根性と根気 : 忍耐を支え、忍耐に養われるもの

Konjo (guts) and konki (persistence) are mental powers corresponding to patience and perseverance. Patience strives against pain and hardship using konjo as a source of strength. Long-suffering perseverance continually pursues purpose using konki as the power for continuation. In Japanese, kon-jo (根性) and kon-ki (根気) are constructed by the kanji character kon (根), which means the root of a plant. In English, konjo may be translated as “guts,” which refers to the bowels of animals and symbolizes strength. Though guts are derived from livestock society, konjo and konki are derived from agricultural society in Japan. Konjo implies tenacious endurance of pain and hardship (or evil), e.g., an immature, weak person who has konjo can find the strength to fight against a mighty enemy. Because patience, i.e., the acceptance of pain, is always mental, unlike the physicality of arm strength, strong mental patience cannot be dominated even by enemies. Whoever has firm konjo with patient fortitude never says, “I give up.” Konki perseveres through long hardships until the purpose (or good) is achieved. Although individuals are often tempted to stagnate during their long perseverance, their konki will continue to persevere. Konki never throws away opportunities, is never panicked, and deals with marginal situations calmly.