Ten-seki koque-o shoh-ze-zu.
転石(てんせき)苔(こけ)を生(しょう)ぜず。
Or,
Koroga-ru ishi-ni koque tsu-ka-zu.
転がる(ころがる)石(いし)に苔(こけ)つかず。
There’re two opposite interpretations 解釈(かいしゃく) of this famous proverb.
The interpretations seem to depend on the set of values 価値観(かちかん) which tend to differ in places 地域(ちいき) , times 時代(じだい), and generations 世代(せだい).
We can’t say the other is simply a misinterpretation.
They say this proverb is originally in Greek or Latin. The Japanese version is the translation from English: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
The first interpretation is:
Those who frequently change their jobs and addresses can’t make money nor succeed in anything.
The second one is:
Those who always move around have new ideas without being dull nor rusted.
The first interpretation seems popular in the UK; the second one in the US.
And the young tend to like the second; the old the first…
The point is what you think about the moss 苔(こけ).
Maybe in the UK, the moss 苔(こけ) is thought to be beautiful, like in Japan.
English and Japanese gardens 庭園(ていえん) often use the moss 苔(こけ) to make them look beautiful.
On the contrary in the US, the moss might be a useless thing 無駄(むだ)なもの.
A beautiful moss needs enough humidity 湿度(しつど) to grow. Japan is a place where a beautiful moss grows. We have had the feeling that the moss is a beautiful thing for a long time. There’re some temples 寺院(じいん) which are famous for their beautiful moss gardens. Tourists go there.
The UK people understand that the moss represents money in that proverb. The moss is valued there.
In the US, where the land is dry comparatively, it would be difficult for the moss to grow. Nor beautiful. They rather would think it unclean 不潔(ふけつ).
The famous British rock band 'the Rolling Stones' seems to know the two meanings. They keep the band as a band for a long time (the 1st meaning); they keep creating new songs (the 2nd meaning).
The interpretations of a proverb can be decided on what people think and value. Such ‘generosity’ 寛容(かんよう)さ and flexibility 柔軟(じゅうなん)さ which a proverb has could be a reason why it lives long over generations 世代(せだい)を超えて(こえて)生きる(いきる).
Here’s another proverb about a stone.
Ishi-no ue-ni-mo san-nen
石(いし)の上(うえ)にも三年(さんねん)。
Or,
Ishi-no ue-ni-mo san-nen i-re-ba atata-ma-ru
石(いし)の上(うえ)にも三年(さんねん)いれば温まる(あたたまる)。
This proverb says you could accomplish things which are hard and involve difficulties 困難(こんなん) if you persevered.
Why on a stone? It might be hard to understand now.
In 江戸(えど)時代(じだい) Edo Period (1603-1868), there was a set expression, ‘a living on a stone 石(いし)の上(うえ)のすまい’ to refer to a precarious living 不安定(ふあんてい)な生活(せいかつ).
To keep sitting on a stone for a long time could be a hard trial 試練(しれん). The stone is unstable. It’s hard to be safe on it.
But if you tried hard to stay there for three years, the cold stone would be warm, and you would be comfortable.
One more stone for you.
Is-seki ni-choh
一石(いっせき)二鳥(にちょう)。
This is the translation of a 17th century UK proverb, “to kill two birds with one stone.” You do a thing, you get two.
We have another proverb which has the same meaning:
Ik-kyo ryoh-toku
一挙(いっきょ)両得(りょうとく)。
一挙(いっきょ) is to do once; 両得(りょうとく) is to get two.
● 楽しい上にダイエットにもなるから、水泳って一挙両得ね。(Tanoshi-i ue-ni daiet-to-ni-mo naru-ka-ra, suieht-te ik-kyo ryoh-toku-ne.)
Swimming is like killing two birds with one stone, because it’s not only fun but also good for slimming.
However, in reality, life is not so easy. In many cases,
He that hunts two hares at one will catch neither.
Nito-o ou-mono-wa it-to-o-mo e-zu
二兎(にと)を追う(おう)者(もの)は一(いっ)兎(と)をも得ず(えず)。
If you tried to get two things at the same time, you would get nothing in vain. Trying to catch a rabbit is even difficult. Better not try to get two at the same time.
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