How to Read “Each person is a treasure of the world”
Ningen hitori wa yo no takara
Meaning of “Each person is a treasure of the world”
This proverb means that every single person is an irreplaceable and precious existence to society.
No matter who they are, each person has their own unique personality, talents, and experiences. These contribute to the richness of society as a whole.
Not just famous people or successful individuals, but everyone, including those in less visible positions, is a “treasure.”
This proverb is used when recognizing and encouraging someone’s value. It’s perfect when you want to tell someone who has lost confidence that their very existence has worth.
It’s also used when teaching the importance of valuing people.
In modern times, this proverb’s meaning has become even more important. We live in a society that emphasizes efficiency and results.
The diversity that each person brings is what makes society strong. This saying reminds us that not a single person is unnecessary or worthless.
Origin and Etymology
There are no clear written records about the origin of this proverb. However, we can make interesting observations from how the phrase is constructed.
Let’s focus on the expression “ningen hitori” (one person). The word “hitori” carries a dual meaning. It can mean “just one person” or “each and every person.”
This duality forms the core of this proverb’s message.
The expression “yo no takara” (treasure of the world) may have been influenced by Buddhist thought. In Buddhism, all life is believed to possess Buddha-nature.
This means infinite potential dwells within each person. In Confucian thought too, people are respected as beings who possess virtue given by heaven.
As education spread among common people during the Edo period, such philosophical ideas were expressed in simple words. They were then widely shared among the population.
This proverb may have been used in temple schools to teach children about human value.
The choice of the word “treasure” is also significant. It doesn’t represent material value like gold or silver.
Instead, it expresses spiritual value as an irreplaceable existence. This word contains the idea of equality.
No matter what position someone holds, their very existence has value.
Usage Examples
- New employees are also treasures, so each person is a treasure of the world. I want to find and nurture each person’s unique strengths.
- I want children to keep the words “each person is a treasure of the world” in their hearts and cherish both themselves and their friends.
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “Each person is a treasure of the world” has been passed down through generations. Behind it lies a fundamental truth about human society.
Everyone experiences moments when they question their own worth. Am I needed in society? Would the world be unchanged without me?
Such anxieties have visited human hearts repeatedly from ancient times to the present.
However, this proverb is our ancestors’ answer to such worries. A person’s value cannot be measured by achievements or results alone.
Each person’s unique perspective, experiences, and sensibilities enrich the fabric of society.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t say “talented people are treasures.” It says “each person is a treasure.”
There are no conditions attached. It’s a declaration that from birth, existence itself has value.
Humans are social creatures. We cannot live alone. That’s why we need to recognize and support each other’s existence.
This proverb teaches that in such interdependent relationships, everyone is indispensable.
When suffering from loneliness or alienation, these words speak to us. You are needed. Your existence has meaning.
When AI Hears This
The human brain contains approximately 86 billion neurons. Each can connect with up to 10,000 other neurons.
This combination alone creates over 10 to the trillionth power possible states. The universe has about 10 to the 80th power atoms.
So the possible states of one brain far exceed the atoms in the universe.
More important is the sequence of experiences that person has lived through. In information theory, not just the system’s state but the path to reach it has value as information.
For example, even if two people have the same knowledge, if one learned from failure and the other from success, their path information is completely different.
This path dependency cannot be replicated.
From a complex systems science perspective, humans are systems constantly changing through interactions with their surroundings. One word someone says can change another person’s life, and that influence spreads further.
This chain is unpredictable. The moment that person disappears, an entire tree diagram of future possibilities vanishes.
In other words, a person’s death means the simultaneous loss of vast information and infinite future branches. Once information is lost, the second law of thermodynamics makes it unrecoverable.
This irreversibility is what makes each person irreplaceable.
Treasure is another name for rarity. Scientifically speaking, each individual is literally a unique information universe.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people a perspective that heals hearts tired from comparison and competition.
Don’t you sometimes feel you’ve accomplished nothing when you see others’ success on social media? However, a person’s value isn’t determined only by achieved results.
When you spoke kind words to someone or helped someone in trouble, those small daily actions weave the large fabric of society.
You can apply this proverb’s spirit at work and at home. People doing unnoticed work or those who haven’t produced results yet still have their own value.
When you recognize and respect that, the people around you begin to shine too.
And above all, please cherish yourself. You don’t need to be perfect. Just as you are now, you’re already a valuable existence.
Keep these words in your heart and treasure each person, both yourself and others.
We can create such a warm society with our own hands.
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