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Personalize your custom “Self-” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “Self-” title below...
1. Self-Restraint / Self-Control
3. Prideful Mind / Self-Respecting Heart
7. Introspection / Self-Awareness
8. Inner Strength / Self-Improvement
9. Self-Discipline / Will-Power
10. Self-Confidence
11. Self-Control
12. Jiko no Kansei / Self-Completion
13. Self-Defense
14. Power of Oneself / Self-Sufficient
16. Self-Control
17. Self-Love / Love Yourself / Love Oneself
18. Pride
19. Kensho - Initial Enlightenment
21. Self Sacrifice
24. Discipline / Training / Tempering Character
26. Changing Oneself / Self Reformation
27. Self Awareness Becomes a Buddha
28. Standing by Oneself / Walking by Oneself
29. ...And this above all to thine own self be true
30. Discipline
31. Always Striving for Inner Strength
32. Well-Disciplined / Orderly
33. Discipline
34. Confidence / Faithful Heart
36. Independence
37. Conquering Yourself is a Sign of Strength
38. Gaman
39. Presence of Mind
40. Hyakuren-Jitoku
41. Selflessness
44. Lone Wolf
45. Sacrifice / Devotion / Dedication
46. I am Enough
48. Gentleness
49. Goshin-Kai
50. True Victory is Victory Over Oneself
51. Non-Violence
52. Mistress / Concubine / Servant
53. Humble / Modesty / Humility
54. Kensho Jobutsu - Enlightenment - Path to Buddha
55. Forgive Yourself
56. Kyokushin
57. Taekwondo Tenets / Spirit of Taekwon-do
58. Selflessness
59. Goshin-Do
60. Honorable Death - No Surrender
62. Heijoshin / Presence of Mind
64. Unselfish: Perfectly Impartial
65. Pure Heart
66. Ikigai
67. Asian Pride / Oriental Pride / AZN Pryde
69. Live Free or Die
70. Integrity
71. Tiger
72. Dragon
74. Mutual Welfare and Benefit
76. Sky / Ether / Void / Emptiness / Unreality
77. Nothingness
78. Taekwondo
克己 can be translated as “self-denial,” “self-abnegation,” “self-restraint,” “self-discipline,” “self-mastery,” or selflessness.
As a tenet of Korean taekwondo, and other martial arts, this is often used with the title “self-control.”
自尊 means self-respect or self-esteem in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. It can also mean “pride in oneself.”
Note: Japanese sometimes put the character for the heart after these two. However, this two-character word is universal between all three languages (which is often better since more than a third of the world's population can read this version as a native word).
自尊心 is a Japanese and Korean word that means “pride” or “self-respect.”
The first Kanji/Hanja means oneself. The second can mean revered, valuable, precious, noble, or exalted. And the last Kanji/Hanja means heart, mind, and/or spirit.
While these characters make sense and hold the same general meaning in Chinese, this is not a normal Chinese word. This selection should only be used if your audience is Japanese or Korean.
自恃 means self-reliance but is often used to mean self-confidence or the state of being self-assured.
Basically, this means you can rely on yourself (with a slight suggestion that others can rely on you as well).
The first character means “oneself,” while the second means “to rely upon.”
See Also: Confidence
修養 means self-improvement in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
Other translations for this word include accomplishment, training, self-cultivation, (mental) training, self-discipline, cultivation, or cultivating moral character.
自信心 is the long title for self-confidence.
It differs from the other version, only with the addition of the character for heart or soul at the end. With that addition, you could say this means a self-confident heart.
See Also: Confidence
自省 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja means: to examine oneself; to reflect on one's shortcomings; introspection; self-awareness; self-criticism; self-examination; reflection.
In Japanese, this can be the given name, Jisei.
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.
自律 means self-discipline and self-control.
It is doing what you really want to do rather than being tossed around by your feelings like a leaf in the wind. You act instead of reacting. You get things done in an orderly and efficient way. With self-discipline, you take charge of yourself.
Not sure if this one works for a Japanese audience.
See Also: Discipline
自信 is created by simply putting the character for “faith/believe/confidence” with the character for “oneself” in front of it.
The literal translation holds the same meaning in English, Chinese, and Japanese.
It's like a self-affirmation to say, “you can do it.”
Some may also use this to mean self-esteem or a sense of self-worth. 自信 is also how to say “believe in oneself.”
See Also: Confidence
The short and sweet version of self-control.
Note: This can also mean self-restraint.
See Also: Will-Power | Discipline
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.
意志力 is a form of willpower or self-control and is about having the determination or tenacity to keep going.
In Japanese, this is the power of will, the strength of will, volition, intention, intent, or determination.
