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2. Bon Voyage
7. Walking 100 Miles: Stopping at 90 miles, is the same as stopping half-way
8. A Journey of 1000 Miles Begins with a Single Step
9. Mountain Travels Poem by Dumu
10. Read 10,000 Books, Travel 10,000 Miles
11. It is the Journey, Not the Destination
12. The Destination is Nothing Without the Journey
14. Monkey King
15. A Bright Future
16. Drunken Monkey
17. Crane
18. Monkey King
19. Wukong / Goku
21. Bodhi - Awakening Enlightenment
22. Fear not long roads; Fear only short ambition
23. Monkey Fist
旅行 means journey or travels. It is sometimes used to refer to a vacation.
If you like a good adventure, maybe this is the word for you.
一路平安 is a wish for someone to have a pleasant journey.
It's probably the closest way to translate “bon voyage” into Chinese.
The first two characters mean one road or one path. The second two characters mean “safe and sound” or “without mishap.”
一路平安 means the same thing in Japanese but is not the most common selection for a wall scroll.
旅 is a single Chinese character, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja that means trip, travel, or journey.
In an older context, this could refer to an army brigade or a 500-man battalion from the Zhou-dynasty Chinese army.
西遊記 is the original title of the novel Journey to the West.
Written during the Ming dynasty, this novel by Wu Cheng'en (吳承恩) is one of the four classic stories of Chinese literature.
Sometimes this book is titled, Pilgrimage to the West, Monkey King, or Magic Monkey.
Many movies and TV series depict or adapt portions of this story.
行百里者半九十 is an old Chinese proverb that speaks to the act of giving up. This phrase suggests that no matter how close you are to finishing your task or journey, giving up just before you finish is just as bad as giving up halfway.
50% finished or 90% finished, the result is the same: “You are not finished.”
You can take what you want from this proverb, but I think it suggests that you should finish what you start, and especially finish that last 10% of your journey or project so that you can honestly say “it's finished.”
Some notes: The character, 里, that I am translating as “mile” is an ancient “Chinese mile” which is actually about half a kilometer - it just doesn't sound right to say “When walking 100 half-kilometers...”
This poem was written almost 1200 years ago during the Tang dynasty.
It depicts traveling up a place known as Cold Mountain, where some hearty people have built their homes. The traveler is overwhelmed by the beauty of the turning leaves of the maple forest that surrounds him just as night overtakes the day, and darkness prevails. His heart implores him to stop, and take in all of the beauty around him.
First, before you get to the full translation, I must tell you that Chinese poetry is a lot different than what we have in the west. Chinese words simply don't rhyme in the same way that English or other western languages do. Chinese poetry depends on rhythm and a certain beat of repeated numbers of characters.
I have done my best to translate this poem keeping a certain feel of the original poet. But some of the original beauty of the poem in its original Chinese will be lost in translation.
Far away on Cold Mountain, a stone path leads upwards.
Among white clouds, people's homes reside.
Stopping my carriage I must, as to admire the maple forest at nights fall.
In awe of autumn leaves showing more red than even flowers of early spring.
Hopefully, this poem will remind you to stop, and “take it all in” as you travel through life.
The poet's name is “Du Mu” in Chinese that is: .
The title of the poem, “Mountain Travels” is:
You can have the title, poet's name, and even “Tang Dynasty” written as an inscription on your custom wall scroll if you like.
More about the poet:
Dumu lived from 803-852 AD and was a leading Chinese poet during the later part of the Tang dynasty.
He was born in Chang'an, a city in central China and the former capital of the ancient Chinese empire in 221-206 BC. In present-day China, his birthplace is currently known as Xi'an, the home of the Terracotta Soldiers.
He was awarded his Jinshi degree (an exam administered by the emperor's court which leads to becoming an official of the court) at the age of 25 and went on to hold many official positions over the years. However, he never achieved a high rank, apparently because of some disputes between various factions, and his family's criticism of the government. His last post in the court was his appointment to the office of Secretariat Drafter.
During his life, he wrote scores of narrative poems, as well as a commentary on the Art of War and many letters of advice to high officials.
His poems were often very realistic and often depicted everyday life. He wrote poems about everything, from drinking beer in a tavern to weepy poems about lost love.
