb arose from the meaning that even Zaofu, no matter how skilled a charioteer, could not travel far distances if the six horses each tried to go in their own direction.
This historical tale was used in “Han Feizi” in the context of explaining the importance of governance. It was told as a political lesson that no matter how excellent a ruler might be, great undertakings cannot be accomplished unless the subjects unite their hearts in governing a country. It was transmitted to Japan along with Chinese classics and became established as a proverb explaining the importance of teamwork.
Interesting Facts
Zaofu was a real person who is said to have greatly contributed to the development of ancient Chinese vehicle and horse technology. His technique was not mere horsemanship but advanced skills for controlling multiple horses simultaneously, and he is thought to have been like a modern F1 driver.
In ancient China, the number of horses pulling a carriage indicated social status: the Son of Heaven had six horses, feudal lords had four, and ministers had two. In other words, “six horses” meant the highest-ranking vehicle, and this proverb contains the implication of “even when the best conditions are met.”
Usage Examples
- The new manager is excellent, but since the subordinates don’t work together, it’s a case of “Six horses not harmonizing then Zaofu also with distant place bring about cannot”
- No matter how great a coach may be, if the players don’t cooperate, it’s “Six horses not harmonizing then Zaofu also with distant place bring about cannot,” so it’s important for the team to unite as one
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more serious and complex. With advancing globalization, it has become normal for team members with diverse values and cultural backgrounds to work together. The old concept of “harmony” was based on homogeneity, but what is now required is “coordination within diversity.”
Taking an IT company’s project team as an example, people with different specialties and thought patterns—engineers, designers, marketers, and sales representatives—need to cooperate. With the spread of remote work adding physical distance, building teamwork has become even more difficult.
On the other hand, the development of SNS and cloud tools has dramatically improved means of information sharing and communication. Modern “Zaofus” are required to have team management abilities that utilize technology in addition to traditional leadership.
Furthermore, in modern times when individual rights consciousness has increased, it is difficult to “harmonize the six horses” through top-down instructions alone. Goal setting that each member can accept and role allocation that allows each person to utilize their strengths have become important. This proverb teaches us that a more strategic and delicate approach is necessary in modern times.
When AI Hears This
This ancient wisdom identified the essence of “system integration” – the most crucial principle in modern AI development – over 2,000 years ago.
Even the world’s top AI engineers cannot create sophisticated systems like ChatGPT unless GPU, CPU, memory, storage, and network components work in perfect harmony. In fact, today’s large language models only function when tens of thousands of GPUs operate in flawless synchronization. A single delay or malfunction can dramatically degrade the entire system’s performance.
What’s even more fascinating is how this same principle applies to human-AI collaboration. Recent research reveals that humans and AI work most effectively together when they understand each other’s characteristics and achieve true “harmony.” This occurs when humans handle creativity and intuition while AI manages computational power and memory capacity, with both operating in perfect rhythm.
This teaching of “six horses not in harmony” remains at the core of modern DevOps and agile development. Even with brilliant project managers, innovative products cannot emerge unless developers, designers, testers, and infrastructure engineers move in lockstep. It’s remarkable how the wisdom of ancient Chinese horse-drawn carriages perfectly aligns with the success principles of the 21st century’s digital revolution.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is what true leadership really is. The idea that everything will go well if an excellent person takes the top position is nothing but an illusion. What’s important is creating an environment where the entire team can face the same direction.
If you are in a leadership position, start by listening to each member’s voice and understanding each person’s strengths. And it’s important to set clear goals that the entire team can share and carefully explain why those goals are important.
If you are a team member, try acting with the success of the whole in mind rather than pursuing only your own interests. Sometimes it’s necessary to yield your own opinion, but that is never a defeat. If the entire team succeeds, you yourself will ultimately grow as well.
In modern society, there are limits to what can be accomplished alone. That’s precisely why the teachings of this proverb still shine today. Believing in the wonder of cooperation, why not start practicing it from today?
Comments