Soejima Taneomi
1892 (Meiji 25)
Donated by the Homma family
Born into a samurai family, Soejima Taneomi (1828–1905) was a politician of the late Edo and Meiji periods. Besides his diplomatic and political achievements, he was also a renowned Noh calligrapher. His pen names were Sōkai and Ichiichi Gakujin.
Soejima, who inherited and carried on many of Saigō Takamori’s teachings, was greatly respected by the people of the Shōnai domain. He spent significant amounts of time in the area deepening his friendship with them. In 1892, he stayed at Seienkaku, the Homma family’s country villa, which was used as a guest house for important personages at the time.
“Tandaishinshō” is a four-character idiom which means “to be bold and courageous, but also careful and meticulous.”