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Personalize your custom “Inner Be” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “Inner Be” title below...
1. Inner Beauty / Inner Wisdom
2. Inner Beauty / Beauty of Spirit
3. Inner Bliss and Peace from Meditation
4. Inner Strength / Inner Well-Being and Health
7. Inner Peace
10. Inner Warrior
11. Inner Strength
12. Inner Wisdom
13. Inner Freedom
14. Inner Light / Intelligence
15. Peacefulness / Tranquility / Perfectly Quiet
16. Intuitive Wisdom / Inner Light
17. Inner Strength is Better than Outward Appearance
18. Inner Strength / Self-Improvement
19. Inner Peace / Silence / Serenity
20. Reach Peace and Calm Through Meditation
21. Always Striving for Inner Strength
22. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder
23. Achieve Inner Peace; Find Deep Understanding
24. Happy / Laughter / Cheerful Bliss
25. You are always a beauty in your lover’s eyes
26. Inner Strength is Better than Outward Appearance
28. Peace / Harmony
29. Tranquil / Tranquility / Serenity
30. Peace of Mind
31. Paix de l'esprit
32. Power of Oneself / Self-Sufficient
33. A Life of Serenity Yields Understanding
34. Koan
38. Science
39. Ten perfect Mahayana rules
40. Police / Public Security Bureau
41. Zen Buddhism
禪悅 is a title that refers to the inner bliss and peace you can achieve from meditation.
This term transcends a few religions, including Taoism and Buddhism. It can also be translated as “joy of the mystic trance” or simply “meditative bliss.”
Amazing that such a complex idea can be expressed in just two Chinese characters. Note that the first character is Chan/Zen (Chinese/Japanese), which means “meditation” in both languages.
內力 is the shorter version of inner strength (can also be translated as “internal force”). The first character holds the meaning of “inner” or “internal.” The second character means “power,” “force,” or “strength.”
內力 is a Kung Fu way of talking about an inner power or strength from within. This is a way to express “inner chi.” This is something that you might hear in a real Chinese Kung Fu movie.
While understood in Chinese and Japanese, this can have a secondary meaning of “inner stress” in Japanese.
內心平靜 is a Chinese and Japanese phrase that is a direct translation of the western idea of inner peace.
The first two characters contain the idea of “heart,” “innermost being,” or “deep in the/your inner mind.”
The last two characters mean “tranquil” and “serene.”
I have seen this phrase used as “inner peace” for art prints and even on the side of coffee cups. But I think the translation is too literal. It feels like a direct translation from English rather than a nicely composed Chinese or Japanese phrase. See my other entries for “inner peace.”
See Also: Serenity | Simplicity | Peace
內在力量 is the slightly-verbose way to say inner strength.
The first two characters mean “intrinsic” or “inner.” The second two characters mean “power,” “force” or “strength” (especially physical strength). 內在力量 is more a short phrase rather than just a word in Chinese and Korean. This can sort of be understood in Japanese but it's not normal/proper Japanese.
内面の強さは外見の良さに勝る is a Japanese proverb that literally translates as “inner/internal strength/power [versus] outward-appearance [the] merit/virtue/good quality [does] excel/surpass/exceed/outweigh.”
More naturally in English, this would be “Inner Strength Outweighs Outward Appearance.”
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
自強 is the kind of inner strength that applies to a person who has will-power and can inspire themselves to do great things.
自強 can also be the creed of a person that always pursues self-improvement.
Other translations: self-strengthening, striving for improvement, self-improvement, striving to become stronger, and self-renewal.
靜 is the simplest way to convey the meaning of inner peace and serenity.
靜 is often translated as “serenity.” It can also be used to express the ideas of still, calm, serene, quiet, silent, stillness, not moving, or tranquility.
In the old days, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean people might hang a wall scroll with this character in their reading room to bring about a sense of peace in the room.
While they once used the same character form in Japan, they now use a slightly-simplified version in modern Japan (after WWII). This version is shown to the right, and can be selected for your wall scroll by clicking on that Kanji instead of the button above.
See Also: Peace
安禪 creates a title that means to reach peace and calm through meditation.
安禪 is an excellent wall scroll for your relaxation or meditation room.
This is also a Buddhist-related term that encompasses the idea of entering into dhyana meditation.
This is also used in Japanese, but in modern times, the second character has changed, so it's 安禅 now. If you want the modern Japanese version, just choose a Japanese calligrapher, and let me know when you place your order.
