Beyond benevolence, 仁 can also be defined as “charity” or “mercy” depending on context.

The deeper meaning suggests that one should pay alms to the poor, care for those in trouble, and take care of his fellow man (or woman).

仁 is one of the five tenets of Confucius. In fact, it is a subject that Confucius spent a great deal of time explaining to his disciples.

I have also seen this benevolent-related word translated as perfect virtue, selflessness, love for humanity, humaneness, goodness, goodwill, or simply “love” in the non-romantic form.

This is also a virtue of the Samurai Warrior
See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here

See Also:  Altruism | Kindness | Charity | Confucius

菫 is the Japanese Kanji for violet.

This can refer to any flower of genus Viola, esp. the Fuji dawn, Viola mandshurica.

This can also be the Japanese name Sumire. 菫 is also commonly written in Katakana as スミレ.

菫 is a variant of the Chinese character 堇 (jin3) which has the same meaning.

金 is the symbol for metal (often means gold or money) in Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

In an interesting twist, in Japanese, this Kanji can also mean “Friday.” I guess Friday is “the golden day” in Japan.

Gold / Metal is one of the five elements that ancient Chinese believed all things were composed of. These elements are also part of the cycle of Chinese astrology. Every person has both an animal sign, and one of the five elements according to the date of their birth. See also Five Elements and Chinese 12 Animals / Zodiac.

This is a Chinese surname that romanizes as Shen from Mandarin or Shum from Cantonese.

In Japanese, it can be the surnames Chin, Chimu, Sen, Sun, Shin, or Shimu.

The meaning is to sink or heavy.

This 沈 character is a variant of 沉.

ジン is the name Djinn in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

ジン is the name Gin in Japanese.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

ジン is the name Jinn in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

雷神 is how to write the Japanese “Thunder God.” They don't really have separate words for thunder and lightning in Japanese, so this is also the “Lightning God.”

雷神 makes sense in Chinese (though not a common title).

This is also the origin of the English name Raiden.

ジン is the name Zin in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

ジン is the name Zinn in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

活人剣 is a Japanese title for “life-saving sword” or “katsujinken.”

This title suggests that a sword used for killing can also be used for saving or giving life.

殺人剣 is a Japanese title for “Death Sword,” “Life Taking Sword,” or “satsujinken.”

This is the opposite of katsujinken or the “life-saving sword.” This title is not as commonly used in Japanese but pairs well when hung with katsujinken.

The first two Kanji are a word that translates as homicide, murder or kill (a person). 殺人剣 is specifically to kill a person (as the second character means person or human) as opposed to an animal, etc.

The last Kanji is the Japanese variant of the originally-Chinese character for a sword.

This is the title of a Buddhist poem known as Xin Xin Ming, Xinxinming, or Hsin Hsin Ming in Chinese and Shinjinmei in Japanese.

This title is typically translated as “Faith in Mind.” The poem itself is quite long and steeped with meaning.

Download this document for more info: http://www.ln.edu.hk/econ/staff/Xin Xin Ming.doc

人生朝露 is a proverb that means “human life is like morning dew.”

Figuratively, this suggests the ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence.

Also translated as:
Man's life vanishes like a drop of dew.
A person's life is as fleeting as morning dew.
Life is as transient as morning due.

These Japanese Kanji, 安心立命, can be translated as “religious enlightenment” or “spiritual peace gained through faith.”

Other dictionaries define as “spiritual peace and enlightenment” or “keeping an unperturbed mind through faith.”

My Buddhist dictionary defines it as “spiritual peace and realization of enlightenment.”

In the Zen school, this is about settling one's body and life; attaining complete peace, and establishing one's course of life in accord with the ultimate reality.