自己抑制 has a meaning like “to restrain oneself” in Chinese, Japanese, and old Korean.
The first two characters mean “regarding oneself,” and the second two mean “to refrain” or “to restrain.”
See Also: Discipline | Will-Power
自愛 means self-love, self-regard, regard for oneself, cherishing one's good name, taking care of oneself, or love myself.
In the Buddhist context, this is the cause of all pursuit or seeking, which in turn causes all suffering. All Buddhas discharge themselves from self-love and all pursuits of personal gratification. Such elimination of self-love is a step towards nirvāṇa.
This title can be taken as positive or negative, depending on how you read it. Some will see it as arrogant, and others will read it as a token of self-respect. Because of this ambiguity, I do not recommend this title for a wall scroll.
自尊 can mean “pride,” “self-respect,” or “self-esteem.” The first character means “oneself,” and the second can mean revered, valuable, precious, noble, exalted, honorable, or simply “pride.”
I have also seen this two-character word translated as “amour propre,” self-regard, and self-pride.
自尊 is universal between Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja written languages. It may also be understood in old Vietnamese (they once used Chinese characters as well).
見性 has the same meaning as Satori but refers to the initial state or initial experience of enlightenment.
This can also mean “self-discovery,” “self-awareness,” or “consciousness of one's character.”
In a very religious context, this means to behold the Buddha nature within oneself.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people. Some Japanese people will dispute whether this title is valid in the Japanese language. Only order this if you are sure this title is right for you.
See Also: Buddhism | Enlightenment
自我實現 is the Chinese and old Korean Hanja title for self-actualization or self-realization.
自意識 is the idea of being conscious and self-aware in Japanese Kanji and old Korean Hanja.
This is not a normal word in Chinese.
自覺 is the idea of being conscious, self-aware, and sometimes “on one's own initiative.”
After WWII, they started using a simplified form of the second Kanji for this word in Japan. That version is shown to the right, and you can click on that Kanji if you want the modern Japanese form. Otherwise, the characters shown in the upper left are the correct ones for ancient/old/traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
磨鍊 is a form of discipline which suggests training of the mind and character, aimed at producing self-control, obedience, etc.
One of my Chinese-English dictionaries even translates this as “tempering oneself” or turning yourself into hardened steel.
In old Korean Hanja, they use these characters in reverse order but with the same meaning. If you want the Korean version, please click this link instead of the button above: Korean version.
自性覚れば即ち是れ佛なり is a Zen quote that means “If one realizes one's own nature, one becomes a Buddha.”
The inference here is that if you understand who you really are, and become truly aware of yourself and your original nature, you are well on your way to becoming a liberated person (a Buddha).
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
A line from Shakespeare's Hamlet
紀律 is a Chinese and Korean word that conveys the idea of extreme self-control and perhaps self-sacrifice, and obedience.
This word matches the kind of “discipline” I was in the Marine Corps. There is also an additional idea of maintaining order or being orderly in your tasks.
This idea would also fit an athlete training for the Olympics who gives up many pleasures to stay focused on their training.
See Also: Will-Power
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.”
Special Military Term
When reading an account of some battles in China, I came across the Chinese word, 嚴整. As it turns out, 嚴整 is only used in military circles to describe neat, orderly, and well-disciplined troops. Perhaps this is actually closer to the meaning I was taught while in the U.S. Marines.
The first character literally means stern, serious, strict, or severe (it can also mean airtight or watertight.
The second character means exact, in good order, whole, complete, and orderly.
Together, these two characters multiply each other into a word that expresses the highest military level of discipline.
See Also: Will-Power
規律 is a Japanese word for discipline that relays the ideas of keeping order, and observance (of rules, laws, regulations).
This is also a word in Chinese and old Korean Hanja where it suggests that you are one who follows a certain law of behavior or has a regular and dependable pattern of behavior, personal regime, or rhythm.
See Also: Will-Power
鍛練 is the Japanese Kanji and Korean Hanja word used for discipline.
This has a meaning like “forging or creating something from lots of training and practice.” My Japanese dictionary translates this as “tempering, forging, hardening, disciplining, training.”
This is for Japanese and Korean only. In Chinese, these characters might be translated as (physical) “exercise.”
The modern form of the second Japanese Kanji looks like the first image to the right. There’s also an alternate modern form after that, and finally, an alternate traditional form. Because calligraphy is an art, the calligrapher could choose any of these possible forms. Let us know if you have a preference.
See Also: Will-Power
信心 is a Chinese, Japanese, and Korean word that means confidence, faith, or belief in somebody or something.
The first character means faith, and the second can mean heart or soul. Therefore, you could say this means “faithful heart” or “faithful soul.”
In Korean especially, this word has a religious connotation.
