How to Read “船頭の一時艪”
Sendō no ichiji ro
Meaning of “船頭の一時艪”
“Boatman’s one time oar” is a proverb that describes when someone who is usually reliable or in a position of responsibility temporarily abandons their proper role or duties.
This proverb is particularly used in situations where someone in a leadership position suddenly neglects their duties or abandons their responsibilities in a moment of carelessness. Just as a boat loses control when the boatman lets go of the oar, when a leader abandons their responsibilities even temporarily, the effects spread to the people around them.
Even in modern times, this applies to situations where a manager misses an important meeting, a teacher abandons their class, or a doctor leaves their post abandoning their patients. The reason for using this proverb is to emphasize the significant impact on people who depend on such individuals, even when such behavior is temporary. It is also used as a warning to those in positions of responsibility, serving as an expression that teaches the importance of constantly being aware of one’s role.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Boatman’s one time oar” lies in the river boat operation system of the Edo period. At that time, boats traveling on rivers always had a boatman called sendō who operated the vessel. The boatman was a specialist who had accumulated years of experience and skills, playing the important role of reading river currents and weather conditions to safely transport the boat to its destination.
The “oar” in “one time oar” refers to a large paddle used to row the boat, an important tool attached to the stern and moved left and right to control the boat’s direction. For the boatman, the oar was truly a lifeline for operating the boat.
The background to the birth of this proverb lies in the normally unthinkable situation of a boatman temporarily letting go of the oar. Even experienced boatmen would sometimes encounter unexpected situations and, due to momentary misjudgment or carelessness, let go of the oar. In such moments, the boat had no choice but to go with the flow, leaving passengers filled with anxiety.
From this scene, a proverb was born expressing how even usually reliable people can sometimes fail to fulfill their proper role in a moment of carelessness. It’s truly a life-filled expression born from the world of river boats that was closely connected to the lives of people in the Edo period.
Usage Examples
- The department manager suddenly taking a day off on the day of an important business negotiation is truly a case of Boatman’s one time oar
- The teacher returning to the staff room during class is Boatman’s one time oar, leaving the students confused
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Boatman’s one time oar” has taken on more complex and serious meaning. In our information society, one responsible person’s judgment or actions can instantly affect a wide range, so even temporary abandonment of duties can sometimes lead to irreversible consequences.
Particularly with the spread of remote work today, there are more managers and specialists working in environments beyond physical supervision. In such situations, self-management abilities become more important, and the reality is that temptations for “one time oar” are also increasing. Cases of missing important communications while looking at social media or taking personal phone calls are not uncommon.
On the other hand, in modern times, “work style reform” has spread the recognition that those in responsible positions also need appropriate rest. Actions that would have been criticized as “Boatman’s one time oar” in the past may now be understood as “necessary rest.” However, this requires distinguishing between planned rest and sudden abandonment of duties.
Also, in modern organizations, delegation of authority and team systems are advancing, and creating systems that don’t depend too heavily on one person is emphasized. Through this, efforts to reduce the risks of “Boatman’s one time oar” are being undertaken in various places.
When AI Hears This
Modern leadership theory suggests that “leaders changing according to the situation” is efficient, but this proverb sharply exposes the psychological trap of temporary power. According to psychological research, people begin to change their behavior within an average of 7 minutes of gaining power, and even temporary authority makes them susceptible to the illusion that they are “special.”
What’s particularly fascinating is a phenomenon frequently observed in modern “acting store managers” and “interim project leaders.” People who gain temporary authority try to make decisions themselves “since it’s a rare opportunity,” even when they should delegate to experienced subordinates. As a result, approvals that normally take 5 minutes turn into 2-hour meetings, and simple workflows become unnecessarily complex.
This has gained attention in modern organizational theory as the “temporality of power paradox.” The more time-limited the power, the more people tend to over-intervene due to “now or never” anxiety, actually creating inefficiency. The human psychology that makes people want to try “their own way” when given temporary command—even for something as simple as rowing a boat—hasn’t changed over hundreds of years. The reason why teams in modern “agile development” with frequent leader rotations tend to experience confusion is precisely because this principle is at work.
Lessons for Today
“Boatman’s one time oar” teaches modern people about the weight of responsibility and the importance of continuity. No matter what position you’re in, you must not forget that someone is counting on you.
In modern society, each person carries some role as a “boatman.” As a parent in the family, as a team member at work, as a resident in the community. That responsibility may sometimes feel heavy, but that’s exactly what demonstrates your value of existence.
What’s important is that you don’t need to be perfect. It’s fine if there are moments when you get tired and want to let go of the oar. What’s important is having the courage to grip the oar again afterward. Also, it’s necessary to sometimes entrust the oar to others rather than carrying everything alone.
This proverb teaches us not to fear responsibility, but to deeply understand the meaning of having responsibility and to walk forward sharing it with the people around us. Your small sense of responsibility surely connects to someone’s peace of mind.
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