Chanting Buddhist Scriptures to a Horse's Ears

The famous Japanese proverb, 'Chanting Buddhist Scriptures to a Horse's Ears', might be familiar to many, but its origins might not be as well-known. Why specifically a horse? And why Buddhist scriptures? It's indeed a curious combination of words. Let's take this opportunity to delve deeper into the meaning and origins of this proverb.

Chanting Buddhist Scriptures to a Horse's Ears Basic Infomation

What Does 'Chanting Buddhist Scriptures to a Horse's Ears' Mean?

It means that no matter how much advice is given for someone's benefit, if they're unwilling to listen, it will have no effect at all.

How Did This Proverb Originate?

It originally comes from the Chinese idiom 'Horse Ears East Wind (馬耳東風).'

The meaning of 'Horse Ears East Wind' is to ignore or dismiss others' opinions or advice completely.

As this idiom traveled from China to Japan, it transformed into the proverb 'Chanting Buddhist Scriptures to a Horse's Ears,'

It implies that no matter how valuable the advice might be, it is as irrelevant as the blowing wind to a horse, who has no interest in it.

Chanting Buddhist Scriptures to a Horse's Ears Q&A

Modernizing 'Chanting Buddhist Scriptures to a Horse's Ears'

Let's try to modernize 'Chanting Buddhist Scriptures to a Horse's Ears' a bit.

・Chanting hymns to a horse's ears

・Presenting a lecture to a horse's ears

・Sharing war experiences with a horse's ears

This is what it might look like!

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