In the old Japanese Buddhist context, this was a word for citta-prasāda (clear or pure heart-mind).
In modern Japan (when read by non-Buddhists), this word is usually understood as “faith,” “belief,” or “devotion.”
軍紀 means military discipline or military principles.
If maintaining your military discipline is important to you personally or important to your military unit, this is the wall scroll to have up behind your desk. In fact, it's the kind of thing I expect to see behind the desk of a First Sergeant or maybe a hardcore NCO.
Note: In some rare contexts, it could be extended to mean “morale,” but “discipline” is much closer to the commonly-held definition.
Note: This term is not well-known outside the military services in Asia (not used by the common person).
Besides meaning “to be independent,” this can also mean “to stand alone,” self-reliance or self-support.
Modern Japanese use a simplified version of the first character of independence. it’s the same simplified version currently used in mainland China, so understood by most Chinese and all Japanese people. Click on the character to the right if you want the simplified/Japanese version.
Gaman is a Zen Buddhist term from Japan that means “enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity.”
This title can also be translated as patience, perseverance, tolerance, or self-denial.
我慢 is also a Chinese Buddhist term with a different pronunciation. It comes from Sanskrit abhimāna or ātma-mada. Chinese Buddhism defines this very differently as “Egoism exalting self and depreciating others,” “self-intoxication,” or “pride.” Alone, the first character means “Me, I, or Self,” and the second character in a Buddhist context comes from Sanskrit māna and means pride, arrogance, self-conceit, looking down on others, superciliousness, etc.
I’m currently working with Japanese and Chinese translators to try and reconcile the true meaning or any commonality of this word between languages. For now, please only consider this if your audience is Japanese.
百錬自得 is a Japanese proverb that means only if you practice something 100 times will it become a part of yourself.
Some translate it in a short form like “Well train, self-gain.”
The first two characters are a word that means “100 forges” (or to forge 100 times). It translates more naturally as well-tempered, well-drilled, or well-trained.
The last two characters mean “self-benefit” or “self-gain.” It can also be translated into English as contented, self-satisfaction, realizing (through one's ability), or being paid back for one's deeds.
無我 is a more common way to say selflessness in Japanese. This literally means “no self,” or a better translation might be “not thinking of oneself.” 無我 is also understood in Chinese and Korean. 無我 is a very old word in CJK languages.
無我 is the word a Buddhist would use to express the idea of selflessness or unselfishness. For Korean Buddhists, it can mean self-renunciation.
See Also: Altruism
This is the martial arts title Zendokai.
The first two characters refer to Zen ascetic practices or Zen teachings. Noting that Zen or 禅 means meditation and Dou/Do or 道 means way.
Kai or 会 (originally written 會) in this context means society, association, or club.
Zendokai Karate beyond the normal fighting skills invites the practitioner to notice and observe their own body with mindfulness and self-awareness and can re-acquire and hone their genuine self.
節制 means moderation or temperance in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
Moderation is creating a healthy balance in your life between work and play, rest and exercise. You don't overdo or get swept away by the things you like. You use your self-discipline to take charge of your life and your time.
節制 can also be translated as sobriety or self-restraint.
This is often used as part of the Seven Heavenly Virtues to represent sobriety and/or temperance.
(complete bodily devotion)
獻身 is used to describe being so devoted to something that you will make sacrifices for that goal/thing/person.
You can also translate this word as any of the following:
This can be a dedication to or for someone but is often used as a dedication or making sacrifices for your country, public service, or a cause. For instance, an Olympic athlete makes great sacrifices to train in his/her sport for their country and compatriots.
While the form shown to the upper-left is considered an ancient Japanese version, in modern Japan, they use the simplified version of the first Kanji (shown to the right). Click on the Kanji at the right instead of the button above if you want this modern Japanese version.
If you are looking for a more religious meaning of devotion, see Faith.
See Also: Confidence | Dedication
谦逊正直温柔忍耐克己不屈 are the virtues used by Choi Kwang Do Martial Arts.
English | Hanja | Hangul | Pronunciation |
1. Humility (Humble / Modesty) | 謙遜 | 겸손 | gyeom son |
2. Honesty (Integrity) | 正直 | 정직 | jeong jig |
3. Gentleness | 溫柔 | 온유 | on yu |
4. Perseverance (To Endure) | 忍耐 | 인내 | in nae |
5. Self-Control (Self-Restraint) | 克己 | 극기 | geug gi |
6. Unbreakable Spirit (Unyielding / Unbending) | 不屈 | 불굴 | bur gur |
The characters shown here are in the ancient Korean Hanja form of writing. If you wish for a Korean Hangul form of these tenets, we can arrange that with our Master Calligrapher Xing An-Ping (click on the Hangul next to the South Korean flag above to order this in Hangul).
