Proverb / Kotowaza
大隠は朝市に隠る
A truly enlightened person does not need to live in seclusion in the mountains, but can remain undisturbed even in a busy city.
A great hermit hides in the morning market
Quick Answer
A truly enlightened person does not need to live in seclusion in the mountains, but can remain undisturbed even in a busy city.
- Literal Image
- A great hermit hides in the morning market
- How to Use It
- Used to describe someone who maintains a quiet, philosophical, or detached lifestyle while living or working in a busy, modern environment.
Meaning
This proverb teaches that true spiritual detachment and peace of mind depend on one's inner state rather than physical surroundings. While a lesser hermit might flee to the wilderness to avoid distractions, a 'great hermit' has reached a level of wisdom where they can live calmly amidst the noise and bustle of society. It suggests that one who has truly mastered themselves is not swayed by their environment.
Literal Image
A great hermit hides in the morning market
How to Use It
Used to describe someone who maintains a quiet, philosophical, or detached lifestyle while living or working in a busy, modern environment.
Tone
Literary and philosophical.
Examples
彼は超有名企業の役員でありながら、いつも穏やかに庶民生活を楽しんでいる。大隠は朝市に隠るとはこのことだ。
Even though he is an executive at a company, he always enjoys a quiet, ordinary life. He truly embodies the idea that a great hermit hides in the market.
禅僧が必ずしも山中に籠もる必要はない。大隠は朝市に隠るで、街中の寺で淡々と修行する道もある。
A Zen monk doesn't necessarily need to seclude himself in the mountains. As they say, a great hermit hides in the market; there is also a path of practicing quietly at a temple in the middle of the city.
派手なSNSを離れ、都会のカフェで静かに本を読む彼の姿は、大隠は朝市に隠るを地で行っている。
Leaving behind the flashiness of social media to read a book quietly in a city cafe, he is living out the proverb that a great hermit hides in the market.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The proverb uses literary vocabulary (daiin, choshi) and the classical verb ending 'kakuru', making it highly idiomatic and formal.
大隠
だいいん / daiin
a great hermit; a truly enlightened person
朝市
ちょうし / choshi
morning market; a busy marketplace
隠る
かくる / kakuru
to hide; to live in seclusion (classical form)
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a sophisticated expression; using it in very casual conversation might seem overly poetic or stiff.
Misread Risk
It does not mean a person is literally hiding from the law or debt in a market; it refers to spiritual and mental peace.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression comes from a line in the poem 'Fan Zhaoyin Shi' (Poem on Reverse Reclusion) by the Eastern Jin poet Wang Kangju: 'A minor hermit hides in the hills and thickets, while a great hermit hides in the morning market.' It reflects the Eastern philosophical core that peace of mind is found within oneself rather than in one's external environment.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
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.