自強不息 is a proverb or idiom that suggests that the pursuit of self-improvement is eternal. It can also be a suggestion to strive unremittingly in life.
The first two characters mean inner strength with the idea of self-improvement. The last two characters mean “never rest” or “striving without giving up.”
Some will translate these four characters as “Exert and strive hard without any let-up.”
美しさは見る人の目の中にある means “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” in Japanese.
Japanese grammar and word order are different than English, but I will partially break this down for you:
美しさ = Beauty
は = is/relates
見る = to look/see
人の = person's
目の = eye's
中にあ = inside
る = !
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
寧靜而致遠 is five characters from a longer ten-character proverb composed by Zhuge Liang about 1800 years ago.
诸葛亮 Zhuge Liang
The proverb means “Your inner peace/tranquility/serenity will help you see or reach far (into the world).”
The last word means “far” but the deeper meaning is that you will surpass what you can currently see or understand. Perhaps even opening up vast knowledge and understanding of complex ideas.
樂 is a single-character form of happiness or bliss that holds the ideas of laughing and having a good time.
This can also be translated as happy, glad, enjoyable, fun, and sometimes, music.
This a really good character if your audience is Chinese.
This is not a word seen alone very often in Korean.
In Japanese, this character is written like the image shown to the right. If you order this from the Japanese master calligrapher, it will look like this instead of the character shown above.
Note: In Japanese, this has a meaning of comfort, ease, and enjoyment.
See Also: Joyfulness
Any woman with affection for Asian art will love a gift of this Chinese proverb calligraphy on a wall scroll.
She will melt in your arms as you tell her the meaning of these characters.
Contained in this phrase is a reference to the most beautiful woman in Chinese history. Her name was Xi Shi, and she was known to have good looks that need not have fine robes or makeup. Her charms were so powerful that she brought down an entire kingdom (in a successful effort to bring honor and pride back to her people).
情人眼里出西施 is a great way to express that the woman in your life is your one love.
表壯不如里壯 literally translates as: [Better to be] strong inside than [to be] strong outside.
The ancient original meaning was:
[An] able [husband] outside [working to support a family is] not as good as [an] able [wife] inside [working and saving to take care of the family].
The current meaning is:
Inner strength is more important than outward appearance.
堅忍 means persistent, steadfast, fortitude, and/or perseverance.
The first character means strong, solid, firm, unyielding, or resolute.
The second character means to beat, endure, or tolerate.
Together they speak of the strength from within yourself. Some may also translate this as long-suffering in a more Biblical sense.
堅忍 is a common term in Chinese and Korean Hanja but a little less commonly used in modern Japanese Kanji. For that reason, this selection is best if your audience is Chinese or Korean.
Note that when writing this as Kanji, Japanese will tend to write the second Kanji a little differently. If you select our Japanese master calligrapher, please expect the form where the little horizontal stroke crosses the vertical stroke. See differences in the images to the right. Technically, they are both the same character, and will be read the same in either language.
和 is the simplest form of peace and harmony.
和 can also be translated as the peaceful ideas of gentle, mild, kind, and calm. With a more harmonious context, it can be translated as union, together with, on good terms with, or on friendly terms.
Most people would just translate this character as peace and/or harmony. 和 is a very popular character in Asian cultures - you can even call it the “peace symbol” of Asia. In fact, this peace and harmony character was seen repeatedly during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (a major theme of the games).
In old Chinese poems and literature, you might see this used as a kind of "and." As in two things summed together. As much as you could say, "the sun and moon," you could say "the sun in harmony with the moon."
See Also: Inner Peace | Patience | Simplicity
寧靜 expresses the idea of tranquility and serenity in Chinese.
See Also: Peace | Inner Peace | Harmony | Calm
(five-character version)
內心的寧靜 is the long way to express the idea of “peace of mind” in Chinese.
The first two characters mean heart or “innermost being.”
The middle character is a connecting modifier.
The last two characters mean peace, tranquility, or serenity.
Some may also translate this as “inner peace,” but I like our other inner-peace options for that idea.
This kind of makes sense in Korean but will have an archaic read - even by those who can understand Korean Hanja.
自力 is a word in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, old Korean, and Buddhist term meaning: the power within oneself; self-sufficient; by oneself; self-made; self-power; inner ability.
淡泊以明志寧靜而致遠 is a kind of complex ten-character proverb composed by Zhuge Liang about 1800 years ago.
