Translate

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Japanese Proverb - Three Heads Are Better Than One

I noticed this street sign in Kobe Harborland.




It says migi wo mite, hidari wo mite kara, watarimashou - look right, look left, then cross the street. Though there are other three-headed characters as well, like the three-headed Daikoku deity called 三面大黒天 Sanmen Daikoku(ten) who protects the Three Buddhist Treasures, this three-headed girl reminds me of a Japanese proverb.

三人寄れば文殊の知恵 - さんにんよればもんじゅのちえ
Three heads are better than one.

It is interesting, they say "Two heads are better than one" in English. That goes in two's in the European languages, too. "Deux têtes valent mieux qu'une" in French. In Japan, tasks are managed in a group rather than individually. Japanese culture is group-oriented and people tend to work together. An extra "head" is always welcome.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please leave a comment here. Thank you!