盛者必衰(じょうしゃひっすい)

じょうしゃひっすい
expression
the prosperous must decline; all glory is fleeting
formalliteraryexpressionculture
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(じょうしゃひっすい)の理(ことわり)。
The truth that the mighty must fall.
あの大企業(だいきぎょう)の倒産(とうさん)を見(み)ると、盛者必衰(じょうしゃひっすい)を感(かん)じる。
Seeing that large company go bankrupt makes you feel that all prosperity must fade.
歴史(れきし)を学(まな)ぶと、盛者必衰(じょうしゃひっすい)という言葉(ことば)の重(おも)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(よじじゅくご)) in Japanese. It appears in the opening passage of 平家物語(へいけものがたり) (The Tale of the Heike): 「祇園精舎(ぎおんしょうじゃ)の鐘(かね)の声(こえ)、諸行無常(しょぎょうむじょう)の響(ひび)きあり。沙羅双樹(さらそうじゅ)の花(はな)の色(いろ)、盛者必衰(じょうしゃひっすい)の理(ことわり)をあらはす」. Most Japanese people learn this passage in school.

Common patterns

  • 盛者必衰(じょうしゃひっすい)の理(ことわり) (the truth that the mighty must fall)
  • 盛者必衰(じょうしゃひっすい)を感(かん)じる (to feel the transience of glory)

Related words

諸行無常(しょぎょうむじょう) (all things are impermanent) is the companion phrase from the same passage. Together they express the Buddhist view of the impermanence of worldly success.

Related Words

Related: 諸行無常(しょぎょうむじょう) (all things are impermanent)
general
Added 2026.3.7 19:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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