How to Read “瓜の蔓に茄子はならぬ”
Uri no tsuru ni nasubi wa naranu
Meaning of “瓜の蔓に茄子はならぬ”
This proverb expresses the meaning that there is an inevitable relationship between the nature and abilities of parents and children, and that children who do not resemble their parents are not born.
Just as only melons can grow on melon vines in the plant world, this expresses the natural law that humans also inherit the nature and characteristics of their parents. In particular, it speaks about the inheritance of genetic traits, stating that excellent parents produce excellent children, while other parents produce children accordingly. As for usage scenarios, it is often used when discussing children’s talents and personalities, or when explaining family characteristics. The reason this expression is used is to convey the complex concept of human genetic traits in an easily understandable way through the natural phenomenon of reliable plant heredity that everyone can understand. Even today, it is used when expressing how children resemble their parents, and is utilized in situations where we recognize the great influence of bloodlines and family lineage.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb stems from natural observation deeply rooted in Japan’s agricultural culture. Melons (uri) and eggplants (nasu) have both been cultivated in Japan since ancient times as summer vegetables, but botanically they belong to completely different families. Melons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, while eggplants belong to the Solanaceae family, each having unique growth patterns and characteristics.
Through years of experience, farmers witnessed daily the obvious fact that melon vines always bear melons and never bear eggplants. This natural law was a familiar example that anyone in Edo period agricultural society could understand.
Records of this as a proverb begin to appear in mid-Edo period literature. For people of that time, even though the genetic characteristics of plants could not be explained scientifically, they were phenomena that were reliably understood through empirical knowledge. The fact that eggplants do not grow on melon vines was an immutable law of nature, and this reliability came to be utilized as a lesson in various situations in human society.
This can truly be called a crystallization of distinctly Japanese wisdom that could only emerge from a society based on agriculture.
Interesting Facts
Although melons and eggplants may not look similar, both are vegetables with a long history that were already being cultivated in Japan during the Nara period. Interestingly, melons are vine plants that grow by crawling and spread to cover the ground, while eggplants have woody characteristics and grow upright. This difference in growth patterns may also be one of the reasons this proverb was chosen.
Edo period agricultural texts contain detailed descriptions of cultivation methods for melons and eggplants, suggesting that people of that time clearly understood the differences between these two plants. Particularly regarding the need for support stakes and watering frequency, completely different management methods were required, making them plants that farmers “absolutely must not confuse.”
Usage Examples
- That child being blessed with artistic talent is also because “Eggplants do not grow on melon vines” – both parents are painters
- As expected, “Eggplants do not grow on melon vines” – the son is also skilled at business like his father
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the way we view this proverb has changed significantly. With the development of genetics, it has been scientifically proven that there are indeed traits passed from parents to children, but at the same time, the importance of environmental factors has also become clear.
Particularly with the development of education and technology, it has become possible to develop talents in fields completely different from one’s parents, depending on the environment in which one is raised and one’s own efforts. Among young people active in the IT industry, there are many from farming and craftsman families, creating diverse career paths that transcend the traditional concept of “family business succession.”
Moreover, in modern times, there is a tendency to value “diversity” and “respect for individuality,” and finding one’s own way of life is encouraged rather than following the same path as one’s parents. For this reason, this proverb is sometimes perceived as representing “old-fashioned values.”
On the other hand, in sports and the arts, there are still many examples of parents and children being active in the same fields, and there are many situations where we can feel the influence of genetic predisposition. In modern times, it can be said that a balanced perspective is required – understanding this proverb as “one possibility” without interpreting it too deterministically.
When AI Hears This
What’s fascinating about this proverb is that it transforms a 100% scientifically certain fact into a moral lesson. Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae are completely different plant families, and it’s genetically impossible for an eggplant to grow from a melon vine. Yet humans have deliberately turned this “obvious biological fact” into a proverb, using it as a tool to justify deterministic views about bloodlines and inherited abilities.
Confirmation bias from psychology is at work here. People tend to overvalue evidence that supports their beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence. By invoking the “absolute scientific fact” of plant genetics, they attempt to give scientific authority to the belief that “human abilities are also determined by genetics.”
However, the reality of human capability development is far more complex than plant biology. Epigenetics research shows that environmental factors can alter gene expression, and educational psychology has demonstrated that a “growth mindset” significantly impacts ability improvement. In other words, unlike plants, humans are beings who can change dramatically through acquired factors.
This proverb harbors the danger of functioning as a “biological determinism trap” that replaces the complex possibilities of human potential with simple plant laws, thereby stealing hope for effort and environmental improvement while justifying the status quo.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of living in a way that values our roots while not being overly bound by them. Certainly, we inherit many things from our parents, but these are not limitations – they are starting points.
By understanding the traits we’ve inherited from our parents, we can see directions for utilizing our strengths. At the same time, challenging ourselves in fields different from our parents is not unnatural at all. This is because diverse possibilities are open in modern society.
What’s important is to accept the natural law that “melons grow on melon vines” while understanding that how we nurture and utilize those melons is up to us. On the foundation inherited from your parents, please nourish it with the nutrients of your own efforts and experiences to grow fruit that is uniquely yours.
Bloodline is a starting point, not a goal. What kind of wonderful fruit you grow in the field of your life is in your own hands.
Comments