The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-15
JAPANESE PROVERBS.


Simply that the despatch TO which they
are appended may be depended on as yer
ifiable. Ran yori stroke means. literally
Proof beyond dispute" 1t is a japan
csc proverb The japanese are a ma
ton of argument This not infrequently
becomes exceedingly verbose. and il be-
comes necessary TO subscribe this indorse.
ment. Hence in sending telegram, the
operator is accustomed to cite his ac'
q,haintance with the fact of the contents
of the message by adding the three
words
The japanese are a proverb-loving. COM
munistic people. Their language delights
in a multitude Of pithy and picturesque
( expressions, and il Is their great pleasure
10 exchange proverbiaI philosophy among
themselves in their conversation. And a
proverb, aptIy used. is held to carry en-
phasis and put an end TO all that is con-
troversial
Some of these proverbs are very origi-
nal Thus they speak OF a diligent per-
son. and particularly a diligent soldier,
as zone who breaks ones bones. A vain
\ person is the creature with high nose -
If a soldier has distinguished himself by
.
acts have signalized the exerticns of any
/ one-he is said TO have "a large spleen, -
while one as "a creature with no stom-
ach.'' After battle the question upper
most in the minds of all is: How did the
/ soldiers carry their stOmachs?" If one
sets himself up as critic and makes u
/ speciality Of finding fault with others, he
! is said to be "one who is looking for the
holes II one undertakes to relate a
story-and just at this time, a war in
cident-and is slow and crippled of speech
he is said to be the heavy-mouthed.
while. on the other hand if his auditors
are obtuse and tardy of comprehension.
they are said to possess ''far-away ears.
Although colored by their oriental i'm
agery, many of their proverbs convey
much the same lire of thought that is IA
miliar to US The kernel is the same, but
the shell is greatly different. We say.
for instance, TOO many cooks spoil the
broth" The japanese are nation OF
boatmen. and so they say, TOO many
boatmen VIII run the boat on the noun
tain" In a country where irrigation is
a necessary part OF agriculture, He Is
trying to draw water to his own rice
field" takes the place of our familiar
He has an axe to grind, or He feath-
ers his own nest" If we say, Like pour
ing water on ducks back the Japanese
transforms it into Like an east wind
blowing into the ear of a horse. or Like
throwing water into the face of frog
A similar idea is conveyed in the proverb.
Like splitting into the sky
How often we seek to comfort ourselves
with repeating that Accidents will hap
pen in the best regulated families" The
Japanese is as philosophical and as COM
forting. and a great deal more expressive,
when he says Even a monkey will some
times tumble from tree" Somewhat
akin to our rude Go the ole hog or
nothing" is their saying. If you eat
poison lick the platter
\ narrow minded person is spoken of
as The creature who looks at the heav-
ems through tubs" \ miser is described
as The man who grasps millAt with
wet hand. The "pocr relation Is a
common visitor in the Land of the Rising
SIM and there is. therefore, a natural
origin for the proverh, Like our visit
ing friend. who send us his plate the
third time. stealthily." There is an in
born disposition in the mind OF the
japanese TO poke fun at poor relations
and country cousins; hut at the same
time no one is quicker 10 recognize merit
And to such recognition II is considered
a pleasantly to tie a proverb Thus. il
you were in Toxic at this time and we're
discussing some army or naval officer
Of distinction. the height of praise that
could be extended TO him would be in
saying. He is one who. If you ask him I
fer a chisei. viii bring mallet also % or /
His hammer always has a handle fitted |
rs it.
Perhaps the person under discussion /
may be young. In such case your Japan /
csc friend viii dryly remark Even a /
demon is in his prime at eighteen" Ven 1
ture 10 discuss the Russian soldiers or
any other persons TO whose welfare the /
islander is Indifferent. and he will say
with MS expressive -'Hat' ''Ha. that is
like fire on the other side Of the river
Repeat to him some current 81. Peters
burg or Pekin gossip. and If he does
not put any stock in il ard it skepticaL
he gives tone To his idea OF the weakness
Of human nature by using this familiar
proverb: The decisions OF belly are &C
cording 10 a mans money. you know
Il NAV be that you are seeking inforna-
ton. and make an apology for asking for
il. The retort is q sharp reproof that
ane is slow 10 forget. 'Hat" is the reply.
You knew "a ask \ question is the shame
n a moment; and not 70 ask IS the shame
u whole lifetime The Jap enjoys
answering questions. but he has a habit
Iii his own az reuoielling ard tzmpering
With his reply. and then az making it
,roverbial
For instance. once asked q gentleman
Z a Philadelphia naGe locomotive was in
ended for certain railroad. he answered
" telling me- that the engine was made
IN such and Ssrch steamer. that It's
r Philadelphia: that il was brought over
.zuge was 50 many inches. ard that the
.auge Of the road was the same. Then
,e added: 1t viii be ike cat ,ocked
n 4 cellar" In fne. al this verbosity
ignified the affirmative Instead Of say
nx Yes" the man delighted in the cir
umiocutien.
As they have modified Buddhism until
stands as an insxtricabie mud6le IN
consequence OF repeated innovations. 50
hey enjoy making over" the Bibse and
5 doctrines, ex western political IDEAS !