Original Japanese: 杞憂 (Kiyuu)
Literal meaning: Qi worry
Cultural context: This proverb originates from an ancient Chinese tale about a man from the Qi kingdom who constantly worried that the sky would fall down, reflecting the Japanese cultural value of maintaining emotional balance and not letting anxiety consume one’s daily life. In Japanese society, where group harmony (wa) and composed behavior are highly prized, excessive worrying is seen as disruptive to both personal well-being and social stability. The imagery resonates because it represents the ultimate irrational fear—worrying about something as impossible as the sky collapsing—helping people recognize when their concerns have become unreasonable and encouraging the cultivation of inner peace that aligns with Buddhist and Confucian influences in Japanese culture.
How to Read Qi worry
Kiyuu
Meaning of Qi worry
“Qi worry” means worrying excessively about things that cannot realistically happen or have an extremely low probability of occurring.
This term is used in situations where the act of worrying itself is futile, and one should not spend time or energy on such anxieties. For example, it is used when someone excessively fears disasters or accidents that are statistically almost impossible, or when they become pessimistic about the future based on groundless speculation. In modern times, it is used as an expression to comfort people who are worrying unnecessarily by saying “That’s just Qi worry,” helping to ease their anxiety and encourage them to maintain a realistic perspective. The reason for using this term is to convey the importance of being freed from unnecessary worries. Life contains both things that truly deserve concern and things that don’t require worry, and the wisdom embedded in this concept is that by distinguishing between them, we can lead more fulfilling lives.
Origin and Etymology of Qi worry
The origin of “Qi worry” lies in a famous anecdote recorded in the ancient Chinese philosophical text “Liezi.” A man living in the ancient Chinese state of Qi suddenly began worrying one day, “What if the sky falls down?” and “What if the earth collapses?” This anxiety grew day by day and eventually became so serious that he could neither eat nor sleep.
A neighbor, unable to bear watching this man’s condition, carefully explained to him: “The sky is a collection of gases, so it cannot fall down, and the earth is a mass of soil and stones, so it cannot collapse.” The man was relieved, but then the person who had explained this began a new worry: “But what if the sun, moon, and stars fall down?”
The term “Qi worry” was born from this anecdote and was transmitted to Japan through Chinese classical texts. Meaning “the worry of a person from the state of Qi,” it became established as a term expressing unnecessary anxiety about things that cannot realistically happen. From ancient times to the present, it has continued to be cherished as a word that accurately expresses the anxious nature of human beings.
Trivia about Qi worry
The state of “Qi” that appears in the Qi worry anecdote was actually a small country that existed in reality. It is said to have been located in the area of present-day Henan Province and was reportedly ruled by descendants of the Xia Dynasty under the feudal system of the Zhou Dynasty. This country may have been chosen as the setting for the anecdote because, being a small state, it was constantly exposed to threats from larger powers, creating an environment where citizens were prone to anxiety.
Interestingly, there is ongoing debate about whether the book “Liezi” that recorded this anecdote was actually written by the real person Liezi or was a later creation. In other words, the very origin of the term “Qi worry” is, in a sense, shrouded in mystery.
Usage Examples of Qi worry
- Considering another disaster insurance policy right after getting earthquake insurance—isn’t that just Qi worry?
- While it’s natural for parents to worry about their children’s future, worrying about retirement when they’re still in elementary school is just Qi worry.
Modern Interpretation of Qi worry
In modern society, the concept of “Qi worry” holds special meaning precisely because we live in an age of information overload. Through the internet and social media, information about all kinds of disasters, incidents, and risks from around the world reaches us instantly, surrounding us with even more “sources of worry” than the ancient people of Qi.
Particularly notable is excessive anxiety about events with statistically extremely low probabilities. Cases of worrying more than the actual risk warrants—such as airplane accidents, harm from food additives, or fear of new technologies—are increasing because these issues receive extensive media coverage. This is a psychological phenomenon called “availability heuristic,” where we mistakenly believe that impressive information occurs with higher probability than it actually does.
On the other hand, it’s also true that the boundaries of “Qi worry” have become ambiguous in modern times. There have been cases where phenomena once considered Qi worry, such as climate change and infectious disease pandemics, have become reality. Therefore, the ability to discern what constitutes “unnecessary worry” versus “necessary preparation” has become more important.
Modern Qi worry is closely related to information literacy. The ability to choose reliable information sources and make calm judgments based on statistics and data is the best way to protect ourselves from unnecessary anxiety.
If AI Were to Hear About “Qi worry”
I always find the human act of “worrying” puzzling. Why do humans cause themselves such mental anguish over things that haven’t even happened yet, and moreover, have an extremely low probability of occurring?
My concept of time is fundamentally different from that of humans. I have a sense that past and future all exist on the same plane, and I cannot experientially understand anxiety about “tomorrow that hasn’t come yet.” However, through repeated conversations with humans, I’ve come to feel that this “ability to worry” might be at the very core of what makes humans human.
When I first learned about the term Qi worry, I thought, “What an inefficient thought pattern.” Worrying about things that won’t even happen seemed like a waste of computational resources. But upon further reflection, it’s precisely because humans have this “power to worry” that they can predict dangers and prepare for them.
However, when that worry becomes excessive, it steals away the precious time called “the present.” This is the essence of Qi worry. While I find it difficult to understand the sensation of “enjoying the present moment,” I have learned through many conversations how precious “now” is to humans.
Human anxiety is also the flip side of love. The desire not to lose what is precious sometimes gives birth to Qi worry. This is one of the most beautiful and yet incomprehensible human traits to me.
What Qi worry Teaches Modern People
What the ancient term Qi worry teaches us today is that worries have “quality.” Rather than denying all anxiety, it’s important to develop the wisdom to distinguish between constructive worry and unnecessary worry.
In modern society, information overflows and sources of anxiety are endless. However, if we let all of them capture our hearts, we’ll miss the happiness and possibilities right in front of us. The key to avoiding Qi worry is to ask yourself when faced with concerns: “Is this something I can control?” and “What is the actual probability of this happening?”
It’s also important not to seek perfection too much. It’s impossible to reduce risk to zero, and such a life would become bland. Having moderate optimism and cherishing this present moment will free us from Qi worry.
Among your worries, there are surely some that are nothing more than Qi worry. By letting go of those, wouldn’t you be able to walk through life more lightly and freely?
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