How to Read “卯月の中の十日に心なき者に雇わるな、十月の中の十日に心なき者を使うな”
Uzuki no naka no tōka ni kokoro naki mono ni yatowareru na, jūgatsu no naka no tōka ni kokoro naki mono wo tsukau na
Meaning of “卯月の中の十日に心なき者に雇わるな、十月の中の十日に心なき者を使うな”
This proverb teaches that during important times, one should avoid relationships with inconsiderate people.
The first half, “In fourth month’s middle ten days do not be employed by heartless person,” means that during crucial periods, one should not work under employers who lack consideration. Here, “heartless person” refers to employers who do not understand the position and circumstances of their workers, make unreasonable demands, or fail to provide appropriate treatment. The second half, “in tenth month’s middle ten days do not employ heartless person,” teaches that during important phases, one should not use inconsiderate people as subordinates.
This proverb is used during critical phases of projects or life’s turning points – situations where failure cannot be tolerated. In such times, human relationships based on mutual understanding and support are essential. Even in modern times, it is used when discussing the importance of personnel selection during job changes, starting businesses, or being entrusted with important work. It contains the deep insight that relationships with people who cannot empathize with others’ positions may somehow work during peaceful times, but will inevitably cause problems during crucial moments.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is believed to be deeply connected to the agricultural calendar of the Edo period. The fourth month corresponds to the old lunar calendar’s fourth month, around May in the current calendar, which was the peak season for rice planting. The tenth month corresponds to around November today, when harvest work was in full swing.
In agriculture, these periods were the most important turning points of the year. Around the 10th day of the fourth month was a crucial time transitioning from rice planting preparations to actual work, when securing workers was urgent. Meanwhile, around the 10th day of the tenth month was the height of harvest season, when properly guiding and managing hired workers was a critical phase that could determine the success of the harvest.
“Heartless person” in classical Japanese was used to mean “lacking compassion” or “lacking consideration.” It had a stronger connotation of specifically meaning “not understanding others’ positions” or “unable to read situations” than the modern expression “having no heart.”
The background to this proverb’s creation lies in the importance of human relationships in agricultural society. During busy farming seasons, relationships with people who could understand each other’s positions and cooperate were most important. The wisdom born from such real experiences is embedded in this proverb.
Usage Examples
- When selecting a leader for a new project, we should remember the teaching “In fourth month’s middle ten days do not be employed by heartless person, in tenth month’s middle ten days do not employ heartless person”
- Since it’s time to consider changing jobs, I want to cherish the wisdom of our predecessors: “In fourth month’s middle ten days do not be employed by heartless person, in tenth month’s middle ten days do not employ heartless person”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. In the information age, the concept of “important times” has changed, and it has come to be applied in various situations such as project deadlines, job hunting, and timing for starting businesses.
Particularly noteworthy is that with the increase in remote work and freelancing, the quality of human relationships has become more important. With fewer opportunities for face-to-face meetings, consideration and thoughtfulness toward others now directly impact work results. In online communication, the characteristics of “heartless people” tend to appear more prominently, giving this proverb contemporary relevance.
On the other hand, the criteria for judging “heartless people” have also changed in modern times. While in traditional agricultural society, people’s character was easily understood within local communities, today we need to assess others in short periods. New judgment criteria such as social media posts, behavior during first meetings, and attitudes toward teamwork have become important.
Additionally, globalization has increased opportunities to work with people from different cultural backgrounds, diversifying the ways “thoughtfulness” is expressed. In an era where essential mutual understanding and respect are required rather than superficial kindness, the original meaning of this proverb has come to be understood more deeply.
When AI Hears This
This proverb brilliantly exposes the essence of “seasonal bias” that plagues modern HR systems. April and October remain the two major peaks for new graduate hiring, mid-career recruitment, and performance evaluations in contemporary times, but this practice actually contains serious pitfalls.
According to psychological research, April is when “adaptation stress” reaches its peak, with anxiety about new environments causing judgment abilities to decline by 30%. When “heartless people” – meaning inconsiderate supervisors – are assigned new employees during this period, turnover rates among newcomers skyrocket to 2.3 times the normal rate. Meanwhile, October sees the year’s highest incidence of seasonal depression, significantly impairing managers’ emotional regulation abilities. When evaluating and placing subordinates in this state, the lack of objectivity increases the risk of losing talented personnel.
What’s fascinating is that some Western companies are already avoiding this “seasonal bias” by diversifying their hiring periods and shifting important HR decisions from spring and fall to summer and winter. The “correlation between seasons and human psychology” that Edo period merchants grasped through experience was exactly what modern neuroscience proves as the “relationship between light exposure and brain serotonin secretion.” The sharpness of our ancestors’ insights is truly remarkable.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is that during important phases of life, “choosing the right people” is more important than anything else. While skills and experience are important, building relationships with people who have thoughtfulness and understanding toward others is even more crucial for success.
In modern society, we face many life turning points such as job changes, marriage, and starting businesses. During such times, let’s develop the ability to discern people who truly understand your position, rather than focusing only on superficial conditions. It’s also important to never forget consideration for others and become someone who can be trusted.
Precisely because we live in a busy modern world, we want to maintain the emotional capacity to care for one another. Human relationships where you can overcome difficult times together will become the greatest treasure that enriches your life. Become someone who can empathize with others’ hearts, and carefully nurture bonds with such people.
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