The Japanese greatly appreciate the ability to cultivate some people, be it a flower, an intellect, a friendship or any other aspect and value, simply dedicating effort and patience to this noble art is a matter of respect for them. Japanese history is about this, about the art of agriculture.
They say that in a remote village in the east of the country lived an older couple of the time, the two were almost 100 years old and admired them all because they had, as they said, the most beautiful garden in the world. There grew flowers that no one else could grow, and the aroma of the plants drank the air in miles around.
- This Japanese story tells that the elders knew that they did not have much left to live.
- What they regretted most was the farewell of the garden.
- They did not want the work of their life to have an uncertain destiny.
- So they agreed to give it to the gardener.
- Who deserved it the most.
- But what would it be?.
“Our big mistake is to try to get the particular virtues of each one you don’t have, and despise the culture you have. -Marguerite Yourcenar-
After thinking about it for several days, the elders concluded that it was better to organize a contest among the gardeners, only then could one know which one was worthy of the fabulous garden, then asked the people of the area to spread the news.
According to this old Japanese story, the elders spread the message that anyone interested in inheriting the garden should return home on the first full moon night of that month. Participants would receive a task. A good execution of the task would determine the result. The news spread like gunpowder and the most prestigious gardeners in the East took an interest in competition.
The two spinsters had a daughter who loved the garden deeply, but knew nothing about gardening, so she was saddened to learn of the contest, the winner would certainly not allow her daughter to return to this enchanted place, which would make her very sad.
The woman told her daughter about the contest so that she could prepare to say goodbye to the beautiful garden, however this Japanese story says that the girl decided to participate in the event, although she had no chance of winning.
When the fixed date came, the most famous gardeners in the East were present, as was the daughter of the maid, who at least wanted to see the garden for the last time, at that very moment the elders came out and reported that they would all give a seed. Competitors had to grow it and, after three months, whoever brought the most beautiful flower won the competition.
Japanese history tells that everyone was very excited, including the maid’s daughter. It was a fair test and everyone would do their best to do it in the best way. The girl started cultivating the seed the next morning. She knew she was at a disadvantage compared to seasoned gardeners, but she felt that what she didn’t know, she had more than enough love for the couple’s garden. Then I will do my best to grow the most beautiful flower.
However, the days pass and the seed does not germinate, she waters it patiently. I put the seed in the sun, let the wind blow, but nothing. As careful as he offered, nothing happened. The girl was distressed, but also decided to continue.
Time passed and the day of the test came. According to Japanese history, the girl’s seed was the same as the first day, despite this, she wanted to show up to say goodbye to the beautiful garden she loved so much, maybe that was the last time I could see her.
Gardeners began to arrive from everywhere. Each brought a flower more splendid than the other, with exquisite aromas and wonderful colors. I had never seen most of the rare species in this room.
The elderly couple began inspecting each of them. They carefully observed the flowers and evaluated them. Japanese history says that when they got to where the girl’s seed was, they just looked and left.
At the time of the verdict, the old man decided that the winner would be the maid’s daughter, no one could believe it. Angry voices were heard asking for an explanation, then the two said that all the seeds they had delivered were sterile, so they gave the prize to the girl for owning the most beautiful and difficult flower to grow: honesty.