This is a Chinese proverb that means “Leading a simple life will yield a clear mind, and having inner peace will help you see far (into the world).”
What I have translated as “simple life” means NOT being materialistic and NOT competing in the rat race.
The last word means “far” but the deeper meaning is that you will surpass what you can currently see or understand. Perhaps even the idea of opening up vast knowledge and understanding of complex ideas.
The whole phrase has a theme that suggests if you are NOT an aggressive cut-throat person who fights his way to the top no matter how many people he crushes on the way, and instead seek inner peace, you will have a happier existence and be more likely to understand the meaning of life.
See Also: Serenity
In the Buddhist context, 公案 is a Zen question for meditation.
From the Buddhist dictionary, this is:
Problems set by Zen masters, upon which thought is concentrated as a means to attain inner unity and illumination.
The secular meaning of this word can mean a judge's desk, a complex legal case, a contentious issue, a dossier, a case record, public laws, regulations, or case law.
快樂 or joyfulness is an inner sense of peace and happiness.
You appreciate the gifts each day brings. Without joyfulness, when the fun stops, our happiness stops. Joy can carry us through hard times even when we are feeling very sad.
快樂 can also mean pleasure, enjoyment, delight, cheerfulness, or merry. In some ways, this is the essence that makes someone perceived as a charming person.
See Also: Happiness
鉄心石腸 is a Japanese proverb that suggests you should have the inner-strength and will as hard and steadfast as iron.
It's the Japanese way of saying, “stay strong.” This is an especially uplifting thing to say to a person in distress or recovering from a disaster. It's kind of the survivor's creed.
If you literally translate this, it means “iron will, stone guts” or “iron heart, rock-hard bowels.”
気持ちに従う is a Japanese phrase that means follow your heart.
The first part of this Japanese proverb means feeling, sensation, or mood.
The second part suggests the following, abiding by, or listening to this inner feeling.
In this context, you could say it means your heart, as the whole proverb suggests that you follow the feelings that you have inside.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
The rules of life, the universe, and everything.
At its essence, 理 means science.
理 is a very ambiguous and open term; it speaks to the reason that all things exist, and how things work from the microscopic to the cosmic level.
There are many translations for this word, including inner essence; intrinsic order; reason; logic; truth; science; natural science (esp. physics); principle; the underlying principles of the cosmos; the way of things; ruling principle; fundamental law; intrinsicality; universal basis; or essential element(s).
If you are a scientist, or just searching for “the answer to life, the universe, and everything,” this could be the character for you.
十法 is the title of the ten perfect or perfecting Mahāyāna rules.
The order of rules is as follows:
1. right belief.
2. right conduct.
3. right spirit.
4. the joy of the bodhi mind.
5. joy in the dharma.
6. joy in meditation.
7. pursuing the correct dharma.
8. obedience to, or accordance with dharma.
9. departing from pride, desire, etc.
10. comprehending the inner teaching of Buddha and taking no pleasure in attaining such knowledge or noting the ignorance of others.
This title is only used in the context of Buddhism. Japanese and Chinese people who are not familiar with Buddhism will not recognize this title.
公安 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja title for (The Ministry of) Public Security. 公安 can also generally mean public safety, public security, or public welfare. It is a positive term in Japan, where some even name their daughters “Kouan” (this title).
In China, this is the kinder name for the PSB or Public Security Bureau. It's really the national police of China - occasionally brutal and seldom properly-trained or educated. Once in a while, you find a PSB officer who lives up to the title of 公安. Before the 1989 massacre, it was the PSB officers who refused to stop nor kill any of the protesting college students (so they're not all bad). The Chinese government had to call in soldiers from Inner Mongolia to kill thousands of protesters.
禪宗 is one way to title “Zen Buddhism.” Because the original pronunciation of Zen in Chinese is Chan, you'll also see this expressed as Chan Buddhism.
From the Buddhist Dictionary:
The Chan, meditative or intuitional, sect is usually said to have been established in China by Bodhidharma, the twenty-eighth patriarch, who brought the tradition of the Buddha-mind from India. This sect, believing in direct enlightenment, disregarded ritual and sūtras and depended upon the inner light and personal influence for the propagation of its tenets, founding itself on the esoteric tradition supposed to have been imparted to Kāśyapa by the Buddha, who indicated his meaning by plucking a flower without further explanation. Kāśyapa smiled in apprehension and is supposed to have passed on this mystic method to the patriarchs. The successor of Bodhidharma was 慧可 Huike, and he was succeeded by 僧璨 Sengcan, 道信 Daoxin, 弘忍 Hongren, 慧能 Huineng, and 神秀 Shenxiu, the sect dividing under the two latter into the southern and northern schools: the southern school became prominent, producing 南嶽 Nanyue and 靑原 Qingyuan, the former succeeded by 馬祖 Mazu, the latter by 石頭 Shitou. From Mazu's school arose the five later schools.
