児孫のために美田を買わず

Japanese

Kanji in this term
児	孫	美	田	買
じ Grade: 4	そん Grade: 4	び Grade: 3	でん Grade: 1	か Grade: 2
kan'on	on'yomi	on'yomi	on'yomi	kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
兒孫のために美田を買わず (kyūjitai)

Etymology

From the following poem:

1871 January 20, Saigō Takamori, 偶成 [Impromptu]:

幾歴辛酸志始堅（幾たびか辛酸を歴て志始めて堅し）/丈夫玉碎恥甎全（丈夫は玉碎するも甎全を恥づ）/一家遺事人知否（一家の遺事人知るや否や）/不爲兒孫買美田（児孫の為に美田を買わず）

Ikutabika shinsan o hete kokorozashi hajimete katashi / Jōbu wa gyokusai suru mo senzen o hazu / Ikka no iji hitoshiru ya ina ya / Jison no tame ni biden o kawazu

It is not until one faces several hardships that one's resolve hardens. / Even though a hero dies honourably, he would be ashamed of a meaningless existence. / Whether or not men know my family's words of wisdom from the deceased, / Do not buy and leave fertile, productive rice paddies for one's children and grandchildren.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑiso̞n no̞ ta̠me̞ɲ̟i bʲide̞ɰ̃ o̞ ka̠β̞a̠zɨ]

Proverb

児(じ)孫(そん)のために美(び)田(でん)を買(か)わず • (jison no tameni biden o kawazu) 

1. leave no property for your descendants; I won't leave my property to my kids