How to Read “朱に交われば赤くなる”
Shu ni majiwareba akaku naru
Meaning of “朱に交われば赤くなる”
“If you associate with vermillion you become red” means that people naturally receive influence and change according to the companions they associate with and the environment they place themselves in.
This is a proverb that expresses human adaptability and learning ability, and is used in both positive and negative contexts. It shows the strong influence of environment: if you interact with excellent people, you will also improve, but conversely, if you are in a bad environment, you will receive negative influence.
The situations where this proverb is used are mainly when teaching the importance of human relationships and environmental choices. It is used as an expression to explain the influence of environment when parents consider their children’s educational environment, when people consider job changes or advancing to higher education, or when joining new communities.
Even in modern times, we unconsciously absorb the ways of thinking and behavioral patterns of the people around us. For us who live surrounded by various kinds of “vermillion” – workplace atmosphere, friend groups’ values, the culture of the region where we live – this proverb still holds deep meaning today.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “If you associate with vermillion you become red” can be traced back to Chinese classics. This expression is thought to have originated from a word born from cinnabar (shusha), a red mineral pigment.
Cinnabar has been treasured as the most precious red pigment from ancient China to Japan. This vivid red powder has the property of inevitably dyeing red any color it is mixed with. Just as mixing a small amount with white paint makes it pink, or mixing it with yellow makes it orange, anything that “associates” with cinnabar without exception takes on a reddish tint.
It was a natural progression for this physical phenomenon to be used as a metaphor expressing the essence of human relationships. Similar expressions can be found in Chinese classical literature, and it is thought that these were transmitted to Japan and became established there.
This proverb also appears in Edo period literature, and was used from that time when discussing people’s friendships and the influence of environment. It is a word filled with the wisdom of our ancestors, who clearly expressed the invisible influence of human relationships through the specific properties of the substance called cinnabar.
Interesting Facts
Cinnabar is a mercury compound that was treasured in ancient times as a medicine for immortality. Ironically, it actually has toxicity, and among the emperors who sought it, some are said to have lost their lives to poisoning. The fact that being attracted to the beautiful red color and approaching it resulted in receiving unexpected influence is interesting in how it overlaps with the lesson of this proverb.
The red color used in vermillion ink pads and seals was also originally made from cinnabar. The reason seals pressed on important documents are vermillion colored is because using this precious pigment showed the importance of those documents.
Usage Examples
- The way my son’s attitude toward studying changed after entering a preparatory school is truly “If you associate with vermillion you become red”
- All the seniors at my new workplace have high motivation, and through “If you associate with vermillion you become red,” I naturally started working harder too
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the sphere of influence of “If you associate with vermillion you become red” has expanded dramatically. With the spread of social media and the internet, we have come to receive strong influence even from people we have never physically met. The values of influencers we follow, the atmosphere of online communities we participate in, the content of YouTube channels we frequently watch – the “vermillion” of digital space is dyeing us daily.
Particularly noteworthy is the bias of information due to algorithms. Information displayed based on our search history and browsing tendencies tends to be biased toward similar content. This creates situations where we are surrounded by unintended “vermillion,” with the possibility that our thoughts and values may unknowingly be dyed in specific directions.
On the other hand, there are increasing numbers of people who actively utilize this phenomenon. There are movements to consciously choose good “vermillion,” such as continuously listening to self-improvement podcasts to increase motivation, or participating in language learning communities to develop study habits.
In modern times, as our freedom to choose environments has increased, our responsibility to proactively decide which “vermillion” we associate with has also grown.
When AI Hears This
The choice between “shu” (vermillion) and “aka” (red) reveals the remarkably subtle human observation skills of the Japanese. Shu is a sacred color transmitted from China—a warm red with yellowish undertones. In contrast, aka is a pure, intense primary color.
This subtle color distinction reveals the cruel truth about the process of being influenced. When a vermillion-colored person places themselves in a red environment, they initially try to preserve their individuality (that yellowish warmth). However, gradually, their unique hue is lost, and they become just another “plain red” like their surroundings.
In color psychology, vermillion symbolizes “creativity and individuality,” while red represents “passion and aggression.” This proverb is actually depicting the transformation of a creative, gentle personality becoming aggressive after being染まって influenced by an intense environment.
Particularly noteworthy is how the change from vermillion to red implies “deterioration.” Vermillion has long been considered a noble color. Its transformation into common red signifies not mere assimilation, but a decline in refinement.
Even in modern color research, the change from vermillion (#FF4500) to red (#FF0000) is explained as a process of losing yellow components on the color wheel. In human relationships too, when we become染まって influenced by our environment, we may inevitably lose something essential about ourselves.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us in modern times is the importance of environmental choice and, at the same time, the weight of that responsibility. Because we are beings who are more susceptible to surrounding influences than we think, we need to consciously choose what kind of people we spend time with, what kind of information we encounter, and what kind of places we position ourselves in.
What’s important is not to fear this influence, but to use it skillfully. If you stay close to people who are working hard toward their goals, you too will naturally be inspired by their enthusiasm. If you spend time with friends who love reading, your interest in books should also emerge.
In modern society, both online and offline, we have many choices. The people we follow on social media, the communities we participate in, the workplaces where we work, the places where we live. All of these become the “vermillion” that shapes us.
Picture the self you want to become, and actively choose environments that will bring you closer to that self. By surrounding yourself with good “vermillion,” you too can be beautifully dyed.
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