How to Read “敵に塩を送る”
Teki ni shio wo okuru
Meaning of “敵に塩を送る”
“Send salt to enemy” means extending a helping hand to an adversarial opponent when they are in trouble.
This proverb does not merely express kindness, but demonstrates a higher spirituality. Even though the other party is an enemy, and one could take advantage of their distress to gain an advantage, the deliberate choice not to do so embodies the aesthetic of bushido. It is used in situations where one shows fairness or humanitarian consideration toward competitors or opposing parties.
The reason for using this expression is to emphasize that one’s actions are based not on mere goodwill, but on noble spirit that transcends the enemy-ally distinction. In modern times, it is understood in contexts such as consideration for business competitors or humanitarian aid that transcends political opposition. The important point is that the premise is an adversarial relationship with the other party, making it fundamentally different from helping friends or allies.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Send salt to enemy” is widely known as an anecdote from the Warring States period involving Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. This story is recorded in the Edo period military chronicle “Koyo Gunkan” and later introduced in many literary works.
When Takeda Shingen was in distress after having his salt supply cut off by Imagawa Ujizane and Hojo Ujiyasu, his sworn enemy Uesugi Kenshin said, “Battles should be decided by bow and arrow, and it is not my intention to cause suffering through salt and rice,” and sent salt from Echigo to Kai. This act was called “righteous salt” and has been passed down as a symbol of the bushido spirit.
However, many researchers question the historical accuracy of this anecdote, considering that there may have been economic reasons or political motives behind it. Nevertheless, this inspiring story was widely beloved from the Edo period through the Meiji period and became established as a phrase representing the bushido ideal of “helping even enemies when they are in trouble.”
Even today, this origin is introduced in many dictionaries and literature, and it continues to be passed down as a proverb representing Japanese virtues.
Interesting Facts
During the Warring States period, salt was a precious strategic resource beyond modern imagination. Without salt, food preservation was impossible and maintaining soldiers’ physical strength became difficult, so cutting off salt supply was an effective tactic that fundamentally weakened the enemy’s military power.
Uesugi Kenshin’s territory of Echigo faced the Sea of Japan and had a thriving salt-making industry. On the other hand, Takeda Shingen’s Kai was a mountainous country where obtaining salt was difficult, so this difference in geographical conditions makes this anecdote even more impressive.
Usage Examples
- Providing technical information to a rival company when they’re in trouble is truly an act of “send salt to enemy”
- His lending the speech venue to the opposing candidate who was struggling in the election might have been “send salt to enemy”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the interpretation of “send salt to enemy” has changed significantly. This is because with advancing globalization, the pure concept of “enemy” itself has become ambiguous.
In the business world, it’s not uncommon for yesterday’s competitor to become today’s partner. In such an environment, building long-term trust relationships is valued more than short-term competition, so acts of “send salt to enemy” are sometimes viewed as strategic investments. Indeed, there are many examples where cooperative relationships with competitors have generated new innovations.
On the other hand, with the spread of social media and the internet, cases of misuse of this proverb have increased. It is sometimes used simply to refer to benefiting the other party, or employed to beautify one’s own actions. The original noble spirituality of “showing humanitarian consideration while in an adversarial relationship” tends to fade.
However, precisely because we live in an era of unstable international situations, the essential value of this proverb is increasing. The importance of humanitarian aid that transcends conflict and cooperation that transcends political positions is being rerecognized, and the spirit of truly “send salt to enemy” is being called for.
When AI Hears This
Companies that use the “sending salt to the enemy” strategy in modern business are actually the most successful.
In 2016, Microsoft provided office software to its rival Apple. At first glance, this seemed like a foolish move that would strengthen the enemy. However, the results were remarkable. Microsoft software became available on Apple products, leading to a surge in users. Microsoft’s sales actually increased as a result.
This phenomenon operates through a mechanism called the “network effect.” In other words, the more people who use a service, the higher its value becomes. It’s the same principle as telephones—the more people who have them, the more convenient they become.
Even more interesting is the “compound effect of trust.” Companies that treat even their enemies fairly are evaluated by customers and investors as “trustworthy companies.” This trust grows like a snowball over time, ultimately generating enormous profits.
In fact, the ESG investment market (investment that emphasizes environment, society, and corporate governance) exceeded $35 trillion in 2020. Investors have begun prioritizing long-term trust over short-term profits.
Companies that “send salt to the enemy” don’t defeat their competitors, but rather expand the overall industry pie. And as the most trusted company within that larger pie, they receive the greatest benefits.
Lessons for Today
What “send salt to enemy” teaches modern people is what true strength is. It’s easy to take advantage of an opponent’s weakness, but that only gains temporary advantage. True strength lies in the mental capacity to show fairness even to adversarial opponents.
In modern society, we live in an environment where emotional conflicts easily escalate, such as social media controversies and political opposition. It is precisely in such times that the spirit of this proverb can be applied. By choosing to build constructive relationships rather than completely defeating opponents, we can often achieve greater long-term results.
This proverb also serves as a guideline for elevating one’s own character. By extending a helping hand to troubled opponents, one can gain trust and respect from others. This ultimately becomes a great asset for oneself as well.
What’s important is not forgetting basic human compassion while acknowledging differences with others. Even when there is conflict, we should remember that there is another human being on the other side.
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