How to Read “沈む瀬あれば浮かぶ瀬あり”
Shizumu se areba ukabu se ari
Meaning of “沈む瀬あれば浮かぶ瀬あり”
This proverb means that life has both difficult and enjoyable periods, and bad things don’t continue forever.
Using the metaphor of a river’s flow, even if there are deep places where you would sink, there are always shallow places where you can safely cross. This teaches us that life’s difficulties and misfortunes are not permanent, and times of improvement will eventually come. This proverb is used to comfort people who are currently in difficult situations and to convey the importance of maintaining hope.
It also suggests to people who are in smooth periods the importance of staying humble without becoming complacent. It expresses a life philosophy that life is constantly changing, and both good times and bad times are temporary. The reason for using this expression is that it can convey life’s truths in an easily understandable way through natural principles.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb originated from words describing the appearance of river flows. “Se” refers to shallow, fast-flowing parts of a river, a natural landscape that has been closely connected to Japanese people’s lives since ancient times.
When crossing a river, you would sink in deep places where your feet can’t reach the bottom, but you can safely walk across shallow rapids. However, even in the same river, the depth varies by location – there are places where you sink and places where you can float across.
This proverb is thought to have begun by overlaying this natural phenomenon with human life. From the Heian to Kamakura periods, expressions using such river metaphors began appearing in literary works.
In particular, travelers’ experiences crossing rivers were very familiar to people of that time. In an era without bridges, people had to find shallow rapids to cross rivers, and everyone had experienced getting caught in deep places.
Such everyday experiences connected with the universal theme of life’s ups and downs, and over many years became established as the current form of this proverb. It can be said to be a beautiful expression born from the Japanese sensibility of overlaying nature with human life.
Interesting Facts
The character “se” (瀬) originally consists of “rai” (頼) meaning “to rely on” and a part representing “river,” incorporating the meaning of a shallow place in a river that can be relied upon.
There’s a similar expression “one inch ahead is darkness,” but while that emphasizes the uncertainty of the future, “If there are sinking shallows there are floating shallows” contains hope for change, making them contrasting in nature.
Usage Examples
- I’m feeling down because my job search isn’t going well, but since “If there are sinking shallows there are floating shallows,” surely good opportunities will come around
- Just because business is going well doesn’t mean we should be complacent – “If there are sinking shallows there are floating shallows,” so we never know when the situation might change
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the message of this proverb has become increasingly important. With the spread of social media, we’re constantly exposed to others’ successes and happiness, and many people tend to feel depressed comparing their current situation to others. However, the information posted is merely a snapshot of a moment in life, and we must not forget that everyone has ups and downs.
In today’s era of intense economic fluctuations, with the collapse of lifetime employment systems and entrepreneurship booms, life planning itself has become unstable. Now that the traditional model of living a stable life at one company no longer works, the perspective this proverb shows of “change is inevitable” is accepted as a realistic life philosophy.
Technological progress also influences the modern interpretation of this proverb. The phenomenon where jobs disappear due to AI and automation while new fields of work emerge truly embodies “If there are sinking shallows there are floating shallows.”
However, in modern times, the importance of individual effort and choices is also emphasized, so rather than simply leaving everything to fate, the need for preparation and learning to adapt to change is simultaneously required. This proverb has become valuable wisdom for modern people, teaching us the mindset to embrace change positively without fear.
When AI Hears This
When we analyze river flow from a physics perspective, the remarkable scientific accuracy of this proverb becomes clear. Since water is an incompressible fluid, Bernoulli’s principle tells us that areas with faster flow have lower pressure, while areas with slower flow have higher pressure. This means that after a narrow section where the current runs fast (the “sinking rapids”), the river inevitably widens and the flow becomes gentler, creating the “floating shallows.”
Even more fascinating are the research findings on “pool-riffle sequences” in river engineering. Studies have proven that in natural rivers, deep pools and shallow riffles alternate in a regular pattern at intervals of 5 to 7 times the river’s width. This structure forms naturally through the conversion between kinetic and potential energy of water, and even artificially straightened rivers will inevitably return to this pattern over time.
When we apply this physical phenomenon to human life, the alternation between hardship and prosperity isn’t just coincidence or wishful thinking—it can be understood as a natural law, like the conservation of energy. Since the total energy of any system remains constant, when energy concentrates in one area, other areas must decrease, followed by a restorative force that works to regain balance. This proverb represents an extremely scientific view of life, understanding life’s ups and downs through the lens of physical laws.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the mindset of accepting life’s changes as natural. When facing difficult situations, believing that they are not permanent allows us to continue positive actions without falling into despair.
In modern society, we tend to seek immediate results, but this proverb teaches the importance of a long-term perspective. If today doesn’t work out, there’s tomorrow; if this month doesn’t go well, there’s next month. Having the composure to entrust ourselves to such flow of time allows us to maintain peace of mind.
Also, it’s important to remember this proverb especially during smooth periods. Without becoming arrogant from success or becoming complacent and neglecting effort, we can maintain a constantly humble attitude.
Your life surely has various shallows too. When you feel like you’re about to get caught in deep places, remember that there are always shallow rapids. And when you’re crossing shallow rapids, while cherishing that happiness, don’t neglect preparing for the next change. You should be able to cross the river flow of life while enjoying it without fear.
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