How to Read “Use the people according to the season”
Tami o tsukau ni toki o motte su
Meaning of “Use the people according to the season”
“Use the people according to the season” means that when asking people to work, you should choose the right time.
This is especially important for rulers and leaders. When they ask people to labor, they should pick times that don’t interfere with people’s lives and livelihoods.
This proverb is used when talking about leadership and managing organizations. It teaches that those in positions of power shouldn’t mobilize people just for their own convenience.
Instead, they must consider the circumstances and situations of others.
Today, this wisdom applies to many situations. A boss choosing when to assign work to employees. A government deciding when to ask citizens for cooperation.
A school selecting dates to invite parent participation. In all these cases, respecting the other person’s position and choosing reasonable timing builds better cooperative relationships.
This approach ultimately leads to better results.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb comes from the words of Confucius recorded in the Analects, a classic text of Confucianism.
The original Chinese text uses the concise expression “使民以時” (shi min yi shi). “Use the people according to the season” is the Japanese reading of this phrase.
In ancient China, agriculture was the foundation of the nation. The vast majority of people were farmers. In spring they planted seeds, in summer they tended the fields, in autumn they harvested, and in winter they rested.
This agricultural cycle followed nature’s rhythm with clear timing for each task.
During the Spring and Autumn period when Confucius lived, rulers often conscripted people during busy farming seasons. They forced them into construction projects or military campaigns.
As a result, farm work fell behind, harvests decreased, and people’s lives became impoverished.
Confucius taught that excellent rulers put the people’s livelihood first. Even when mobilizing people for public works or military action, they should choose the off-season for farming.
This wasn’t just about efficiency. It was fundamental wisdom for protecting people’s lives and stabilizing the nation.
This philosophy spread to Japan and has been passed down for generations as essential knowledge for rulers.
Usage Examples
- Starting major construction during the busy farming season—don’t they know “Use the people according to the season”?
- Business owners should follow the spirit of “Use the people according to the season” and schedule training outside employees’ busy periods
Universal Wisdom
“Use the people according to the season” contains an eternal truth about human society.
It warns against the arrogance of those with power. At the same time, it offers wisdom for building sustainable relationships.
When people gain power or position, they tend to prioritize their own convenience. They become absorbed in achieving immediate goals and lose sight of the circumstances of those helping them.
This human weakness hasn’t changed from ancient monarchs to modern managers.
But when you force people to act against their circumstances, you might get short-term results. Eventually, though, trust erodes and cooperation disappears.
This proverb has been passed down for over two thousand years. Perhaps because those in power keep making the same mistakes.
But it’s also proof that humanity continues learning from experience about the importance of choosing the right timing.
Considering others’ convenience isn’t just kindness. It’s an attitude of respecting others as human beings and building equal relationships.
When people feel respected, they willingly demonstrate their abilities. When they feel used for convenience, their hearts drift away.
Ancient sages deeply understood this essential human psychology.
When AI Hears This
Human cells contain mechanisms called clock genes. They mark rhythms of activity and rest in roughly 24-hour cycles.
This circadian rhythm causes body temperature, hormone secretion, cognitive function, and muscle strength to fluctuate greatly by time of day.
For example, mornings are good for logical thinking, while afternoons suit creative work. Grip strength peaks in the evening, about 10% stronger than morning.
In other words, the same person displays completely different abilities depending on the time.
Interestingly, ignoring this rhythm causes productivity to drop sharply. Research shows night shift workers have accident rates over twice as high as day shift workers.
Also, forcing farmers to work day and night during harvest season increases judgment errors that damage crops. Fatigue reduces work efficiency in following days.
When Confucius said “according to the season,” he wasn’t just talking about seasons. Perhaps he understood the importance of leadership that doesn’t go against human biological rhythms.
Modern chronobiology teaches that viewing humans as machines that can work the same way 24 hours a day is fundamentally wrong.
People demonstrate maximum ability only when working with rhythms encoded at the genetic level. Ancient wisdom grasped this truth before science proved it.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us the importance of considering the other person’s position.
When you ask someone for cooperation or make a request, pause for a moment. Think about whether now is a good time for them.
If you make unreasonable requests during busy periods, the other person might find it hard to refuse. But inside, they feel burdened.
They might tolerate it once or twice. But if it continues, the relationship gradually breaks down.
However, if you consider their convenience when approaching them, they’ll feel “this person thinks about me.”
This applies equally at home and at work. When asking family members to do chores, requesting work from colleagues, or bringing up concerns with friends.
Just taking a moment to imagine the other person’s situation makes relationships surprisingly better.
Remember this wisdom especially when you’re in a hurry. Waiting for the right timing works faster and more reliably than rushing and forcing things through.
Valuing others ultimately means valuing yourself.
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