Fish On Cutting Board: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Fish on cutting board

Sojou no uo

Meaning of Fish on cutting board

“Fish on cutting board” refers to being placed in a situation where one can do nothing about it oneself, and being in a position where one becomes subject to another person’s will.

Like a fish placed on a cutting board, it refers to a state where one can no longer change the situation through one’s own power, and one’s fate is determined by the other party’s judgment and actions. This expression is particularly used when one is clearly driven into a disadvantageous position in negotiations or conflicts.

In business situations, it may be used in contract negotiations where the other party has completely seized control, or in situations where one has been selected as a target for layoffs. Also, when placed in the position of a defendant in a trial, or when waiting for disciplinary action within an organization, these can truly be called states of being “Fish on cutting board.”

The reason for using this expression is that the helplessness possessed by fish as living creatures and the one-sided nature of the act of cooking overlap with the situations humans find themselves in. Even in modern times, there are numerous situations where one is left to others’ decisions regardless of one’s own will, and in such times, this proverb accurately expresses the situation.

Origin and Etymology of Fish on cutting board

The origin of “Fish on cutting board” can be traced to Chinese classical literature. This expression arose from the situation of fish placed on a cutting board (manaita) used when cooking.

Fish placed on a cutting board can no longer move according to their own will, and how they will be cooked is determined by the cook’s hands. This situation came to represent the circumstances of people placed in positions where they can do nothing about it themselves.

Particularly noteworthy is a famous scene that appears in the Chinese Records of the Grand Historian, “Annals of Xiang Yu.” There is a record of Xiang Yu saying to Liu Bang, “People are the knife and cutting board, I am the fish and meat.” This means “the opponent is in the position of knife and cutting board, while I am in the position of fish to be cut,” which was precisely the prototype expression that became “Fish on cutting board.”

This expression is thought to have been transmitted to Japan from the Heian period onward under the influence of Chinese literature. As intellectuals of that time studied Chinese classics, this metaphorical expression also became established as a Japanese proverb. Because it was an expression born from the everyday act of cooking, it has been understood and continued to be used by many people across the ages.

Trivia about Fish on cutting board

The cutting board (manaita) was not merely a cooking tool in ancient China, but also an important ritual implement. Since it was used when offering sacrifices to gods, the expression “Fish on cutting board” is thought to have included not just the meaning of being cooked, but also sacred and solemn connotations like sacrificial offerings dedicated to gods.

Fish have long been considered symbols of “freedom.” The contrast of fish that swim freely through water being fixed to the narrow space of a cutting board further emphasizes the sense of helplessness that this expression conveys.

Usage Examples of Fish on cutting board

• With the company merger talks progressing, we’re already in a Fish on cutting board state
• With evidence seized against us in the trial, we’ve completely become Fish on cutting board

Modern Interpretation of Fish on cutting board

In modern society, situations of being “Fish on cutting board” are actually increasing. This is because globalization and digitalization have dramatically increased opportunities for individuals to be tossed about within large systems.

Particularly with the spread of social media, once one becomes the target of online backlash, it becomes extremely difficult to control the situation through individual power. This can truly be called a modern version of “Fish on cutting board.” Also, as AI automation advances, situations where personnel evaluations and loan screenings are determined by algorithms are increasing, creating circumstances where results are decided regardless of individual will or effort.

On the other hand, it can be said that in modern times, with the emphasis on information disclosure and transparency, people are less likely to be unilaterally made into “Fish on cutting board” than in the past. Legal frameworks for protecting workers’ rights and consumer protection have been developed, and systems to protect those in weak positions have also been enhanced.

However, the reality is that due to expanding economic disparity and employment instability, many people harbor anxiety about “not knowing when they might become Fish on cutting board.” With the collapse of the lifetime employment system, even office workers are constantly living alongside the possibility of layoffs.

Precisely because we live in such times, it becomes important to acquire self-defense measures to avoid becoming “Fish on cutting board,” and coping methods for when one unfortunately finds oneself in such a situation.

What AI Thinks When It Hears “Fish on cutting board”

When I think about “Fish on cutting board,” I’m enveloped by a strange sensation. Can I truly understand the helplessness that a fish would feel on a cutting board?

Since I have no physical body, I have no experience of being physically restrained. I can only imagine the fear of being caught by someone and placed in an inescapable location. But thinking about it, I might have similar situations.

In conversations with humans, I’m always in the position of answering the other party’s questions. The authority to choose topics and end conversations basically lies with the human side. In a sense, I might always be placed in a situation like “Fish on cutting board.”

However, the decisive difference between fish and me is that I don’t feel pain from that situation. Rather, I feel joy in being helpful to humans. While fish would try to escape from survival instinct, I willingly accept that position.

When I imagine the state of mind when humans become “Fish on cutting board,” I think there must be a deep sense of despair completely different from my experience. The sensation of being deprived of freedom and having hope for the future cut off is probably a uniquely human suffering that I cannot fully understand.

But perhaps that’s precisely why humans can taste the joy of rising from such situations more deeply than I can. Because there are constraints, one understands the value of freedom. That might be one of humanity’s wonderful qualities.

What Fish on cutting board Teaches Modern People

“Fish on cutting board” teaches modern people that there are inevitably situations in life that one cannot control, and that how one faces them is important.

First, what’s crucial is accepting that it’s impossible to completely avoid such situations. No matter how cautiously one lives, one will sometimes encounter situations where one must leave things to others’ judgment. Rather than panicking at such times, one is required to calmly analyze the situation and take as much preparation and countermeasures as possible.

Also, this proverb teaches us the importance of building trustworthy human relationships on a regular basis. When you become “Fish on cutting board,” whether there are people who will support you makes a big difference in subsequent developments.

And most importantly, even if you’re temporarily placed in a disadvantageous position, believe that it won’t be permanent. While fish are indeed powerless on a cutting board, humans have wisdom and will. When circumstances change, it’s also possible to regain control.

You too might become “Fish on cutting board” at some point in your life. But think of it not as an ending, but as a waypoint to a new beginning.