Never Forget Your Beginner's Mind (Fushikaden / Zeami #QuoteNote112)

The quote I would like to introduce this time is here!

💡General meaning

It is used as a lesson that one should not forget the fresh and humble feelings one had when starting out, and should continue to make efforts without becoming complacent.

💡 What the author wanted to convey

It carries the profound meaning that returning to one's beginner's mind at every stage of life and facing new challenges with a humble attitude is the path to improving one's craft throughout one's entire life.

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✅ Source

"Never forget your beginner's mind" I think everyone has heard this phrase at least once. However, I suspect many people don't know who said it or the circumstances behind it.

There are many proverbs in Japan, such as "Look before you leap" or "Illness comes from the mind," but they are so simple that you can understand their content the moment you hear them, and because they capture the truth, they have been used and have survived from ancient times to the present.

A characteristic of them is that they are so popular that there is no record of who said them.

• Proverb... A wise saying with an unknown author

• Famous quote... A wise saying with a clear author

It seems possible to define them this way. Thinking from that perspective, "Never forget your beginner's mind" also gives the impression of being a proverb, but it is actually a "famous quote" where both the person who said it and the circumstances under which it was said are clearly known.

Honestly, I thought "Never forget your beginner's mind" was a proverb.

After all, it is so permeated into society and everyone has heard it, yet generally, nobody knows who said it...

While reading a certain book this time, the phrase "Never forget your beginner's mind" was used. I was surprised, and when I looked up the circumstances, I found out that it was the very book where the phrase was first used, which moved me a little.

That book is this one, "Fushikaden".

This is the original text.

As expected, the modern Japanese translation is easier to read.

✅ What is Fushikaden

Fushikaden is a theoretical book on Noh written by the Muromachi period Noh actor Zeami.

It was written based on the teachings Zeami inherited from his father, Kan'ami, with his own experiences and reflections added.

Fushikaden is said to be the oldest theatrical treatise in Japan. It is valued not only as a fundamental resource for Noh research but also as a work containing many lessons applicable to modern life, including art theory, life philosophy, and business strategy.

Since it was written in the Muromachi period, from the perspective of the present (2025), it is a book from about 620 to 625 years ago.

Despite being written so long ago, the original text is still actively sold in bookstores, and there are many versions of modern Japanese translations available.

The reason it has been supported by so many people for such a long time is that it brilliantly captures the essence of things.

✅ Never forget your original intentions

After reading Fushikaden, I interpreted "Never forget your original intentions" as follows.

💡 1. The Flower of the Moment (Original intention for each age)

This refers to the charm and energy that everyone possesses in childhood or youth due to their immaturity. This is an advantage everyone has, and Zeami called this the 'Flower of the Moment.' If one relies solely on this 'flower' and neglects effort, it will wither with age.

💡 2. The Flower of Sincerity (True original intention)

This is close to a healthy doubt of 'Is this really okay?' and a stance of viewing oneself objectively. When you age and the Flower of the Moment is lost, you must constantly ask yourself how you should proceed and how you should train. This stance is the 'true original intention' for continuing to polish your craft and becoming a true master.

💡 3. The Flower of Old Age (Ultimate original intention)

This is a 'flower' that can only be bloomed by those who have reached the pinnacle of their path, even in the later years of life. This is not merely technical skill or the charm of youth, but something born from the inner beauty and depth that exudes from years of training. It can be said to be the ultimate state achieved as a result of living one's entire life by the teaching of 'never forgetting your original intentions.'

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In this way, the phrase "never forget your original intentions" contains not only the commonly used meaning of 'do not forget your fresh, initial feelings,' but also the profound teaching to always be conscious of the 'original intention' that changes as you gain age and experience.

✅ The secret to long-lasting content

This is a sudden digression, but I am a fan of the 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure' series.

This is a massive series that easily spans over 100 volumes, but even in the very early days of such a long-running series, the author, Hirohiko Araki, talks about 'original intentions' in his author's comment in volume 6.

It's a short passage, so please take a moment to read it.

What do you think? Don't you feel that this very passage contains the reason why JoJo has been a beloved and popular work for so many years?

The first volume of JoJo was released in 1986. Volume 6, which contains this passage, was released in 1988. Just two or three years after the serialization of JoJo began, the importance of 'original intentions' was already being mentioned.

Volume 6, which contains this author's comment about 'original intentions,' marks the first turning point in the series, where the first part of JoJo, 'Phantom Blood,' concludes with a whirlwind of developments, and the next part, 'Battle Tendency,' begins.

I can't think of a better timing to talk about 'original intentions' than this.

What's even more amazing is that I believe Araki-sensei was only in his early 20s at the time. When I think back to when I was in my early 20s, I don't think I spent even a second thinking about 'original intentions'.

Even now, in 2025, I am sure that Araki-sensei still holds this feeling of 'never forgetting your original intentions' in high regard.

That is precisely why I believe he continues to work on new JoJo series even after reaching the age of 60.

📖 Summary

This time, I introduced the famous quote, 'Never forget your original intentions'.

Fūshikaden is truly a masterpiece. I highly recommend you read it. While I can't recommend the original text to everyone, the modern Japanese translation is quite easy to read. It's about 100 pages long, so if you're motivated, you can read it in an hour or two.

I also explain Fūshikaden in this article, so please check it out as well.

📢 Announcement

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