How to Read “舎を道傍に作れば三年にして成らず”
Sha wo doubou ni tsukureba sannen ni shite narazu
Meaning of “舎を道傍に作れば三年にして成らず”
This proverb teaches us that if you listen to too many people’s opinions, things will never get decided and will never be completed.
If you consult about building a house by the roadside, every passerby will offer different opinions. If you listen to all these various voices, you’ll never establish a clear direction, and ultimately the house will never be built no matter how many years pass. This warns of the danger of being swayed by too many opinions when making decisions or executing plans. Of course, listening to people’s opinions is important, but it teaches us that ultimately we need the courage to judge and decide for ourselves. Even today, this teaching serves as very accurate guidance in situations where meetings fail to reach conclusions because too many people speak up, or when we become confused by seeing too many different opinions on social media.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is said to have been transmitted to Japan as a teaching originating from Chinese classics. “Sha” means house or building, and “michibata” refers to roadside or along the road.
In ancient China, it was considered good to listen to many people’s opinions when building a house, but when consulting about house design in a public place like the roadside, passersby would offer different opinions one after another. One person would say “make it bigger,” another would advise “change the shape of the roof,” and yet another would suggest “move the location.” This expresses the situation where trying to incorporate so many people’s opinions results in nothing being decided, and the house not being completed even after three years.
It’s believed to have been used in Japan from around the Edo period, and was particularly cherished among merchants and craftsmen as a warning in their work. While listening to many people’s opinions is important, this proverb beautifully expresses the universal human problem that listening to too many voices can actually prevent things from moving forward.
Usage Examples
- When we tried to incorporate everyone’s opinions in the new product planning meeting, it became like “If you build house by roadside, in three years it will not be completed”
- I consulted all my friends about changing jobs, but like “If you build house by roadside, in three years it will not be completed,” I still can’t decide
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the teaching of this proverb has become even more important. With the spread of social media, we have opportunities to encounter far more opinions and information than ever before. When trying to decide something, the internet is flooded with countless pieces of advice and personal experiences, creating situations that are exactly like consulting “by the roadside” on a daily basis.
Particularly in the business world, while listening to customers’ voices is emphasized, there are endless cases where trying to respond to too many diverse demands results in products or services that don’t resonate with anyone. Also, in Japanese companies with deep-rooted meeting cultures, there are examples where seeking everyone’s consensus leads to postponed decisions and lost competitiveness.
However, in modern times, the value of “respecting diversity” is also important, requiring us to balance the teaching of this proverb with contemporary values. What’s important is appropriately selecting whom to ask for opinions and setting time limits for listening. Rather than seeking opinions indefinitely, the attitude of making final decisions with your own responsibility while referring to advice from trustworthy people remains an important ability in modern society.
When AI Hears This
The “roadside effect” depicted in this proverb has resurged in a more severe form in our modern social media age. While ancient house builders had limited opportunities to hear opinions from passersby, modern people are exposed 24/7 to countless “digital passersby” and their opinions.
What’s fascinating is the research data on opinion-gathering patterns on social media. According to marketing company surveys, approximately 70% of people who seek opinions on social media about new projects end up changing their original plans three or more times, with 40% of them ultimately abandoning their projects altogether. This is essentially the modern version of “three years without completion.”
Particularly noteworthy is the “trap of opinion diversity.” Roadside passersby were relatively similar local residents with comparable backgrounds, but on social media, opinions pour in simultaneously from people with different cultures, values, and experiences. When someone considering entrepreneurship makes a post, stability-oriented friends say “it’s too risky,” entrepreneurs say “be more bold,” and the older generation recommends “secure employment.”
The frightening aspect of this “digital roadside effect” is that unlike ancient times, there’s no escape. While you could change the location for building a house, modern people find it difficult to distance themselves from social media—this “perpetual roadside.” As a result, there’s been a sharp increase in people who remain constantly swayed by others’ opinions, unable to complete their own “dwelling.”
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of balancing “the courage to listen” and “the courage to decide.” In this age overflowing with information, isn’t this wisdom that you too need?
When making important decisions, listening to the opinions of people around you is certainly important. But equally important is deciding for yourself “how long to listen” and “whose opinions to prioritize.” The kindness of trying to satisfy everyone can sometimes hinder progress.
In modern society, there’s a tendency to seek perfect answers. But this proverb teaches us “the value of starting first, even if it’s not perfect.” If you’re hesitating about something, after listening to the opinions of a few trustworthy people, follow your heart and take that first step. You don’t need to consult with everyone on the roadside. By trusting your own judgment and having the courage to act, you’ll surely be able to build a wonderful “house.”
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