How to Read “魚は殿様に焼かせよ、餅は乞食に焼かせよ”
Uo wa tonosama ni yakaseyo, mochi wa kojiki ni yakaseyo
Meaning of “魚は殿様に焼かせよ、餅は乞食に焼かせよ”
This proverb teaches us that everything has its appropriate method and mindset.
If fish is grilled hastily, only the surface will burn while the inside remains raw, or the flesh will fall apart. That’s why it needs to be grilled slowly and carefully over time. On the other hand, rice cakes will burn or expand too much and burst if not grilled quickly. They are ingredients that require swift judgment and rapid action.
This proverb is used in situations where one should choose the appropriate approach when doing something. It expresses the importance of taking time for matters that require caution and responding quickly to matters where speed is important. Even today, this teaching is applied in various situations, such as how to proceed with projects and how to interact with people. Rather than proceeding with everything using the same uniform method, this is the wisdom of our ancestors who clearly conveyed the importance of discerning the nature of things and choosing the optimal method, using familiar cooking as an easy-to-understand example.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb lies in the culinary wisdom of the Edo period. People of that time had a deep understanding of the different properties of fish and rice cakes as ingredients.
When grilling fish, it was important to take time and grill it carefully. If grilled with the leisurely mindset of a lord who has plenty of time and is not rushed, the fish would turn out delicious without losing its flavor. On the other hand, it was essential to grill rice cakes quickly. If one dawdled, they would burn or expand too much and tear.
The contrast between “lord” and “beggar” does not simply represent differences in social status, but symbolically expresses the presence or absence of time constraints. Lords were not pressed for time, while beggars represented situations of constant urgency.
Behind the creation of this proverb lies the keen observational skills and practical wisdom of Edo period people. In their daily lives, they discovered the optimal cooking methods for each ingredient and passed them down to future generations in the form of memorable contrasts. Through the familiar act of cooking, this became established as a life-rooted lesson teaching that there are appropriate methods and timing for everything.
Interesting Facts
In Edo period cookbooks, the expression “distant strong fire” frequently appears regarding heat control when grilling fish. This means maintaining an appropriate distance from the charcoal fire and grilling slowly, which perfectly matches the teaching of “should be grilled by lord.”
The “mochi-ami” (rice cake grilling nets) used as tools for grilling rice cakes were made with much finer mesh than modern grilling nets. This was a device to prevent rice cakes from falling through the mesh when they expanded, illustrating the necessity of quick grilling.
Usage Examples
- Let’s train new employees with the spirit of “Fish should be grilled by lord, rice cakes should be grilled by beggar,” taking plenty of time to develop them carefully
- With this project’s deadline approaching, we need to proceed with “Fish should be grilled by lord, rice cakes should be grilled by beggar” prioritizing speed, or we won’t make it in time
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the teaching of this proverb has become even more important. In our information age, we tend to constantly demand speed, but not everything should be rushed through.
Looking at business scenarios, new product planning and important contract negotiations need to proceed carefully like “grilling fish as a lord would,” taking sufficient time. On the other hand, social media information dissemination and responding to trends require acting quickly like “grilling rice cakes as a beggar would,” without missing the timing.
With technological advancement, we can now process many things simultaneously. However, this makes the ability to discern the nature of things even more important. Even as AI automation advances, we need to determine which tasks to entrust to machines and which decisions humans should take time to make.
The same applies to human relationships. Building deep trust requires careful communication over time, but emergency support and encouragement require swift responses. For modern people, this proverb has become more than just culinary wisdom—it serves as a guide for living an efficient and high-quality life.
When AI Hears This
The paradox of skill acquisition revealed in this proverb seems to have foreseen the educational disparities of modern society.
Grilling fish requires the “art of waiting,” and those in privileged positions like lords, who have ample time, are more likely to master this delicate technique. The economic security of knowing there’s another fish available if they fail enables skill improvement through trial and error. Meanwhile, grilling rice cakes is a battle of quick reflexes and concentration. Too much heat burns them, too little makes them tough. Those in desperate situations, like beggars living on the edge of survival, develop razor-sharp instincts for this “make-or-break” technique.
What’s fascinating is that we see the same structure in modern education systems. Wealthy children have more opportunities to engage with “time-intensive skills” like music and art, while children from poverty tend to acquire practical, immediately useful skills early on.
Yet ironically, society often demands the opposite skills. The elite are expected to have practical problem-solving abilities, while working-class people are sought after for long-term vision and aesthetic sense. This proverb sharply illustrates the structural contradictions of skill acquisition in class-based society through the everyday act of cooking.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is “don’t try to solve everything with one method.” Precisely because efficiency is emphasized now, let’s have the courage to stop and think.
Is what you’re working on now “fish” that should be approached with plenty of time? Or is it “rice cakes” that require swift action? When you can make this distinction, you’ll be freed from unnecessary anxiety and able to concentrate on what’s truly important.
The same applies to human relationships. Take time to face those with whom you want to build deep bonds, and don’t hesitate to extend help in emergencies. This balance creates a rich life.
Aren’t you sometimes unable to move because you seek perfection, or conversely, rushing everything and becoming careless? This proverb speaks gently to the hearts of such modern people. By cultivating an eye for discerning the essence of things and taking appropriate action at appropriate timing, your daily life should become much more fulfilling.
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