The thing that strikes you most is the fact even after 1200 years, not much has changed about the beauty of nature, toils, and troubles of love and beer drinking.
讀萬卷書行萬里路 is a lifelong suggestion for expanding your horizons by gaining knowledge, experience, and seeing the world.
Of course, this was written long ago when it was hard to travel 10,000 miles (at least 1000 years before the invention of the airplane).
With air travel and the business I'm in, I often achieve that lifetime goal on a monthly basis.
However, I am a little behind in the book count.
Note: An ancient Chinese mile (里 or lǐ) referred to in this proverb is about a third of a British/American mile. However, at that time, this was a great distance to travel.
醉猴功夫 is the title for Drunken Monkey Kung Fu (Gong Fu).
The martial arts style was inspired by the novel, “Journey to the West.”
See Also: Monkey Fist
美猴王 is the specific title for “Monkey King.”
A character made famous by the ancient novel Journey to the West.
It literally means “Handsome/Beautiful Monkey King.”
See Also: Monkey Fist | Drunken Monkey
Incredible 10,000-Mile Flight of the Peng
鵬程萬里 is an ancient Chinese proverb used in modern times to wish someone a long and successful career.
It's really about the 10,000 Flight of the Peng (Peng, also known as Roc is a mythical fish that can turn into a bird and take flight).
莊子
Zhuangzi or Chuang Tzu
Breaking down each character:
1. Peng or Roc (a kind of bird).
2. Journey (in this case, a flight).
3. 10,000 (Ten Thousand).
4. Li is a unit of distance often referred to as a “Chinese Mile,” though the real distance is about half a kilometer.
Direct Translation: “Peng's Journey [of] 10,000 Li.”
Literal meaning: “The 10,000-Li Flying Range Of The Roc.”
Perceived meaning: “To have a bright future” or “To go far.”
This proverb/idiom comes from the book of Zhuangzi or Chuang Tzu. It tells the tale of a huge fish that could turn into a gigantic bird. This bird was called a “peng” and was many miles long. This legendary size allowed the Peng to fly from the Northern Sea to the Southern Sea in a single bound.
Wishing someone “a Peng's Journey of 10,000 Li” will imply that they can travel far without stopping and will have great success, a long career, and a prosperous future.
醉猴 is the short title for Drunken Monkey (often used as a title for a style of martial arts or kung fu which mimics the movements of a drunk monkey).
This martial arts style was inspired by the novel, “Journey to the West.”
See Also: Monkey Fist
Graceful bird of longevity
鶴 is a famous bird of China.
Known in China to be a very spiritual creature, the crane is a symbol of both longevity and the journey of the souls and spirits of ancestors.
Note: 鶴 can mean crane or stork in Japanese.
猴王 is the short title for “Monkey King.” This can refer to the character made famous by the ancient novel Journey to the West.
This literally reads “Monkey King.” However, this title is open to interpretation and could be used for someone who is the boss of the primate exhibit at the zoo or certain characters in Chinese opera.
See Also: Monkey Fist | Drunken Monkey
Monkey King
悟空 is the short name or given name of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, from the ancient Chinese novel Journey to the West.
This title is also known as the given name of the Monkey King in Japanese. This can also be Goku, short for Son Goku, a fictional character of the Dragon Ball Japanese manga series (also based loosely on the Monkey King).
Monkey King
孫悟空 is the name Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. He is the main character with supernatural powers in the ancient Chinese novel Journey to the West.
This title is also known as the real name of the Monkey King in Japanese. This can also be the Son Goku, better known as simply Goku, a fictional character of the Dragon Ball Japanese manga series.
The Bodhi or 菩提 is the moment of completion in Buddhism.
It is when all things become known and you have completed your journey to enlightenment.
The reference is to the Bodhi tree where Siddhartha Gautama (the legendary man who established the Buddhist religion) achieved enlightenment. Sometimes this is referred to as “the tree of enlightenment,” but if you want the full version with the character for a tree at the end, please see the Bodhi Tree entry.
See Also: Buddhism | Buddha | Nirvana | Enlightenment
不怕路遠隻怕志短 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as “Fear not long roads; fear only short ambition,” or “Don't fear that the road is long, only fear that your will/ambition/aspiration is short.”
