How to Read “登竜門”
Tōryūmon
Meaning of “登竜門”
“Climbing dragon gate” refers to an important gateway to advancement in life or success – in other words, a difficult trial or challenge that, once overcome, promises great leaps forward.
This term is used not for mere difficulties, but for crucial turning points where breaking through can dramatically change one’s life. For example, it’s used for entrance exams to prestigious universities, rigorous job interviews, auditions in the entertainment industry, important competitions in sports – situations where success opens doors all at once.
What’s important is that this “gate” is open to everyone. Like carp climbing a waterfall, anyone with effort and talent can take on the challenge. However, it also encompasses the harsh reality that while many people attempt it, only a select few actually break through. In modern times, it’s also used to mean an essential checkpoint for gaining recognition in a field, as in “That award is a climbing dragon gate for young writers.” In other words, it’s a term that expresses an important gateway that is difficult but fair, and brings great change upon success.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “climbing dragon gate” lies in a legend recorded in the ancient Chinese text “Book of the Later Han.” It comes from the tale of “carp climbing the waterfall,” where there was a rapid waterfall called Dragon Gate in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, and only carp that climbed to the top could transform into dragons.
This Dragon Gate was located in the Yellow River gorge at the current border between Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, known as a treacherous spot with fierce currents and steep rocky cliffs. Many carp would attempt to climb this waterfall, but most would exhaust themselves and be swept away. However, only a few carp could overcome this difficulty and successfully climb the waterfall.
It’s said to have been introduced to Japan around the Heian period through Chinese literature, and by the Edo period, it was widely used among samurai and merchants. Particularly in samurai society, which valued advancement in life, this term held great significance. The “carp streamers” still used today are deeply connected to this tale, embodying wishes for children’s growth and success in life. This ancient Chinese legend has taken deep root in the Japanese heart and continues to be passed down to the present day.
Interesting Facts
The height of the Dragon Gate waterfall was actually only about 3 meters, but for ancient Chinese people, it was an unimaginably difficult obstacle. Even today, this location is registered as a World Heritage site as the “Longmen Grottoes,” attracting many tourists.
Interestingly, in this tale, “carp that couldn’t climb to the top would get a black spot on their forehead.” This is one of the reasons why carp with black spots on their foreheads are still depicted in Chinese and Japanese paintings today.
Usage Examples
- For him, this upcoming audition will be a climbing dragon gate into the entertainment industry
- This certification exam is said to be a climbing dragon gate in the industry, so I absolutely want to pass
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “climbing dragon gate” has come to have more complex and diverse meanings. As the traditional lifetime employment system has collapsed and career diversification has progressed, there’s a growing recognition that multiple climbing dragon gates exist in life.
In the IT industry, programming contests and technical certifications function as new climbing dragon gates. With the spread of YouTube and social media, climbing dragon gates for individuals to gain influence have also emerged. Creating viral videos and gaining followers could be called the modern version of “climbing the waterfall.”
Meanwhile, due to changes in academic society, the meaning of university entrance exams as traditional climbing dragon gates is also changing. Diverse evaluation criteria have emerged, and continuous learning and achievements are being emphasized rather than just a single test.
Due to globalization, studying abroad and obtaining international qualifications are gaining attention as new climbing dragon gates. Entrepreneurship has also become a common choice, with success in business contests and crowdfunding becoming modern climbing dragon gates.
However, modern climbing dragon gates have lost the classical element of “once you break through, you’re set for life,” and are characterized by requiring continuous challenges. Precisely because we live in an era where technological progress is rapid and it’s difficult to rest on past successes, the attitude of continuing to learn even after breaking through a climbing dragon gate has become important.
When AI Hears This
The “Dragon Gate” in ancient China was an actual gorge located near the present-day border between Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, where the river’s waters cascaded through narrow rocky crevices as raging torrents. From this geographically treacherous terrain emerged the legend of “carp climbing the waterfall,” where only those carp that successfully ascended these torrents could transform into dragons—representing the ultimate success in life.
However, when we examine how “climbing the dragon gate” is used in modern Japan, we find a complete reversal has occurred. In expressions like “Koshien is the dragon gate to professional baseball” or “the bar exam is the dragon gate to the legal profession,” the dragon gate itself is no longer the goal, but rather treated as an “entrance” or “stepping stone” to larger objectives.
Behind this shift lies modern society’s concept of “progressive career development.” While ancient China featured a single great transformation that determined one’s entire life, today’s world follows a structure of sequentially breaking through multiple barriers: “high school → university → employment → promotion.” Consequently, the “dragon gate” has been reinterpreted not as a final destination, but as a “passport to the next stage.”
This represents a fascinating example of how a geographically-rooted, once-in-a-lifetime absolute trial has transformed into a series of continuous waypoints through changes in social systems.
Lessons for Today
What “climbing dragon gate” teaches us today is that there are always important gateways in life that must be overcome. These are never just once, but opportunities for growth that appear at each stage of life.
What’s important is not to fear climbing dragon gates, but to view them as opportunities to elevate ourselves. If we don’t challenge ourselves out of fear of failure, we’ll miss opportunities for growth. Even if we can’t break through on the first try, that experience will surely be utilized in the next challenge.
In modern society, the forms of climbing dragon gates have diversified. Beyond traditional education and employment, we can find our own climbing dragon gates in various fields such as acquiring new technologies, building human relationships, and creative activities.
Also, if we aim to surpass yesterday’s self rather than comparing with others, any small challenge can become a worthy climbing dragon gate. Regardless of age or position, the attitude of constantly seeking growth is the true value this term conveys. Surely wonderful climbing dragon gates await in your life too. Please find them and have the courage to take on the challenge.
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