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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 | |
Inner Beauty Inner Wisdom | 內秀 内秀 | nèi xiù / nei4 xiu4 / nei xiu / neixiu | nei hsiu / neihsiu | |
Inner Beauty Beauty of Spirit | 內在美 内在美 | nèi zài měi nei4 zai4 mei3 nei zai mei neizaimei | nei tsai mei neitsaimei |
|
Inner Beauty Beauty of Spirit | 内面美 | nai men bi / naimenbi | ||
Inner Bliss and Peace from Meditation | 禪悅 禅悦 | chán yuè / chan2 yue4 / chan yue / chanyue | ch`an yüeh / chanyüeh / chan yüeh | |
Inner Strength Inner Well-Being and Health | 內健 | nèi jiàn / nei4 jian4 / nei jian / neijian | nei chien / neichien | |
Inner Heart Inner Soul | 心扉 | xīn fēi / xin1 fei1 / xin fei / xinfei | hsin fei / hsinfei | |
Inner Strength | 內力 内力 | nai ryoku / nairyoku | nèi lì / nei4 li4 / nei li / neili | |
Inner Peace | 內心平靜 内心平静 | naishin heizyou naishinheizyou naishin heizyo | nèi xīn píng jìng nei4 xin1 ping2 jing4 nei xin ping jing neixinpingjing | nei hsin p`ing ching neihsinpingching nei hsin ping ching |
Inner Warrior | 內なる戦士 内なる戦士 | |||
Inner Freedom | 內在自由 内在自由 | nèi zài zì yóu nei4 zai4 zi4 you2 nei zai zi you neizaiziyou | nei tsai tzu yu neitsaitzuyu |
|
Inner Warrior | 內心戰士 内心战士 | nèi xīn zhàn shì nei4 xin1 zhan4 shi4 nei xin zhan shi neixinzhanshi | nei hsin chan shih neihsinchanshih |
|
Inner Strength | 內在力量 内在力量 | nèi zài lì liàng nei4 zai4 li4 liang4 nei zai li liang neizaililiang | nei tsai li liang neitsaililiang |
|
Inner Wisdom | 內智 内智 | nai chi / naichi | nèi zhì / nei4 zhi4 / nei zhi / neizhi | nei chih / neichih |
Inner Freedom | 內心自由 内心自由 | nèi xīn zì yóu nei4 xin1 zi4 you2 nei xin zi you neixinziyou | nei hsin tzu yu neihsintzuyu |
|
Inner Light Intelligence | 心燈 心灯 | shin tou / shintou / shin to | xīn dēng / xin1 deng1 / xin deng / xindeng | hsin teng / hsinteng |
Peacefulness Tranquility Perfectly Quiet | 靜謐 静谧 | seihitsu | jìng mì / jing4 mi4 / jing mi / jingmi | ching mi / chingmi |
Intuitive Wisdom Inner Light | 一道神光 | ichidou no shinkou ichidounoshinkou ichido no shinko | yī dào shén guāng yi1 dao4 shen2 guang1 yi dao shen guang yidaoshenguang | i tao shen kuang itaoshenkuang |
Inner Strength is Better than Outward Appearance | 内面の強さは外見の良さに勝る | naimen no tsuyosa ha gaiken no yosa ni masaru | ||
Inner Strength Self-Improvement | 自強 自强 | zì qiáng / zi4 qiang2 / zi qiang / ziqiang | tzu ch`iang / tzuchiang / tzu chiang | |
Inner Peace Silence Serenity | 靜 静 | shizu / sei | jìng / jing4 / jing | ching |
Reach Peace and Calm Through Meditation | 安禪 安禅 | an zen / anzen | ān chán / an1 chan2 / an chan / anchan | an ch`an / anchan / an chan |
Always Striving for Inner Strength | 自強不息 自强不息 | zì qiáng bú xī zi4 qiang2 bu2 xi1 zi qiang bu xi ziqiangbuxi | tzu ch`iang pu hsi tzuchiangpuhsi tzu chiang pu hsi |
|
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder | 美しさは見る人の目の中にある | utsukushi-sa wa miru hito no me no naka ni aru | ||
