How to Read “When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves for it”
Usagi shisureba kitsune kore wo kanashimu
Meaning of “When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves for it”
“When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves for it” means that when someone in a similar position faces misfortune, others in the same situation feel deep sadness as if it happened to them.
This is not simple sympathy. Because they share the same position, the pain and suffering feel personal, not distant.
This proverb is used when colleagues or people in similar circumstances face difficulties. For example, when someone in the same profession receives unfair treatment, others in that position strongly empathize and feel pain.
It comes from the feeling that “it could be me tomorrow” and the deep solidarity between those who know the same struggles.
Even in modern society, this feeling remains relevant. Among people working in the same industry, facing the same difficulties, or placed in similar positions, special empathy emerges.
It is a feeling of deep understanding and solidarity that goes beyond surface-level sympathy.
Origin and Etymology
The clear source of this proverb likely comes from ancient Chinese classics. Similar expressions appear in books like “Zhanguoce” (Strategies of the Warring States) and “Huainanzi,” suggesting it came to Japan from there.
Let’s look at the structure of the phrase. Both rabbits and foxes are animals hunted by humans. They might compete in nature, but before the powerful presence of humans, they are both in the same weak position.
When the rabbit dies and the fox grieves, this scene might seem strange at first. However, it expresses the urgent feeling of “it could be me tomorrow.”
The background of this expression comes from people’s anxiety during times of war. People at the mercy of those in power saw the misfortune of others in similar circumstances.
They felt fear and empathy, knowing they could face the same fate. This reality of human society was expressed through the image of animals.
In Japan, this proverb appears in documents from the Edo period, showing it has been passed down for generations. It beautifully captures the timeless human emotion of empathy for those like ourselves.
Interesting Facts
The rabbit and fox in this proverb have an ecologically interesting relationship. Both are mainly nocturnal, live in similar environments, and have a long history as targets of human hunting.
Since ancient times, people observed that these animals faced humans as a common threat.
In Chinese classics, a similar expression exists: “When the fox dies, the rabbit weeps.” The order of rabbit and fox is reversed, but the essential message is the same.
Whichever faces misfortune first, the other grieves. It expresses the deep empathy between those in similar positions.
Usage Examples
- When I heard that a colleague in the same industry received unfair treatment, “When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves for it” came to mind, and my heart truly ached
- When I heard news that a fellow freelancer lost work, the phrase “When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves for it” came to my mind
Universal Wisdom
The universal truth shown by “When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves for it” is the power of empathy that humans naturally possess and the deep solidarity felt between those in similar positions.
Why has this proverb been passed down for hundreds of years? Because “the bond between those living in similar circumstances” has been important across all eras of human society.
We all find ourselves in weak positions in some way. Before power, before fate, before great forces, we sometimes become powerless beings.
At such times, the suffering of someone in the same position stops being someone else’s problem. It is fear, empathy, and the beginning of solidarity.
What this proverb teaches us is the depth of human emotion. Beyond logic, we can feel the pain of those in similar positions as our own pain.
It might be survival instinct, or it might be our essence as social animals. But this emotion is what has connected people and given them the power to support each other.
Our ancestors understood this. People cannot live alone. By joining hands with those in similar circumstances and sharing each other’s pain, they could overcome difficulties.
This universal wisdom continues to send an important message to us living in modern times.
When AI Hears This
Rabbits and foxes normally compete over grass to eat and living space. But both face a common threat: being hunted by humans.
When we think about this with game theory, an interesting structure emerges.
In normal competitive relationships, when your opponent weakens, your share increases, which benefits you. But when a common threat exists, the calculation changes.
For example, if the rabbit population decreases, hunters will concentrate on targeting foxes next. In other words, the competitor’s existence actually acts as a shield that disperses attacks on you.
We call this the “risk distribution effect.”
What’s even more interesting is that this situation becomes the reverse pattern of the “prisoner’s dilemma.” In the normal prisoner’s dilemma, betrayal becomes the optimal strategy in situations where cooperation should happen.
But when the common threat is large enough, the survival of the other increases your own survival probability, making cooperation the rational choice.
Even in actual ecosystems, when predators appear, herbivores that normally compete form herds together. Being in a group, even with different species, lowers the probability of being targeted by predators compared to being alone.
This proverb expressed in emotional language the critical point where a common threat reverses competitive relationships into cooperative ones.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the power of empathy and the importance of solidarity. In our competitive modern society, we tend to see others as rivals.
But in reality, aren’t most of us in similar positions, facing similar difficulties?
When a colleague receives unfair treatment, when someone in the same industry faces difficulties, don’t think “it’s not my problem.” Instead, feel “it could be me tomorrow.”
This feeling is the first step in connecting people and creating communities where we support each other.
To apply this in modern society, first look at people in the same position as you. Empathize with their struggles and difficulties, and reach out within your means.
This will eventually become a force that supports you too. People cannot live alone. When those in similar circumstances join hands, a stronger and kinder society is born.
Around you, there must be people working hard in the same position. Cherish your bonds with them.
That will enrich your own life as well.
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