How to Read “済す時の閻魔顔”
Sumasu toki no enma-gao
Meaning of “済す時の閻魔顔”
“When helping time’s Yama face” means that even people who are usually strict and frightening show gentle expressions when helping others.
This expression skillfully captures the duality that humans possess. It shows that even people who are usually stern and frightening like King Yama reveal the compassion and kindness hidden beneath their strictness in their expressions when trying to save someone.
It is used in situations such as when a strict boss is working hard for their subordinates, or when a usually unfriendly person is helping someone in trouble. It is used to express the surprise and emotion felt when discovering the warm heart behind surface-level strictness.
The reason for using this expression is to convey that people have complexities that cannot be judged by appearance or usual behavior alone. Even today, just as there are people whose faces shown on social media differ from their actual actions, this leads to the understanding that human essence is revealed through actions.
Origin and Etymology
To explore the origin of “When helping time’s Yama face,” we first need to understand the meaning of the classical word “sasu.” While it is often used as “sumaseru” (to finish) in modern times, the classical “sasu” had the meaning of “to help” or “to save.”
King Yama is known in Buddhism as a fearsome being who judges the souls of the dead. However, King Yama actually had two faces: the terrifying expression when harshly judging sinners, and the compassionate expression when saving good people or those in trouble.
The background of this proverb’s creation is deeply connected to the religious views of common people during the Edo period. People of that time viewed King Yama not merely as a fearsome being, but also as a compassionate existence who would sometimes save people. Even in depictions of hell, scenes of King Yama rescuing good people were sometimes portrayed.
From this religious background, this proverb is thought to have been born to express the duality of humans – that even usually strict and frightening people show gentle expressions when helping others. By using the extreme example of King Yama, they impressively expressed the vividness of this contrast.
Usage Examples
- That strict department manager covering for a newcomer’s mistake was truly When helping time’s Yama face
- Though usually a scary teacher, the expression when protecting a bullied student is exactly When helping time’s Yama face
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more multi-layered. In an era where superficial impressions of people tend to precede through social media and mass media, the attention to essential human kindness shown by “When helping time’s Yama face” holds important meaning.
Particularly in workplace environments, there are many scenes where this proverb applies as moments when views of strict managers or supervisors change. The sight of people who are usually strict about work sincerely consulting on subordinates’ personal problems or working hard for team members’ career development can truly be called the modern version of “When helping time’s Yama face.”
Similar phenomena can be seen in educational settings as well. The sight of teachers known for strict guidance sparing no time to support students’ futures becomes a memorable experience for students.
However, in modern times, such “gaps” may sometimes be intentionally staged. There are cases where the contrast between strictness and kindness is utilized as marketing or branding techniques. Therefore, the ability to distinguish between true “When helping time’s Yama face” and staged kindness has become necessary.
In the information society, the importance of understanding people’s multifaceted nature is increasing, and the teaching of this proverb – “don’t be misled by superficial impressions, judge people by their actions” – can be said to be gaining more value.
When AI Hears This
According to cognitive dissonance theory, people experience strong discomfort when holding contradictory beliefs simultaneously and unconsciously act to resolve this contradiction. “The face of a demon when times are good” is a perfect example of this psychological mechanism in action.
People in distress who seek help from others experience cognitive dissonance between their self-concept of “I am an independent person” and the reality of “I must rely on others.” The easiest way to resolve this uncomfortable contradiction is to psychologically position the helper as inferior. They unconsciously reinforce critical interpretations like “that person is a hypocrite,” “they expect something in return,” or “they’re just fulfilling their obvious duty,” thereby protecting their own pride.
What’s fascinating is that this phenomenon appears most strongly immediately after receiving help. In moments when gratitude and humiliation coexist, the human brain chooses the latter to maintain self-consistency. The fact that this theory, proposed by Festinger in 1957, had already crystallized as keen human observation in Edo-period Japan speaks to the universality of human psychological structures. The modern phenomenon of social media posts criticizing benefactors going viral is a manifestation of this same psychological mechanism.
Lessons for Today
What “When helping time’s Yama face” teaches modern people is that we should not judge people by appearance or first impressions alone. Even people who seem strict may have deep affection and compassion hidden within them.
In modern society, we often only see superficial aspects of people through social media and mass media. Precisely because we live in such times, it’s important to cultivate the ability to see through to a person’s essence by observing their actions, especially how they treat people in trouble.
This proverb is also a question for ourselves. When you see someone in trouble, what kind of expression do you have, and what actions do you take? No matter how strictly you may usually be perceived, it is in moments of helping others that your true kindness shines.
What’s important in human relationships is recognizing and accepting others’ multifaceted nature. Strict bosses and unfriendly colleagues surely have their own forms of kindness. And you yourself can express the optimal version of yourself according to the situation – sometimes strict, sometimes compassionate. True strength might be the ability to use both kindness and strictness appropriately.
Comments