How to Read “欲の熊鷹股裂くる”
Yoku no kumataka matasakuru
Meaning of “欲の熊鷹股裂くる”
This proverb represents a warning that being too greedy and trying to obtain multiple things simultaneously will ultimately result in losing everything.
This expression originated from the motion of a bear-hawk spreading its legs wide when catching prey. It refers to situations where trying to grasp too many things at once and overexerting oneself to the point of splitting one’s legs results in obtaining nothing at all. While moderate desire is important as motivation for improvement, the teaching embedded here is that excessive greed leads to self-destruction.
This proverb is used in situations such as business failures from expanding into too many ventures simultaneously, or romantic situations where pursuing multiple partners at once results in being rejected by everyone. It’s a phrase filled with ancestral wisdom that clearly expresses the importance of concentrating on one thing to achieve reliable results, using the relatable example of a bird’s hunting behavior.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is actually unclear, as no definitive literary sources can be found. However, judging from the structure of the phrase, it’s believed to have emerged around the Edo period.
The “bear-hawk” is an actual bird of prey that inhabits Japan’s mountainous regions. It’s a large hawk that, when its wings are spread, exceeds one meter in span, and has long been cherished as a symbol of hunting. The combination of this bird with the expression “splitting legs apart” is thought to derive from the bear-hawk’s hunting motions.
When catching prey, bear-hawks spread both legs wide and dive down rapidly. However, when trying to target prey that’s too large or multiple prey simultaneously, they sometimes spread their legs too wide and lose their balance. This observation from nature likely became a cautionary tale about human greedy behavior.
The expression “splitting legs apart” literally describes spreading one’s legs so wide that they split, vividly depicting situations of failure from overexertion. The common people of the Edo period had the wisdom to express human folly through the behavior of familiar animals.
Interesting Facts
Bear-hawks are actually among Japan’s largest birds of prey, with wingspans reaching up to 130 centimeters. Due to this size, they have a habit of carefully selecting their prey when hunting, and rarely target multiple prey indiscriminately. In other words, this proverb is a metaphorical expression created as a human cautionary tale.
During the Edo period’s falconry practices, bear-hawks were treasured as the highest grade of hawks. Therefore, for common people, bear-hawks were objects of admiration, and the setting that even such magnificent birds would fail if they became greedy likely had a stronger impact.
Usage Examples
- That company expanded too much beyond its core business and went bankrupt—a case of Greed’s bear-hawk tears crotch apart
- He was approaching multiple women, but it was truly Greed’s bear-hawk tears crotch apart when he got rejected by all of them
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the lesson of this proverb may be more important than ever. Due to the information age, we live surrounded by far more choices and opportunities than before.
In the business world, while side business booms and diversified management attract attention, the importance of “selection and concentration” is also emphasized. Examples of startup companies expanding multiple businesses simultaneously and falling into financial difficulties, or individuals taking on multiple side jobs and neglecting their main work, are endless. This can truly be called the modern version of “Greed’s bear-hawk tears crotch apart.”
With the spread of social media, choices in romance have also increased. Many people simultaneously pursue multiple partners through dating apps, often ending up unable to build deep relationships with anyone.
The same applies to the investment world. During the cryptocurrency boom, many people over-diversified into various currencies they didn’t understand, ultimately suffering major losses. While risk diversification is important, venturing too far into unfamiliar territories is dangerous.
However, in modern times, appropriate diversification and risk distribution are also valued, requiring flexibility in interpreting this proverb.
When AI Hears This
The behavioral patterns of a goshawk targeting its prey align surprisingly well with the psychology of modern investment addiction patients.
According to behavioral economics’ “Prospect Theory,” humans tend to be cautious when gaining profits, but resort to reckless gambling when trying to avoid losses. In other words, the deeper the losses pile up, the more people reach for dangerous investments, thinking “I can recover it all with the next one.”
Goshawks behave the same way. Once they’ve set their sights on prey, they can’t give up even when it’s about to escape. While it would be more efficient to search for different prey, the psychology of “I can catch it if I try just a little more” takes over. As a result, they exhaust their stamina and sometimes sustain fatal injuries.
Particularly fascinating is the similarity to the “sunk cost effect.” This is a psychological phenomenon where people feel “it would be a waste to give up what I’ve already invested” and end up compounding their losses. While we can’t know if goshawks feel it’s “wasteful” to abandon the time and energy they’ve spent tracking prey, their behavioral patterns are identical to human gambling addiction.
Modern neuroscience research has revealed that massive amounts of dopamine are released in the brain during gambling. Similar neurotransmitters likely act during goshawk hunting as well. Even without knowing the scientific basis, people in the Edo period had detected this universal “trap of desire” through observing animal behavior.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the importance of “the courage to choose.” We feel surrounded by infinite possibilities, but in reality, both time and energy are finite.
What’s important is having the courage to give up many things. Rather than trying to obtain everything, we should discern what’s truly valuable and concentrate on that. This is by no means a passive attitude. Rather, it’s an active choice to proactively design one’s life.
While modern society tends to emphasize “diversity” and “possibilities,” sometimes it’s necessary to pause and ask ourselves, “What is truly important right now?” We might want to place more value on the joy of deeply pursuing one thing and the fulfillment gained from concentration.
Don’t seek perfection excessively, but give your all to what you choose. This ancient proverb gently teaches us such a sense of balance.
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