上善水の如し/Jozen Mizu no Gotoshi

The meaning of the title “jozen mizu no gotshishi” is “ Best or wisest is like water”

This an old maxim from Taoism.

 

Water is very important for all creatures to maintain their lives but it is  so humble to  go down while others want to go up or improve their position or be famous. Still it is potentially very powerful if it is large amount of stream …

That is an allegory  of a wise person who is flexible and hide his/ her ability to avoid conflict yet naturally helps others.

 

When I gave my daughter a uchiwa(fan) suggesting her to write a word which she liked, she wrote a word “water”.

That inspired me to paint a girl who had a fan. It reminded me of this maxim.

I wish to live like that.