Figuratively, this means: However difficult the goal is, one can achieve it as long as one is determined to do so.
Others may translate the meaning as “Don't let a lack of willpower stop you from pressing onward in your journey.”
猴拳 literally means what you think, it's the “Monkey Fist” school of Kung Fu. A style that mimics the punches and movements of monkeys and apes.
Becoming popular during the Qing Dynasty, this style can trace its origins back to as early as the Song Dynasty. Some of the romance and popularity of this style comes from the novel “Journey to the West” which features the Monkey King and his fighting skills.
This novel and martial arts style has spawned a stream of Hong Kong movies featuring the Monkey King and other Kung Fu style variations such as “Drunken Monkey” and “Monkey Stealing Peaches” (a technique of disabling your opponent by grabbing and yanking on his testicles).
Note: This kind of makes sense in Korean Hanja and Japanese Kanji but probably unknown by all Koreans and Japanese except those who have an interest in this form of Kung Fu.
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The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Journey Travel | 旅行 | ryokou / ryoko | lǚ xíng / lv3 xing2 / lv xing / lvxing | lü hsing / lühsing |
Bon Voyage | 一路平安 | ichiro heian ichiroheian | yī lù píng ān yi1 lu4 ping2 an1 yi lu ping an yilupingan | i lu p`ing an ilupingan i lu ping an |
Pleasant Journey | 一路順風 一路顺风 | ichirojunpuu ichirojunpu | yī lù shùn fēng yi1 lu4 shun4 feng1 yi lu shun feng yilushunfeng | i lu shun feng ilushunfeng |
Journey Travel | 旅 | ryo / tabi | lǚ / lu:3 / lu: | lü |
Life is a Journey | 人生是一段旅程 | rén shēng shì yí duàn lǚ chéng ren2 sheng1 shi4 yi2 duan4 lv3 cheng2 ren sheng shi yi duan lv cheng renshengshiyiduanlvcheng | jen sheng shih i tuan lü ch`eng jen sheng shih i tuan lü cheng |
|
Journey to the West | 西遊記 西游记 | sei yuu ki / seiyuuki / sei yu ki | xī yóu jì xi1 you2 ji4 xi you ji xiyouji | hsi yu chi hsiyuchi |
Walking 100 Miles: Stopping at 90 miles, is the same as stopping half-way | 行百里者半九十 | xíng bǎi lǐ zhě bàn jiǔ shí xing2 bai3 li3 zhe3 ban4 jiu3 shi2 xing bai li zhe ban jiu shi xingbailizhebanjiushi | hsing pai li che pan chiu shih hsingpailichepanchiushih |
|
A Journey of 1000 Miles Begins with a Single Step | 千里之行始於足下 千里之行始于足下 | qiān lǐ zhī xíng shǐ yú zú xià qian1 li3 zhi1 xing2 shi3 yu2 zu2 xia4 qian li zhi xing shi yu zu xia qianlizhixingshiyuzuxia | ch`ien li chih hsing shih yü tsu hsia chien li chih hsing shih yü tsu hsia |
|
Mountain Travels Poem by Dumu | 遠上寒山石徑斜白雲生處有人家停車坐愛楓林晚霜葉紅於二月花 远上寒山石径斜白云生处有人家停车坐爱枫林晚霜叶红于二月花 | yuǎn shàng hán shān shí jìng xiá bái yún shēng chù yǒu rén jiā tíng chē zuò ài fēng lín wǎn shuàng yè hóng yú èr yuè huā yuan3 shang4 han2 shan1 shi2 jing4 xia2 bai2 yun2 sheng1 chu4 you3 ren2 jia1 ting2 che1 zuo4 ai4 feng1 lin2 wan3 shuang4 ye4 hong2 yu2 er4 yue4 hua1 yuan shang han shan shi jing xia bai yun sheng chu you ren jia ting che zuo ai feng lin wan shuang ye hong yu er yue hua | yüan shang han shan shih ching hsia pai yün sheng ch`u yu jen chia t`ing ch`e tso ai feng lin wan shuang yeh hung yü erh yüeh hua yüan shang han shan shih ching hsia pai yün sheng chu yu jen chia ting che tso ai feng lin wan shuang yeh hung yü erh yüeh hua |
