I shot this with a borrowed Minolta SRT-101 belonging to a wedding-photographer who had just one last exposure left for me (during the period of difficulty after the South-Vietnam collapse). My boy was trying to refill the bottle of drinking water that his father used to bring along the daily 40-km-walk into jungle to cut bamboos for sale. Of course, the boy behaved his boyish character more than assistance. I wish I could translate what do his eyes wants to say.

Actually, the picture has been overexposed somewhat and processed under poor condition of chemical and it sank into complete oblivion.

The Chinese words to be read in Vietnamese as Bách niên chi kế mạc như thụ nhân (The Best Century Plan Is Cultivating Human Beings).

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The complete quote is:

“The Best Annual Plan Is Cultivating Rice;
The Best Decade Plan Is Cultivating Trees;
The Best Century Plan Is Cultivating Human Beings”

and the author is Guan Zhong.
Guan Zhong (管仲) (died in 645 BC) was a politician in the “Spring and Autumn Period”. His given name was Yíwú (夷吾).
Zhong was his courtesy name. Recommended by Bao Shuya, he was appointed Prime Minister by Duke Huan of Qi in 685 BC.

Translation into Vietnamese:
“Nhất niên chi kế mạc như thụ cốc;
“Thập niên chi kế mạc như thụ mộc;
“Bách niên chi kế mạc như thụ nhân”


(Kế một năm không ǵ bằng trồng lúa;
Kế mười năm không ǵ bằng trồng cây;
Kế trăm năm không ǵ bằng trồng người)


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On August 25, 2006, Painter Francisca Cheng asked if she could paint this picture. Of course I am honored to say yes, and here is the artwork by Francisca Cheng. She is from Hong Kong and currently living in Costa Rica.
Thank you — the boy and the artist. You both really converted my humble snapshot to something valuable.