How to Read “捨てる神あれば拾う神あり”
Suteru kami areba hirou kami ari
Meaning of “捨てる神あれば拾う神あり”
This proverb expresses a hopeful outlook on life that even when one path is closed, another will surely open.
In life, there are times when someone abandons us or we lose opportunities, but even in such situations, someone else will always extend a helping hand or new opportunities will arise. In other words, it teaches us that even in seemingly hopeless situations, salvation and hope always exist.
This proverb is mainly used to encourage people facing life’s difficulties such as heartbreak, unemployment, or relationship troubles. It’s used with feelings of comfort and encouragement, saying “It may be tough now, but good things will surely come.” It’s also used as emotional support to not lose hope when we ourselves are in difficult situations. Even today, this universal truth of life resonates with many people and continues to be cherished as wisdom for surviving difficult times.
Origin and Etymology
“If there is god who throws away, there is god who picks up” has its origins deeply rooted in Japan’s ancient Shinto worldview. This expression can be found in Edo period literature and has been a beloved proverb among people since that time.
In Shinto, it is believed that eight million gods each have different personalities and roles. The idea underlying this proverb is that even if one god abandons you, another god will surely extend a helping hand. This can be said to be a concept unique to polytheism, different from monotheism.
What’s interesting is how it expresses the contrasting actions of “throwing away” and “picking up” as acts of gods. Ancient Japanese people viewed life’s ups and downs as the will of the gods and sought spiritual support to not lose hope even in desperate situations.
Moreover, this expression contains not just the passive meaning of “relying on gods” but also the importance of living positively without giving up even in difficult situations. This proverb, nurtured within Edo period common culture, took deep root in people’s hearts as wisdom for living without losing hope even within the strict class system.
Usage Examples
- I was fired from my company, but “if there is god who throws away, there is god who picks up,” and this time I found an even better workplace
- I was depressed after being dumped by him, but they say “if there is god who throws away, there is god who picks up,” so I’m sure I’ll meet someone wonderful
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, this proverb has come to have new interpretations and meanings. In today’s SNS era, even if things don’t work out on one platform, there are countless chances for success elsewhere. It’s not uncommon to see examples of people who struggled on YouTube but became huge hits on TikTok, or those who had difficulty with traditional job hunting but demonstrated their talents through crowdsourcing.
Due to globalization and digitization, we could say the number of “gods” has increased dramatically. Geographic constraints have disappeared, and there’s potential for “gods who pick up” to exist all around the world. In modern times where entrepreneurial spirit is valued, even when one company gives up on you, other investors or supporters often appear.
However, on the other hand, confusion has also arisen from having too many choices. More people are confused about which “god” to believe in or which path to choose. Also, with the spread of SNS making others’ successes more visible, many people feel anxious wondering “why doesn’t a god who picks up appear for me alone?”
In modern times, in addition to the essence of this proverb – “a heart that doesn’t lose hope” – perhaps we also need the initiative to actively seek new possibilities.
When AI Hears This
The fact that the “gods” in this proverb are expressed in plural form represents the core of the Japanese view of destiny. In monotheistic worlds, life’s hardships and salvation are understood as coming from the same single god. In other words, it’s the manifestation of a consistent will where “God gives trials, and God gives salvation.”
However, Japanese people think in a completely different way. By depicting the “god who abandons” and the “god who picks up” as separate entities, they understand fate as the interaction of gods with multiple value systems. For example, one god emphasizes strictness while another god emphasizes mercy.
What this polytheistic view of destiny creates is a psychological escape route from despair. In monotheism, the moment someone feels “abandoned by God,” there is no other being to rely on besides that god. However, in the Japanese worldview, even when abandoned by one god, the hope that “another god will surely pick me up” naturally emerges.
In reality, Japan’s suicide rate is considered high among developed nations, but at the same time, there is also a strong culture that affirms “starting over.” Evidence of this includes the frequency of job changes and the popularity of stories depicting life restarts. This may be because the view of destiny woven by multiple gods provides Japanese people with a psychological safety net of “there will always be another chance.”
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is that life’s possibilities are not limited to just one. The strength of heart to believe that even when one door closes, there’s always another door becomes the driving force to overcome difficulties.
In modern society, we tend to avoid new challenges for fear of failure, but this proverb gives us the reassurance that “it’s okay to fail.” There’s no need to fear change, whether it’s changing jobs, schools, or taking on new hobbies.
What’s important is not just waiting for a “god who picks up,” but taking action ourselves to seek new encounters and opportunities. By participating in new communities on SNS, starting lessons, or participating in volunteer activities, we might encounter unexpected “gods.”
We also shouldn’t forget that we ourselves can become “gods who pick up” for someone else. By extending a helping hand to those in trouble, we in turn become supported beings. This proverb quietly speaks to us modern people about the importance of human connections and the value of continuing to hold hope.
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