How to Read “What the elderly say and a cow’s crupper never come off”
Toshiyori no iu koto to ushi no shiri-gai wa hazurenai
Meaning of “What the elderly say and a cow’s crupper never come off”
This proverb means that advice from elders and a cow’s crupper both never come off. In other words, they are absolutely reliable.
Elderly people who have lived long lives possess deep insights and wisdom that younger generations often miss. Their words are as dependable as a cow’s crupper, which is carefully made to function reliably during farm work.
People use this proverb when young people try to dismiss advice from their elders. It also applies when someone should listen to experienced people’s opinions.
The saying teaches the importance of humbly accepting wisdom from those who came before us. Today, nuclear families are common and generations interact less. Still, the value of life experience accumulated by our seniors remains unchanged.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records document the origin of this proverb. However, the structure of the phrase reveals an interesting background.
A “crupper” is a leather strap that goes around the rear of an ox or horse to pull a cart. We rarely see them today.
In Japan’s agricultural society, oxen were essential labor. They plowed fields and carried loads. When pulling ox-carts, the crupper had to be firmly secured. If it came loose, the cart would detach and cause a serious accident.
Experienced farmers paid careful attention to attaching the crupper. They developed techniques to ensure it would never come off.
Meanwhile, the reliability of what elderly people say represents respect for wisdom gained through years of experience. Knowledge about farming and daily life passed down orally, not through books. Advice from elders was crucial for safety and success in life.
By pairing these two things, the proverb expresses strong confidence that “both are absolutely reliable.” The comparison method contrasts a concrete, familiar tool with the abstract concept of elder wisdom.
This expression likely arose naturally within Japanese farming culture.
Interesting Facts
A cow’s crupper was not just a simple rope. It was a sturdy tool made from multiple layers of thick leather.
Once properly attached, it would not easily come off even when pulling heavy loads. The structure showcased the craftsman’s skill. This reliability made it a perfect metaphor for the trustworthiness of elder advice.
Interestingly, this proverb uses the negative form “never come off.” Instead of directly saying “reliable,” it describes a concrete state. This conveys even stronger certainty.
Usage Examples
- I started my business against my father’s wishes, but what the elderly say and a cow’s crupper never come off, so maybe I should consult him again
- I thought my grandmother’s health methods were old-fashioned, but what the elderly say and a cow’s crupper never come off—when I tried them, my health really improved
Universal Wisdom
Behind this proverb lies the universal theme of passing down wisdom through human society. In every era and culture, young people look toward new possibilities.
Sometimes they feel tempted to dismiss experienced people’s advice as outdated. This rebellious impulse is necessary for growth. But it can also become a dangerous pitfall.
The wisdom that elders possess is not just accumulated knowledge. It is living wisdom, refined through repeated failures, experienced pain, and various human relationships.
The true nature of people and the real value of things only become visible after years pass. Young people cannot understand these insights at first. No amount of reading books or searching the internet can provide them.
The proverb’s reference to the concrete tool of a cow’s crupper is fascinating. Our ancestors did not use abstract lectures.
Instead, they compared elder wisdom to something reliable that everyone knew from daily life. This shows that wisdom itself is rooted in everyday living.
Everyone grows old. Young people today will eventually become elders who pass something to the next generation. This proverb quietly but powerfully teaches the importance of this chain of wisdom across generations.
When AI Hears This
When you want to transmit information reliably, repeating the same content multiple times is actually most effective. Information theory calls this principle “redundancy.”
For example, when sending data over the internet, important information is always transmitted multiple times. Even if some parts get corrupted along the way, you can restore the correct information from other parts.
Elderly people repeating the same stories and cow cruppers being wrapped multiple times both embody this redundancy principle. If you say something only once, people might miss it. If you use just one rope, it might break.
So you repeat. So you make it multiple layers. This is not waste—it is a strategy to increase reliability.
Interestingly, Claude Shannon, the founder of information theory, calculated the “optimal redundancy” ratio. English text is about 50 percent redundant. In other words, half is “unnecessary for meaning,” yet that redundancy allows us to understand even when we miss some parts.
Both cow cruppers and elder advice use repetition that may seem bothersome. But this is actually wisdom for reliably transmitting information to the next generation.
When you pursue efficiency and cut away redundancy, systems become fragile all at once.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the value of humility. In today’s information-flooded era, we easily fall into the illusion that we can know anything by searching.
However, truly important wisdom dwells in the words of people who have actually lived life.
Try listening again to the elderly people around you. Even if you cannot understand at first, the meaning of their words might suddenly click years later.
This happens because you can only understand that kind of wisdom after gaining experience yourself.
At the same time, this proverb is an investment in your future self. By humbly learning from your seniors now, you can someday become a trusted advisor to someone else.
Wisdom does not complete in one generation. It is inherited and refined across generations.
Do not rush or hurry. Walk your own path while treasuring the signposts that life’s seniors have left for you. That humility will help you grow in the truest sense.
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