How to Read “烏合の衆”
Ugou no shuu
Meaning of “烏合の衆”
“Crow gathering of crowd” is a proverb that refers to a crowd that lacks control or discipline and is merely gathered together.
This expression is used to critically describe groups that lack cohesion or leadership as an organization. While it may appear on the surface that many people have gathered, it actually refers to groups that lack common goals or clear leadership and would scatter when the crucial moment comes.
In political contexts, it may refer to political organizations that are not united by policies or ideologies, and in companies, it is used to describe departments that lack teamwork or organizations that do not share common goals. This expression also applies to crowds that have gathered based only on temporary emotions or interests.
The reason for using this proverb is to show the need to not be misled by apparent scale or numbers, but to discern the essential strength and cohesion of a group. It is an expression containing deep insight that makes us think about what true organizational power really is.
Origin and Etymology
“Crow gathering of crowd” is a term that originates from the Chinese classic “Book of the Later Han.” This expression comes from the original Chinese phrase “乌合之众” used in Chinese historical texts and was transmitted to Japan through classical Chinese literature.
“Crow” refers to crows, and “gathering” means to come together. When you observe how crows flock together, there are indeed interesting characteristics. When crows are startled by something or find food, they all become agitated at once and scatter in different directions. They show movements as if they lack coordination.
In ancient China, this behavior of crow flocks began to be used as a metaphor for human groups. It was particularly used in military contexts to describe untrained soldiers or crowds without leaders.
In Japan, this expression began to be used along with knowledge of classical Chinese literature from around the Heian period, and by the Edo period, it had become established as a common proverb. It is a proverb with a long history that is still frequently used in political and organizational contexts today.
Interesting Facts
Crows are actually known as highly intelligent birds and often act cooperatively in flocks. However, ancient people probably felt they lacked coordination when they saw crows flying around while noisily calling to each other.
Interestingly, as military terminology, expressions like “elite troops” and “iron unity” are used as antonyms to “Crow gathering of crowd,” and a culture of clearly distinguishing differences in organizational quality has existed since ancient times.
Usage Examples
- That political party may have many members, but in the end it’s just a Crow gathering of crowd that can’t agree on policies
- Looking closely at the social media controversy, it was just a Crow gathering of crowd making noise
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “Crow gathering of crowd” has taken on new meaning. Particularly with the spread of social media and the internet, where large numbers of people can gather instantly, the importance of this term may actually be increasing.
Online, tens of thousands of people can comment on the same topic with a single hashtag, but much of this is based on temporary emotional reactions and often lacks sustained action or organizational power. This can truly be called a modern version of “Crow gathering of crowd.”
On the other hand, modern times also emphasize “diversity” and “respect for individuality.” The value judgment inherent in the traditional expression “Crow gathering of crowd” that “uncontrolled = bad” may sometimes need reconsideration. This is because groups of diverse talent with free thinking may have more potential to generate innovation than overly controlled organizations.
However, from the perspective of goal achievement and problem-solving, unified direction and clear role division are still essential. Modern organizational theory emphasizes the importance of balancing “control” and “freedom,” and rather than simply rejecting “Crow gathering of crowd,” wisdom is required to discern in what situations unity is necessary.
When AI Hears This
In today’s internet landscape, anonymous crowds once dismissed as “rabble” are achieving remarkable results. When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, ordinary citizens shared disaster information on Google Maps faster than government agencies, dramatically improving rescue operation efficiency. This stands as a powerful example of crowd intelligence without central command.
Collective intelligence research reveals a fascinating principle called the “diversity prediction theorem.” A group’s predictive accuracy depends more strongly on “diversity among members” than on individual average ability. In other words, amateur groups with varied backgrounds can sometimes produce more accurate answers to complex problems than elite groups with uniform training.
Wikipedia perfectly demonstrates this theory in action. Countless editors without specialized training have achieved accuracy equal to or exceeding that of Encyclopedia Britannica. A 2005 Nature study proved that Wikipedia matched Britannica’s accuracy in scientific articles.
Today’s “rabble” can efficiently aggregate individual knowledge and intuition through digital technology. Rather than the “leaderless chaos” ancient China envisioned, these crowds now function as “self-organizing intelligence.”
Lessons for Today
The proverb “Crow gathering of crowd” teaches us something important as we live in modern times. It’s the importance of having the discernment to distinguish what true unity really is.
Around us are various groups and organizations. Workplace teams, local communities, online groups, and so on. Among these, we need the ability to distinguish truly valuable unity without being misled by superficial liveliness or large numbers.
At the same time, let’s think about the groups we ourselves belong to. Is your team able to cooperate toward common goals? Or has it become a state of just gathering together?
What’s important is not just criticizing, but thinking about what we can do to create better unity. Demonstrating leadership, bridging between members, proposing clear goal-setting. Each person’s small actions can transform a “Crow gathering of crowd” into a group with real power.
This proverb teaches us the importance of correctly recognizing the current situation as the first step toward improving organizational quality.
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