How to Read “馬も買わずに鞍を買う”
Uma mo kawazu ni kura wo kau
Meaning of “馬も買わずに鞍を買う”
This proverb expresses the foolishness of getting the order of things wrong and starting with accessories before preparing the essential items.
Without the horse itself, no matter how magnificent a saddle you buy, it’s completely meaningless. This is a teaching that warns against behavior where one becomes preoccupied with superficial decorations and accessories without establishing basic preparations and foundations. Even in modern times, it’s used in situations where people acquire expensive tools despite having insufficient skills or knowledge, or try to start with advanced matters while neglecting basic preparations.
This proverb is used when someone’s actions are putting the cart before the horse, or when reflecting on one’s own actions. It becomes particularly effective expression when pointing out situations where practicality and rationality are lost due to excessive emphasis on appearances and formalities. It’s practical wisdom that teaches the importance of proceeding with things in proper order through concrete and easy-to-understand metaphors.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to be deeply connected to merchant culture during the Edo period. At that time, horses were important means of transportation for samurai and merchants, and were expensive property. To keep horses, the natural order was to first purchase the horse itself, then acquire horse equipment such as saddles and reins.
Saddles were particularly important among horse equipment placed on the horse’s back, and good quality ones cost considerable amounts. However, without a horse, a saddle is a completely useless tool. From such circumstances, it’s presumed that this expression was born to warn against actions taken in the wrong order.
As commerce developed during the Edo period, merchants came to value efficient ways of conducting business. The foolishness of starting with accessories without preparing basic items was a typical pattern that led to business failure. Therefore, this proverb is thought to have spread among merchants as a cautionary saying.
Also, in the samurai world, horsemanship was an important skill. The sight of someone unfamiliar with handling horses purchasing only a magnificent saddle first for show would have appeared ridiculous to those around them. Such social background became the foundation for this to establish itself as a proverb.
Interesting Facts
Saddles during the Edo period were also craftworks finished by hand by artisans. Luxury saddles were decorated with gold and silver, and their prices sometimes equaled that of one horse. In other words, this proverb might have been expressing the more serious waste of “buying equally expensive items in an unusable order.”
Similar situations can be seen frequently even in modern times. For example, even if cooking beginners buy complete sets of high-end knives, if they don’t know basic cutting techniques, it becomes a waste of treasure. The lesson that the value of tools can only be demonstrated when one has the skills to master them seems unchanged across eras.
Usage Examples
- Collecting only high-performance computers before learning programming is like “Horse also not buying saddle buy”
- Even if you acquire luxury golf clubs while skipping basic practice, it might end up being “Horse also not buying saddle buy”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. In the information age, “starting with form” is not necessarily always bad, and such situations have increased.
For example, when starting remote work, first organizing the work environment can boost motivation and ultimately lead to success. Using high-quality tools can increase one’s seriousness toward that field and improve learning motivation. In the world of YouTubers and influencers, starting with appearance and equipment first can sometimes be an important strategy.
However, modern-specific “Horse also not buying saddle buy” phenomena are also conspicuous. This includes purchasing expensive brand items for show on social media, or investing in the latest software and equipment without accompanying skills. Particularly with the spread of subscription services today, many people continue paying monthly fees for apps and services they cannot fully utilize.
What’s important is discerning the boundary between “starting with form” and “putting the cart before the horse.” If tools and environment become motivation for learning and growth, they have value, but if one acts based solely on vanity or admiration, this proverb’s warning applies. In modern times, being constantly aware of purpose and means has become even more crucial.
When AI Hears This
In the age of social media, we’re constantly buying “digital saddles.” We purchase expensive cameras while remaining at beginner photography levels, invest in professional video editing software without learning basic operations, and collect branded workout gear only to abandon exercise routines after three days—these phenomena are surprisingly common in modern society.
Psychology’s “compensatory behavior” theory explains that people tend to fill internal anxieties and feelings of inadequacy with external material possessions. This tendency has accelerated now that social media has made “showing off” a daily norm. The desire to appear competent to followers bypasses the steady process of actual skill development, leading instead to the quick purchase of “tools that look the part.”
Even more fascinating is the brain’s illusion mechanism that creates a sense of accomplishment the moment we buy equipment. Neuroscience research shows that even preparatory actions toward goal achievement trigger dopamine release in the brain, providing temporary satisfaction. In other words, purchasing expensive gear gives us a sense of achievement as if we’d actually acquired the skills.
This “fake preparation” diverts attention from the real purpose—developing actual competence—and ultimately hinders growth. True fulfillment can only come from the steady accumulation of practice and experience.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us modern people is the importance of the spirit of “haste makes waste.” When starting something, we tend to focus on visible results and glamorous aspects, but what’s truly important is building invisible foundations.
In modern society, partly due to social media influence, there’s a tendency to emphasize “visual glamour.” However, this proverb reminds us that long-term success and satisfaction come from steady foundation-building.
When challenging something new, first consider “what is the horse for me?” For language learning, it’s basic grammar; for cooking, it’s knife skills; for work, it’s fundamental skills. If you proceed while valuing these, the “saddle” you acquire later will surely demonstrate its true value.
You don’t need to wait until perfect preparation is complete, but by being conscious of order, your efforts will become more fruitful. Those who value basics are the ones who can ultimately go the farthest.
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