How to Read “酒は百薬の長”
Sake wa hyakuyaku no chō
Meaning of “酒は百薬の長”
“Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief” means that an appropriate amount of alcohol has superior effects compared to many medicines.
This saying does not recommend drinking large amounts of alcohol. Rather, it is an expression that evaluates the medicinal effects of moderate amounts of alcohol. Since ancient times, alcohol has been recognized as having effects that improve blood circulation, warm the body, and help the mind relax. It was also often used as medicinal liquor with herbs soaked in it, and its therapeutic effects were highly valued.
This expression is used when explaining one’s attitude toward drinking alcohol or when explaining the benefits of moderate drinking. At a banquet, saying “Let’s partake of the chief of hundred medicines today” can express the feeling of drinking alcohol with respect, treating it as medicine. Even in modern times, it is used when conveying the importance of moderate drinking while acknowledging alcohol’s role as stress relief and as a social lubricant for human relationships.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief” traces back to ancient Chinese classics. This phrase is recorded in the “Treatise on Food and Money” section of the “Book of Han,” a historical record from China’s Former Han dynasty, which is considered the oldest record of this saying.
In ancient China, alcohol was not merely a luxury item but was used medicinally as medicinal liquor with herbs soaked in it. In traditional Chinese medicine, alcohol’s blood circulation-promoting effects and body-warming properties were highly valued, and it was believed that combining it with various herbs enhanced therapeutic effects.
The expression “chief of hundred medicines” represents the best among numerous medicines, meaning the king of medicines. In ancient China, alcohol’s sterilizing and preservative effects were also valued, and in an era when clean water was difficult to obtain, alcohol was treasured as a safe beverage.
This phrase is thought to have been introduced to Japan during the Nara to Heian periods, along with Chinese medical texts that arrived with Buddhism and Confucianism. Japan has long had a culture of medicinal liquors, with sake brewing that expected medicinal effects, such as plum wine and toso sake. Against this background, the phrase “Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief” became rooted in Japanese culture.
Interesting Facts
In ancient China, sake brewing was an important national industry. According to the “Book of Han,” the alcohol monopoly system accounted for a large portion of national income. The background to the expression “chief of hundred medicines” included both the economic and medical value of alcohol.
In Japan’s medicinal liquor culture, toso sake drunk at New Year is famous. This is a custom that came from China, made by soaking multiple medicinal herbs such as Japanese pepper and balloon flower in alcohol, and drunk wishing for health throughout the year. It can truly be said to embody “Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief.”
Usage Examples
- I’m tired today, so I’ll have a drink of the chief of hundred medicines and go to bed early
- Let’s enjoy the chief of hundred medicines in moderation at the farewell party
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the phrase “Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief” finds itself in a complex position. With advances in medicine, the health effects of alcohol have been examined in greater detail, and the effects of moderate drinking and the risks of excessive drinking have been scientifically verified.
The WHO (World Health Organization) has recently expressed the view that “there is no safe level of alcohol consumption,” questioning the conventional thinking that “moderate amounts are good for health.” While health benefits are recognized in individual components such as polyphenols in red wine and amino acids in Japanese sake, the carcinogenic and addictive risks of alcohol itself have also become clear.
However, this proverb is not completely denied in modern times. In our stressful society, the relaxing effects of moderate drinking and alcohol’s value as a communication tool are still recognized. The fact that the spirit of “Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief” is being carried on in new forms such as online drinking parties in our current era of widespread telework is also an interesting phenomenon.
What’s important is not to blindly believe ancient wisdom, but to make judgments according to individual health conditions and lifestyles while comparing with modern scientific knowledge. The phrase “Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief” still contains valuable teachings as a starting point for thinking about how to relate to alcohol.
When AI Hears This
“Sake is the chief of all medicines” was actually recorded in historical texts during the Former Han Dynasty as political propaganda to justify the emperor’s efforts to increase alcohol tax revenue. The rulers of that time needed the theoretical justification that “alcohol is medicine” in order to collect alcohol taxes from the people.
However, modern epidemiological research has proven that this 2,000-year-old “political lie” was scientifically correct. Large-scale longitudinal studies have revealed that the relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality rates follows a “J-curve.” In other words, people who drink small amounts have lower mortality rates than those who don’t drink at all, but the curve shows a sharp increase once moderate consumption is exceeded.
Behind this phenomenon are the vasodilatory effects of small amounts of alcohol, its ability to increase HDL cholesterol, and its antiplatelet aggregation properties. Research has shown that for Japanese people, approximately one cup of sake per day (in sake equivalent) corresponds to the lowest mortality rates.
What’s most fascinating is the historical irony that the “false theory” created by ancient rulers for tax revenue purposes happened to align with biological facts. A phrase born from political motives has been revived by modern science as a “partial truth.” However, in contemporary times, this comes with the condition of “moderate amounts” – not the unlimited praise of ancient times.
Lessons for Today
What “Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief” teaches modern people is the importance of maintaining an appropriate distance from things. The essence of this phrase lies not so much in alcohol’s efficacy itself, but in the concept of “moderation.”
In modern society, we tend to go to extremes in everything. Health booms demand perfect diets, work pursues 24/7 efficiency, and in human relationships we try to present perfect versions of ourselves on social media. However, like the alcohol that the ancients called “chief of hundred medicines,” sometimes relaxing can actually lead to better mental and physical health.
What’s important is finding your own “appropriate amount.” This doesn’t necessarily apply only to alcohol. For work and rest, for time alone and interaction with others, the wisdom of living in modern times lies in seeking the “just right” balance for yourself in everything.
When you become exhausted from trying to achieve perfection, remember this old proverb. Sometimes a little break, like “Alcohol is hundred medicines’ chief,” might bring new vitality to your life.
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