Proverb / Kotowaza
商人に系図なし
Success in the merchant world depends on talent and effort rather than family background or social status.
Merchants have no family tree.
Quick Answer
Success in the merchant world depends on talent and effort rather than family background or social status.
- Literal Image
- Merchants have no family tree.
- How to Use It
- Used to describe how success in business is open to anyone regardless of their birth or family history.
Meaning
In commerce, one's ancestry or noble blood does not guarantee success. Instead, it is a meritocratic field where anyone can rise to the top through personal ability, hard work, and business acumen. This proverb reflects the idea that results and competence matter more than a person's birth.
Literal Image
Merchants have no family tree.
How to Use It
Used to describe how success in business is open to anyone regardless of their birth or family history.
Tone
Encouraging and merit-focused.
Examples
農家出身の彼は、商人に系図なしという言葉を胸に独立し、一代で成功した実業家となった。
Born into a farming family, he struck out on his own with the motto 'merchants have no lineage' and became a businessman who achieved success in a single generation.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the grammar 'ni... nashi' is straightforward, the vocabulary 'akindo' (merchant) and 'keizu' (genealogy/lineage) are less transparent for beginners.
商人
あきんど / akindo
merchant; businessman
系図
けいず / keizu
family tree; genealogy; lineage
なし
なし / nashi
none; without
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
This proverb specifically highlights meritocracy in business; it does not mean that family history is irrelevant in all social contexts.
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Origin
The term 'keizu' refers to a family tree or lineage. While family background was critically important in the world of the samurai, in the merchant world, ability and wit were everything. This proverb represents the merchant spirit of the Edo period, reflecting a meritocratic commercial society where anyone could succeed regardless of their birth.
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Topics, Situations, and Tags
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.