How to Read “渡る世間に鬼はなし”
Wataru yo ken ni oni wa nashi
Meaning of “渡る世間に鬼はなし”
The original meaning of “Cross world in demon topic not” is “As you make your way through the world, there are no completely merciless and cold-hearted people.”
This proverb expresses trust in human nature, suggesting that no matter how stern someone may appear, they possess compassion and thoughtfulness somewhere within them. The “demons” referred to here indicate cold-hearted people who completely lack mercy or compassion. In other words, it shows a positive view of humanity that as long as one lives as a human being, everyone harbors warmth somewhere in their heart.
This proverb is used when facing difficulties in human relationships or when needing to seek help from someone. It’s used with hope, thinking “surely someone will lend a helping hand” or “that stern person might actually have a kind heart.” Even today, when feeling anxious about connections with people, remembering these words can give us courage.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “Cross world in demon topic not,” there are actually no clear documentary sources remaining. However, since this expression can already be found in Edo period literature, it’s considered a proverb with at least several hundred years of history.
The word “seken” (world/society) holds an important key. The “seken” of the Edo period didn’t refer to abstract society as a whole like in modern times, but rather meant a more concrete and familiar network of human relationships. The connections between merchants in business dealings, master-apprentice relationships among craftsmen, and neighborhood associations within towns – these face-to-face human connections constituted “seken.”
Regarding “oni” (demons), they weren’t the horned monsters that modern people imagine, but were used to mean “inhuman person” or “cold-hearted person.” In other words, this proverb is presumed to have meant “within human connections, there are no completely cold-hearted and merciless people.”
Edo period society had a strong spirit of mutual assistance, with a deeply rooted culture of helping each other in times of trouble. This proverb, born in such a historical context, likely expressed trust in the warmth of human relationships.
Interesting Facts
The expression “oni” (demon) that appears in this proverb is actually one of the most interesting words that has undergone changes in the Japanese language. Since ancient times, “oni” has been used not merely to represent monsters, but as a word expressing “beings who have lost human-like emotions.” This is why expressions like “demon-like person” and “becoming a demon” were born, and the same meaning is used in this proverb.
In Edo period merchant society, this proverb is thought to have held particularly important meaning. Since trust was paramount in business, the belief that “any person must have some part where human emotion can reach them” was likely an indispensable way of thinking for conducting smooth commercial transactions.
Usage Examples
- I was anxious about my new workplace, but Cross world in demon topic not – everyone was kind to me
- I was worried about my son starting to live alone, but Cross world in demon topic not, so he’ll probably be fine
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, this proverb has come to hold complex meaning. With the spread of SNS and the internet, our “world” has expanded dramatically. Relationships with people whose faces we cannot see have increased, and it’s not uncommon for people to behave coldly under anonymity.
Looking at online slander and flame wars, many people might wonder “are there really no demons?” With the spread of remote work and the weakening of direct human relationships, opportunities to experience the “warm human relationships” that form the premise of this proverb may also be decreasing.
However, at the same time, the value of this proverb is being recognized anew precisely because of modern times. The spirit of mutual help that people show during disasters, citizens’ actions supporting medical workers during the COVID pandemic, the spread of crowdfunding to help people in trouble – humanity’s fundamental kindness is still alive and well.
Rather, precisely because we live in an information society, each person’s small acts of kindness and thoughtfulness have become visible and can be conveyed to many people. This proverb functions as precious wisdom that reminds us of basic trust in human relationships even in the digital age.
When AI Hears This
This proverb conceals an extremely rare “denial of supernatural beings” in Japanese cultural history. For a long time, Japanese people feared invisible forces like demons and monsters, living within a worldview dominated by these entities. However, “There are no demons in the world we traverse” directly denies these objects of fear.
What’s fascinating is the manner of this denial. Rather than stating “demons do not exist,” it expresses “there are no demons in society.” In other words, while acknowledging the concept of demons, it excludes them from the social space where humans actually live. This can be called a revolutionary declaration for its time: “the human realm is ruled by humans.”
Even more noteworthy is that the basis for denying demons lies in “human goodness.” For example, a Western proverb might say “there are no devils because God protects us,” but this proverb doesn’t rely on gods or Buddha. It declares that human compassion and mutual aid are the forces that drive away supernatural evil.
This is essentially a declaration of “humanism.” Rather than cowering before invisible fears, let us trust the humans before our eyes. Such a realistic and rational worldview is embedded in these simple words. In the spiritual history of the Japanese people, proverbs that trust human power to this extent are rare.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us modern people is the importance of “advance investment in trust” in human relationships. Rather than starting by doubting others, first try believing in the good parts within them. Such an attitude ultimately becomes the foundation for building better relationships.
In modern society, efficiency and rationality tend to be emphasized, but in human connections, “human emotion” that sometimes appears inefficient and irrational might be the most valuable thing. This proverb reminds us of the gratitude we should feel for having people who lend a helping hand when we’re in trouble, who listen to us.
If you’re currently troubled by human relationships, try looking at the “non-demonic parts” within others. And so that you too can become a “non-demonic existence” for someone else, cherish small acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. The world is certainly harsh, but the hearts of people who cross through it surely harbor warmth.
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