Achieve Inner Peace; Find Deep Understanding | 寧靜而致遠 宁静而致远 | níng jìng ér zhì yuǎn ning2 jing4 er2 zhi4 yuan3 ning jing er zhi yuan ningjingerzhiyuan | ning ching erh chih yüan ningchingerhchihyüan |
|
Happy Laughter Cheerful Bliss | 樂 / 楽 乐 | raku | lè / le4 / le | |
You are always a beauty in your lover’s eyes | 情人眼里出西施 | qíng rén yǎn lǐ chū xī shī qing2 ren2 yan3 li3 chu1 xi1 shi1 qing ren yan li chu xi shi qingrenyanlichuxishi | ch`ing jen yen li ch`u hsi shih chingjenyenlichuhsishih ching jen yen li chu hsi shih |
|
Inner Strength is Better than Outward Appearance | 表壯不如里壯 表壮不如里壮 | biǎo zhuàng bù rú lǐ zhuàng biao3 zhuang4 bu4 ru2 li3 zhuang4 biao zhuang bu ru li zhuang biaozhuangburulizhuang | piao chuang pu ju li chuang piaochuangpujulichuang |
|
Perseverance Fortitude | 堅忍 坚忍 | ken nin / kennin | jiǎn rěn / jian3 ren3 / jian ren / jianren | chien jen / chienjen |
Peace Harmony | 和 | wa | hé / he2 / he | ho |
Tranquil Tranquility Serenity | 寧靜 宁静 | níng jìng ning2 jing4 ning jing ningjing | ning ching ningching |
|
Peace of Mind | 內心的寧靜 内心的宁静 | nèi xīn de níng jìng nei4 xin1 de ning2 jing4 nei xin de ning jing neixindeningjing | nei hsin te ning ching neihsinteningching |
|
Paix de l'esprit | 內心的平靜 内心的平静 | nèi xīn de píng jìng nei4 xin1 de ping2 jing4 nei xin de ping jing neixindepingjing | nei hsin te p`ing ching neihsintepingching nei hsin te ping ching |
|
Power of Oneself Self-Sufficient | 自力 | jiriki | zì lì / zi4 li4 / zi li / zili | tzu li / tzuli |
A Life of Serenity Yields Understanding | 淡泊以明志寧靜而致遠 淡泊以明志宁静而致远 | dàn bó yǐ míng zhì, níng jìng ér zhì yuǎn dan4 bo2 yi3 ming2 zhi4, ning2 jing4 er2 zhi4 yuan3 dan bo yi ming zhi, ning jing er zhi yuan | tan po i ming chih, ning ching erh chih yüan | |
Koan | 公案 | kouan / koan | gōng àn / gong1 an4 / gong an / gongan | kung an / kungan |
Joyfulness Happiness | 快樂 快乐 | kai raku / kairaku | kuài lè / kuai4 le4 / kuai le / kuaile | k`uai le / kuaile / kuai le |
Stay Strong Iron Will | 鉄心石腸 | tesshin sekichou tesshinsekichou teshin sekicho | ||
Follow Your Heart | 気持ちに従う | kimochi ni shitagau kimochinishitagau | ||
Science | 理 | kotowari | lǐ / li3 / li | |
Ten perfect Mahayana rules | 十法 | jippou / jipo | shí fǎ / shi2 fa3 / shi fa / shifa | shih fa / shihfa |
Police Public Security Bureau | 公安 | kou an / kouan / ko an | gōng ān / gong1 an1 / gong an / gongan | kung an / kungan |
Zen Buddhism | 禪宗 禅宗 | zen shuu / zenshuu / zen shu | chán zōng chan2 zong1 chan zong chanzong | ch`an tsung chantsung chan tsung |
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 Inner Be Kanji, Inner Be Characters, Inner Be in Mandarin Chinese, Inner Be Characters, Inner Be in Chinese Writing, Inner Be in Japanese Writing, Inner Be in Asian Writing, Inner Be Ideograms, Chinese Inner Be symbols, Inner Be Hieroglyphics, Inner Be Glyphs, Inner Be in Chinese Letters, Inner Be Hanzi, Inner Be in Japanese Kanji, Inner Be Pictograms, Inner Be in the Chinese Written-Language, or Inner Be in the Japanese Written-Language.