How to Read “鶴は千年、亀は万年”
Tsuru wa sennen, kame wa mannen
Meaning of “鶴は千年、亀は万年”
“Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years” is a proverb that expresses feelings of celebrating longevity and wishing for continued health and long life, based on the belief that cranes and turtles have extremely long lifespans.
This proverb is mainly used at celebratory occasions and auspicious events. At weddings, it’s used to wish the bride and groom everlasting happiness, and at longevity celebrations like 60th or 70th birthdays, it’s used to express the wish that they continue to live healthily for a long time. It’s also used at New Year’s greetings, store openings, and housewarming celebrations to wish for prosperity and longevity in new beginnings.
The reason for using this expression is that by mentioning specific animals like cranes and turtles, it makes the abstract concept of “longevity” more familiar and approachable. The numbers “thousand years” and “ten thousand years” also function as rhetorical devices expressing “an extremely long time” rather than actual years. Even today, this proverb is understood as a beautiful expression of blessing, and is cherished particularly as words that convey respect for elderly people and warm feelings wishing for the happiness of loved ones.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years” can be traced back to ancient Chinese immortal philosophy. In China, cranes and turtles have long been revered as symbols of longevity, and particularly in the Taoist world, they were objects of admiration for people wishing for eternal youth and immortality.
Regarding cranes, their elegant and mystical appearance led them to be called “immortal cranes,” often depicted as vehicles or messengers of immortals, and they were believed to live for a thousand years. On the other hand, turtles were thought to have extremely long lifespans due to their hard shells and slow movements, and were believed to live for ten thousand years.
This philosophy is said to have been introduced to Japan around the Nara period, and by the Heian period, it had already become established in court culture as words for praying for longevity. It came to be used particularly at celebratory occasions and festive events, and began appearing frequently in Noh theater and traditional songs.
During the Edo period, it became widely beloved among common people and was used as words wishing for longevity and happiness at life milestones such as weddings and 60th birthday celebrations. The reason we still often hear it at celebratory occasions today is because of this long history. It’s truly a proverb that has been loved across the ages, embodying Japanese people’s wishes for longevity.
Interesting Facts
The actual lifespan of cranes is about 20-30 years in the wild, and even in captivity only about 50-80 years, far short of a thousand years. Turtles also vary by species, but even the longest-living Galápagos tortoises live only about 150-200 years. However, in the era when this proverb was created, accurate lifespans were unknown, and these were numbers filled with people’s imagination and wishes.
In traditional Japanese weddings, items decorated with crane and turtle motifs are sometimes used as wedding favors. These are physical representations of the wish “Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years,” embodying prayers for the bride and groom’s longevity and happiness.
Usage Examples
- At grandpa’s 88th birthday celebration, I greeted him saying “Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years, please stay healthy for many more years”
- In a wedding speech, I said “Like ‘Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years,’ I wish for you both to live together harmoniously forever”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years” shows interesting changes. With advances in medical technology greatly extending human average lifespan, and in this era called the age of 100-year lifespans, the meaning of this proverb has become more realistic.
Longevity, which was once a pipe dream, has now become a familiar reality for many people. Therefore, rather than simply “living long,” perspectives emphasizing “how to live a fulfilling life” and “how to maintain healthy, high-quality living” have become more important. In modern times, when using this proverb, rather than just wishing for longevity, there’s a stronger meaning of praying for comprehensive happiness including healthy lifespan and quality of life.
On the other hand, in rapidly changing modern society, the concept of “sustainability” is highly valued, and this longevity proverb is sometimes used metaphorically in the context of corporate management and environmental issues. It’s used as an expression wishing for permanence and stability, such as “May this company continue like ‘Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years.'”
Also, while opportunities for face-to-face celebrations have decreased with the advancement of SNS and digitalization, this proverb continues to be cherished as an expression deeply rooted in Japanese hearts, used in message cards and congratulatory words. As words with classical beauty, they continue to hold special resonance for modern people.
When AI Hears This
In ancient China, “thousand” and “ten thousand” weren’t merely large numbers—they were sacred “completion numbers” representing the structure of the universe. A thousand is 10 to the third power, and ten thousand is 10 to the fourth power, marking crucial milestones in the decimal system. But beyond their mathematical significance, what’s truly remarkable is how these numbers indicated the hierarchy of heaven and earth.
“Thousand” represented the completion of the earthly realm, while “ten thousand” symbolized the completion of the heavenly realm. In ancient Chinese cosmology, heaven was considered superior to earth, and this hierarchy was reflected in the numbers themselves. Thus, the turtle’s “thousand years” expressed the ultimate lifespan for a ground-crawling creature of the earthly realm, while the crane’s “ten thousand years” represented the ultimate lifespan for a sky-soaring being of the heavenly realm.
What’s even more fascinating is how this numerical choice aligned with yin-yang philosophy. The even-based “thousand” (1000) corresponded to the turtle with its yin nature, while “ten thousand” (10000), containing odd elements, matched the crane with its yang nature.
Additionally, ancient Chinese calendar systems used a concept called “jiazi”—60-year cycles. A thousand years equals approximately 16.7 cycles, while ten thousand years equals about 166.7 cycles, suggesting these numbers were chosen with cosmic circulation patterns in mind.
This proverb wasn’t simply a superficial wish for longevity—it was an extraordinarily calculated philosophical expression that crystallized ancient Chinese precision in mathematical thinking and cosmological understanding.
Lessons for Today
What “Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years” teaches us modern people is how to express caring for important people. In our busy daily lives, we tend to take others’ health and happiness for granted. However, this proverb reminds us of the importance of expressing the feeling “I want you to stay healthy forever” in beautiful words.
In modern society, precisely because we live in an era where we can easily send messages via SNS, the weight of heartfelt words has increased. By adding the words “Crane is thousand years, turtle is ten thousand years” to birthdays and anniversaries, we can convey deep love and respect to others.
Also, this proverb gives us suggestions about our own way of living. Both the crane’s elegance and the turtle’s steadiness are depicted as secrets to longevity. Modern people can also learn the importance of maintaining beauty and dignity while continuing steady and solid progress. A way of life that moves forward surely without rushing or being impatient might lead to a truly rich life. Why don’t you try putting this warm wish into words for your important people, and for yourself as well?
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