Pikes and Shields

The Japanese phrase for “contradiction” is 「矛盾」(mujyun).

For example, 「あなたがやっていることと言っていることが矛盾してる！」 The things you do contradict the things you say!

The Kanji 「矛」means “pike” and is pronounced “hoko”, and the Kanji 「盾」means “shield” and is pronounced “tate”.

Why do these two Kanji together mean contradiction?

Apparently the story comes from way back in China.

One street vendor selling pikes claimed that his halberds could penetrate any shield in existence. They were the super pike, and no customer would go wrong by purchasing from him.

Another street vendor was selling shields. Shields so powerful he claimed that no pike could penetrate them.

A clever customer brought the two vendors together and asked… “What would happen if I stabbed one of your shields with one of his pikes?”

The two vendors were confused… And could not answer.

The customer retorted, “Your customers are contradicting each other!”

Sometimes, Kanji is extremely interesting…

- Harvey

John B, who has spent extensive time in China has corrected my story!

The story’s close, but not quite. It comes from 《韩非子•难一》:

楚人有鬻盾与矛者，誉之曰：“吾盾之坚，物莫能陷也。”又誉其矛曰：“吾矛之利，于物无不陷也。”或曰：“以子之矛，陷子之盾，何？”其人弗能应也。夫不可陷之盾与无不陷之矛，不可同世而立。 There once a man from the Kingdom of Chu who sold shields and spears. Boasting of his shields, he says “my shields are so sturdy that nothing can pierce them.” Then, boasting of his spears, he says “my spears are so sharp that there is nothing they can’t pierce.” Someone asks him, “what if you strike your shield with your spear?” To this he had no answer. A shield that cannot be pierced and a spear that cannot be stopped cannot exist together.