|
Read 10,000 Books, Travel 10,000 Miles | 讀萬卷書行萬里路 读万卷书行万里路 | dú wàn juǎn shū, xíng wàn lǐ lù du2 wan4 juan3 shu1 xing2 wan4 li3 lu4 du wan juan shu xing wan li lu duwanjuanshuxingwanlilu | tu wan chüan shu hsing wan li lu | |
It is the Journey, Not the Destination | 是旅途不是目的 | shì lǚ tú bú shì mù dì shi4 lu:3 tu2 bu2 shi4 mu4 di4 shi lu: tu bu shi mu di shilu:tubushimudi | shih lü t`u pu shih mu ti shihlütupushihmuti shih lü tu pu shih mu ti |
|
The Destination is Nothing Without the Journey | 不經旅途不成目的 不经旅途不成目的 | bù jīng lǚ tú bù chéng mù dì bu4 jing1 lu:3 tu2 bu4 cheng2 mu4 di4 bu jing lu: tu bu cheng mu di bujinglu:tubuchengmudi | pu ching lü t`u pu ch`eng mu ti puchinglütupuchengmuti pu ching lü tu pu cheng mu ti |
|
Drunken Monkey Kung Fu | 醉猴功夫 / 醉猴功伕 醉猴功夫 | zuì hóu gōng fu zui4 hou2 gong1 fu zui hou gong fu zuihougongfu | tsui hou kung fu tsuihoukungfu |
|
Monkey King | 美猴王 | měi hóu wáng mei3 hou2 wang2 mei hou wang meihouwang | ||
A Bright Future | 鵬程萬里 鹏程万里 | péng chéng wàn lǐ peng2 cheng2 wan4 li3 peng cheng wan li pengchengwanli | p`eng ch`eng wan li pengchengwanli peng cheng wan li |
|
Drunken Monkey | 醉猴 | zuì hóu / zui4 hou2 / zui hou / zuihou | tsui hou / tsuihou | |
Crane | 鶴 鹤 | gaku / tsuru | hè / he4 / he | ho |
Monkey King | 猴王 | hóu wáng / hou2 wang2 / hou wang / houwang | ||
Wukong Goku | 悟空 | go kuu / gokuu / go ku | wù kōng / wu4 kong1 / wu kong / wukong | wu k`ung / wukung / wu kung |
Sun Wukong Son Goku | 孫悟空 孙悟空 | son go kuu / songokuu / son go ku | sūn wù kōng sun1 wu4 kong1 sun wu kong sunwukong | sun wu k`ung sunwukung sun wu kung |
Bodhi - Awakening Enlightenment | 菩提 | bodai | pú tí / pu2 ti2 / pu ti / puti | p`u t`i / puti / pu ti |
Fear not long roads; Fear only short ambition | 不怕路遠隻怕志短 不怕路远只怕志短 | bú pà lù yuǎn zhǐ pà zhì duǎn bu2 pa4 lu4 yuan3 zhi3 pa4 zhi4 duan3 bu pa lu yuan zhi pa zhi duan bupaluyuanzhipazhiduan | pu p`a lu yüan chih p`a chih tuan pu pa lu yüan chih pa chih tuan |
|
Monkey Fist | 猴拳 | hóu quán / hou2 quan2 / hou quan / houquan | hou ch`üan / houchüan / hou chüan | |
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
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All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as Chinese Character Journey Kanji, Chinese Character Journey Characters, Chinese Character Journey in Mandarin Chinese, Chinese Character Journey Characters, Chinese Character Journey in Chinese Writing, Chinese Character Journey in Japanese Writing, Chinese Character Journey in Asian Writing, Chinese Character Journey Ideograms, Chinese Chinese Character Journey symbols, Chinese Character Journey Hieroglyphics, Chinese Character Journey Glyphs, Chinese Character Journey in Chinese Letters, Chinese Character Journey Hanzi, Chinese Character Journey in Japanese Kanji, Chinese Character Journey Pictograms, Chinese Character Journey in the Chinese Written-Language, or Chinese Character Journey in the Japanese Written-Language.