art collections

Ninomiya Sontoku (Kinjirou) (1787~1865) was born in Japan. His parents died during his childhood and the financial condition of his family was difficult. He was self-reliant and studied on his own when he was 12. At the age of 16, he realized "the law for success is that many a little makes a mickle with wisdom and willpower." As time went on, he became a wealthy landowner when he reached 26 he began to help the weak and aid the needy, and he became famous for "the promotion on his successful law." He took the post of the premier of Tokugawabakuhu in his middle age, enormously bettering the economic situation of the country. Until Meijiisin, Meiji Mikado complimented on his great achievements, and enthroned him as the paragon of wisdom and willpower. This "allusion" has been included in the textbooks as educational material since the time. Furthermore, the shrine for commemoration was built and all of his abundant writing pieces have been collected to remember his inspiring example ever after. "Ninomiya Sontoku" has been the author's role model since he was a child. Due to the collapse of social morals and the deviation of family education, the author perceived he had to recreate a role model like "Ninomiya Sontoku" to indirectly influence the younger generation. Although the work is an imitative one, the author still feels at ease and justified to present the ancient classical work to people nowadays in the hope that everyone can feel the importance of education and learn something from the work and then the work can have some great positive influence on society.