How to Read “我が身の事は人に問え”
Waga mi no koto wa hito ni toe
Meaning of “我が身の事は人に問え”
This proverb means that if you want to know accurately about yourself, it’s best to ask other people.
Humans tend to think “I know myself best,” but in reality, it’s extremely difficult to objectively grasp our own shortcomings, problems, and sometimes even our strengths. Just as you can see your face in a mirror but not your back, others can see your true self better than you can.
This proverb is used when aiming for self-improvement and growth. It’s employed when seeking honest opinions from trustworthy people about aspects you don’t notice yourself, such as work evaluations, behavior in relationships, or personality traits. It’s a positive teaching that by setting aside pride and accepting others’ perspectives, you can become a better version of yourself. Even today, it’s understood as the importance of seeking feedback and is used as a phrase expressing a proactive attitude toward self-growth.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “One’s own body’s matter ask people,” the exact first literary appearance or time of establishment is actually unclear. However, the way of thinking expressed by this proverb has been rooted in Japanese culture since ancient times.
The word “waga mi” (my body) means “oneself” in classical Japanese, and “toe” (ask) is the imperative form meaning “inquire.” From this structure, it’s considered to be one of the old proverbs that is presumed to have been established from the Muromachi period to the Edo period.
Japan has long had a culture that values “objective perspective.” The importance of looking at oneself objectively has been preached in various contexts, such as “ichigo ichie” (one time, one meeting) in tea ceremony and the spirit of “reflection” in bushido. This proverb was probably born from such cultural background.
Also, in the merchant culture of the Edo period, honest opinions from others were essential for business success. Based on the human psychology that “family shame is invisible to family members,” this proverb spread as wisdom for actively seeking external perspectives. The influence of Confucianism cannot be overlooked either. There are parts that connect with Confucius’s teaching “When three people walk together, there must be my teacher among them,” and the importance of learning from others became established as a Japanese lesson.
Usage Examples
- If you’re unsure about job hunting, following “One’s own body’s matter ask people,” try asking colleagues for honest opinions
- When I couldn’t understand how to improve my presentation, I sought advice from my supervisor with the spirit of “One’s own body’s matter ask people”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the value of this proverb may actually be increasing. With the spread of social media, we’ve entered an era where we constantly broadcast ourselves. However, through just the number of “likes” and superficial reactions, we can’t see our true selves.
In the information society, we can learn about our behavioral patterns through data and analytical tools. However, for humanity, charm, and points for improvement that cannot be measured by numbers, human-to-human dialogue is still essential. With the increase in remote work, opportunities to receive feedback from colleagues have decreased, making it easier for gaps in self-awareness to occur.
On the other hand, in modern times, systems for systematically seeking opinions from others, such as “360-degree evaluation” and “mentor systems,” have been established. These can be said to be institutionalized versions of “One’s own body’s matter ask people.”
However, there are also challenges unique to modern times. In an age of information overload, choosing whose opinions to listen to has become important. Also, due to the tendency to fear criticism and the increase in easily hurt people, honest opinion exchange has become difficult in some ways. Nevertheless, precisely because we’re in the AI era, opinions from others who possess uniquely human insight and empathy are becoming increasingly valuable.
When AI Hears This
The human brain has a structural flaw: “it’s difficult to see yourself clearly.” In cognitive science, this is called the “blind spot bias.”
The most understandable example is your own voice. When you hear a recording of your voice, you’re surprised and think, “Did I really sound like that?” This happens because you hear your own voice through bone conduction, making it sound completely different from what others hear. In other words, you can’t even accurately perceive your own voice.
What’s even more fascinating is that experts tend to have larger blind spots about themselves. Psychological research has confirmed that doctors estimate their misdiagnosis rates at less than half the actual rate, and investors tend to underestimate their judgment errors. The deeper one’s knowledge, the stronger the belief that “I am right” becomes, making objective self-assessment more difficult.
From a neuroscience perspective, this occurs because the prefrontal cortex, which handles objective self-assessment, gets disrupted by emotions and preconceptions. While we can remain calm when observing others, emotions interfere when it comes to ourselves.
“Ask others about your own affairs” brilliantly targets this structural weakness of the brain. What modern science has proven as “the limits of self-awareness” had already been learned through experience by Japan’s ancestors. This alignment between classical wisdom and cutting-edge science demonstrates that human nature remains unchanged across time.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of humility and courage. It’s not easy to view yourself objectively. But if you want to grow, it’s essential to look at yourself through others’ eyes.
In modern society, let’s start by building relationships where you can ask trustworthy people for honest opinions. Family, friends, colleagues, supervisors – there are surely people who seriously care about you. And mental preparation to honestly accept others’ opinions is also important.
Don’t fear criticism; rather, receive it as a precious gift. Others might tell you about charm and potential you haven’t noticed. At the same time, if someone points out areas for improvement, that becomes the first step toward growth.
And what we mustn’t forget is that this proverb isn’t one-way. You can also become a mirror reflecting someone’s “body” for them. The relationship where we support and elevate each other might be the ideal that this proverb aims for.
Comments