There was a time, not very long ago, when Japan's hard-working lower and middle classes loved to quote, and certainly believed in, the expression
kodomo wa chichioya no senaka o mite sodatsu (a child grows into adulthood by watching his/her father's back). The idea is that a child learns a great deal about life, responsibility, honor, and well...basically all the virtues of responsible adulthood, from watching the back of his/her father, even if they rarely spend time with him face to face. Watching the back of a father who lacked those virtues is also, for better or for worse, an education.
I myself grew up in the days up to and including Japan's phenomenal economic growth of the mid-to-late 1900s. My friends rarely saw their fathers, who worked from early to late each day, and "weekend" was only a vague, foreign concept. But, both literally and figuratively, the children watched their fathers' backs, and from these backs they learned many of life's lessons.
Young parents of 21st century Japan, for the most part, believe in fathers being more actively involved in raising the kids, and (partly as a result of the burst of the economic bubble) the workplace is no longer the center of their lives. The above-mentioned expression continues to be quoted, however, as a reminder that the children are always watching... and learning.
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I think that expression in another language also held true in my country. Young people have more opportunities these days and the ease of travel have made it possible for people to seek employment overseas which makes it difficult to watch, observe and learn from parents... I love the expression of that doll.
ReplyDeleteA thoughtful piece, beyond the usual greeting card platitudes and leaving much food for thought. Nice stern Daruma too. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, so stern and serious. Such a reserved society - I can't imagine living there. But I suppose we can adapt to a lot of things. I really like these drawings. Beautiful compositions with a lot to say.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, beautiful illustration. Great work Debbie!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting saying. It definitely paints fathers as leaders rather than helpers. I'm glad modern fathers there do both. This Daruma looks a bit quizzical to me, as though he's trying to be stern but not quite sure if he's doing it right. I bet that's how a lot of modern dads feel!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. I love the history of the saying and how it relates to the economy.
ReplyDelete...thought provoking as ever. I need to make time to go through some of your older posts, I see. I wonder about the balance, of more traditional father-roles and newer ones where hands-on and closely involved is approved of. Not that I am cheering for a distant, despotic model, but there is something of the bowing respect for Sensei in the Dojo, trusted and honoured, imitated - in the description of learning from watching fathers' back as you describe.
ReplyDeleteYou said it perfectly. :)
DeleteI really like that you have reversed the images for the different languages. Our language does change our perspective!
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