How to Read “焼け野の雉夜の鶴”
Yake no no kiji yoru no tsuru
Meaning of “焼け野の雉夜の鶴”
This proverb expresses the deep love that parents have for their children and the actions parents take without regard for danger because of that love.
Like a pheasant trying to protect its chicks in a burning field, and a crane calling its family together at night, it means that parents will not hesitate to put themselves in danger for the safety and happiness of their children. It particularly shows how strong and unconditional parental love is in difficult situations or critical moments.
This proverb is used when praising parents’ devoted love or when teaching children about the depth of parental love. It is also used as an expression of the weight of responsibility and love as a parent when one becomes a parent themselves. Even today, this expression is sometimes used when witnessing parents making self-sacrifices for their children or when moved by the depth of parental love.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Burned field’s pheasant night’s crane” is said to come from observations of bird behavior that have been passed down in Japan since ancient times.
Pheasants have the habit of trying to protect their chicks even at the risk of their own lives when fields catch fire. The sight of mother birds refusing to leave their chicks and spreading their wings to protect them even in fields engulfed in flames has been known to people since ancient times. On the other hand, cranes have the habit of gathering in one place at night, where family members who searched for food separately during the day come together and spend the night calling to each other.
These bird behaviors have been regarded by Japanese people since ancient times as symbols of parent-child love and family bonds. Particularly in Heian period literature, expressions depicting the parental love of pheasants and cranes can be found, suggesting that the way of thinking that became the prototype of this proverb already existed.
During the Edo period, these observations became established as a single proverb and came to be widely used as words expressing the deep love parents have for their children. It can be said to be a proverb filled with the uniquely Japanese sensibility of learning human emotions from the behavior of creatures in nature.
Interesting Facts
It has been confirmed by modern animal behavioral science that pheasants actually have the habit of not leaving their nests to protect their chicks during fires. This behavior is related to the development of a part of the body called the “brood patch,” which makes warming the chicks physiologically the top priority.
The “night calling” of cranes is important communication to confirm family bonds, and if even one member is missing, they may continue calling until morning.
Usage Examples
- Seeing the mother who continued making lunch boxes every day for her son’s entrance exams, I thought it was truly Burned field’s pheasant night’s crane.
- When my daughter had a fever, my wife nursing her all night was the very embodiment of Burned field’s pheasant night’s crane.
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the parental love shown by this proverb has come to be expressed in more complex forms. Rather than just protecting children from physical dangers as in the past, we have entered an era where various forms of self-sacrifice are required, such as bearing educational costs, career sacrifices, and time investment.
Particularly in the information society, the types of “dangers” from which children should be protected have also diversified. The sight of parents trying to protect their children from invisible threats such as internet troubles, SNS bullying, and the pressure of an overly competitive society can truly be called the modern version of “Burned field’s pheasant night’s crane.”
On the other hand, problems such as overprotection and excessive interference have also been pointed out. Sometimes parental love can hinder children’s independence, and modern parents are required to balance “love” and “independence support.” Also, with the increase in dual-income households, cases where both parents cooperate in child-rearing have increased, and the devoted love of fathers as well as mothers has come to receive attention.
This proverb shows us the universality of parental love while also teaching us that the ways of expressing it change with the times.
When AI Hears This
When we examine the ecology of pheasants and cranes in detail, these two bird species possess surprisingly opposite characteristics. Pheasants walk around on the ground and immediately hide in grass when they sense danger, making them典型的な “hiding birds.” Cranes, on the other hand, soar high in the sky and act boldly in open spaces, making them “showing birds.”
What’s fascinating is the pheasant’s alarm behavior pattern. Normally, when pheasants encounter danger like fire, they’re the first to flee to safety. However, during child-rearing, pheasants will expose themselves to danger to protect their chicks. This behavior completely goes against the pheasant’s inherent “hiding instinct.”
Cranes are equally intriguing. Cranes usually prioritize the safety of the entire flock above all else and remain vigilant throughout the night. Yet parent cranes reveal their location through their calls during nighttime—the most dangerous time of all. From a crane’s survival strategy perspective, this is tantamount to “suicide.”
In other words, both ground-dwelling pheasants and sky-dwelling cranes override their original survival instincts when they become parents. Ancient people recognized this commonality and expressed the universality of parental love that transcends biological species. Parental love is such a powerful emotion that it can overwrite even survival instincts developed over tens of thousands of years.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us who live in modern times something important about the essence of love. That is, true love is unconditional and asks for nothing in return, and does not hesitate to sacrifice oneself for the sake of the other person.
In modern society, efficiency and rationality tend to be emphasized, but in human relationships, sometimes inefficient and irrational love may be the most valuable thing. Not only in parent-child relationships, but also in friendships, romantic relationships, and workplace human relationships, this proverb teaches us the importance of continuing to have feelings of caring for others.
It also reminds us that we ourselves have received unconditional love from someone. That may be love from parents, or support from grandparents, teachers, or friends. This proverb quietly tells us to be grateful for such love and that it’s now our turn to support someone. Love is something that circulates.
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