1.
the prosperous must decline; all glory is fleeting
A Buddhist-derived four-character idiom expressing the idea that those who flourish will inevitably fall. One of the most famous phrases from the Tale of the Heike. Composed of 盛者 (the prosperous) + 必衰 (must decline).
盛者必衰の理。
The truth that the mighty must fall.
あの大企業の倒産を見ると、盛者必衰を感じる。
Seeing that large company go bankrupt makes you feel that all prosperity must fade.
歴史を学ぶと、盛者必衰という言葉の重みがわかる。
When you study history, you understand the weight of the saying 'the prosperous must decline.'
USAGE:
This is one of the most famous four-character idioms (四字熟語) in Japanese. It appears in the opening passage of 平家物語 (The Tale of the Heike): 「祇園精舎の鐘の声、諸行無常の響きあり。沙羅双樹の花の色、盛者必衰の理をあらはす」. Most Japanese people learn this passage in school.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 盛者必衰の理 (the truth that the mighty must fall)
- 盛者必衰を感じる (to feel the transience of glory)
RELATED:
諸行無常 (all things are impermanent) is the companion phrase from the same passage. Together they express the Buddhist view of the impermanence of worldly success.