溫柔 or “gentleness” is moving wisely, touching softly, holding carefully, speaking quietly, and thinking kindly.
When you feel mad or hurt, use your self-control. Instead of harming someone, talk things out peacefully. You are making the world a safer, gentler place.
非暴力 is fairly self-explanatory.
The first character means “not,” “non-,” or “un-”
The middle and last character together mean “violence,” “use of force,” or simply “violent.”
Together, these three characters would normally be translated as “nonviolence.” A great gift for your favorite peace-lover.
See Also: Peace
妾 is the most simple way to say concubine or mistress in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
Sometimes this can mean servant. Occasionally, a woman may use this title in place of “I” or “me” to say “your humble servant” in a self-deprecating way.
謙虚 is the most common way to say humble or modest in Japanese without a derogatory meaning (some other words suggest weakness, but this version holds a better humble meaning).
In Japanese, the first Kanji means self-effacing, humble oneself, and modesty. The second means void or emptiness.
See Also: Moderation
見性成仏 or Kenshō Jōbutsu is the initial enlightenment that leads to self-awareness, becoming Buddha, and the path to enter Nirvana.
Kenshō Jōbutsu is a complex concept in Japanese Buddhism. 見性成仏 is probably better translated as “Seeing one’s nature and becoming a Buddha.”
See Also: Buddhism | Enlightenment | Initial Enlightenment
極真 is the Japanese title Kyokushin.
The literal meaning is “great truth” or “ultimate truth.” However, 極真 is usually associated with the style of stand-up, full-contact karate, founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達).
Practitioners of the Kyokushinkai Karate follow a philosophy of discipline and self-improvement.
跆拳道精神禮義廉耻忍耐克己百折不屈 is General Choi's writing that is often called “The Tenets of Taekwon-do.”
The actual title would be translated as “Taekwondo Spirit” or “The Spirit of Taekwondo.” It was originally written in Korean Hanja (Chinese characters used in Korea for about 1600 years).
General Choi's original calligraphy is shown to the right. Your custom calligraphy will be unique, and not an exact match, as each calligrapher has their own style.Traditional Korean Hanja | Modern Korean Hangul | Pronunciation | English |
跆拳道精神 | 태권도정신 | tae gweon do jeong sin | Taekwondo Spirit |
禮儀 | 예의 | ye yi | Courtesy / Etiquette / Propriety / Decorum / Formality |
廉耻 | 염치 | yeom ci | Integrity / Sense of Honor |
忍耐 | 인내 | in nae | Patience / Perseverance / Endurance |
克己 | 극기 | geug gi | Self-Control / Self-Denial / Self-Abnegation |
百折不屈 | 백절불굴 | baeg jeor bur gur | Indomitable Spirit (Undaunted even after repeated attacks from the opponent) |
Note that the pronunciation is the official version now used in South Korea. However, it is different than what you may be used to. For instance, “Taekwon-do” is “tae gweon do.” This new romanization is supposed to be closer to actual Korean pronunciation. |
無私 would be literally translated as “none self” in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
It is used to express “selflessness” or “unselfish.”
無私 is a popular term for the idea of being selfless or unselfish in modern China and Japan.
This term is not as commonly used in Korea but still has good meaning.
See Also: Altruism
護身道 is the title for the school of martial arts known as Goshin-Do.
The literal translation of these three characters is something like “self-protection way” or “protection of the body way.”
To put this in context, the term 護身 is often used for charms or amulets that are meant to protect the wearer from harm.
Note: This phrase is pronounceable in Chinese, but it not commonly known in China.
This ancient Japanese proverb can be translated as “The principle of honorable death and no surrender,” or simply “No surrender.”
If you directly translate this, you get something that means “Doctrine of suicide,” or “Ideology of honorable death.”
玉砕主義 is a specifically-Japanese proverb that embraces the long history of honorable suicide or self-sacrifice for honor in Japanese culture.
理直氣壯 is a Chinese proverb that means “to do something while knowing you’re in the right.”
This can also be translated as and is appropriate when you are:
“In the right and self-confident”
“Bold and confident with justice on one's side”
“Having the courage of one's convictions”
“Justified and forceful”
“To be confident and vigorous because reason and logic are on one's side”
“Justified and confident”
平常心 is the title Heijoshin, as associated with Kendo and Aikido schools of Japanese martial arts.
平常心 is also a word in Japanese that can be translated as “one's self-possession” or “presence of mind.”
In Chinese and Korean, this means “simplicity heart,” “composure,” “calmness,” or a “sense of orderliness.” In Chinese and Korean, this implies that you enjoy what you have, keep your heart in balance, and have no over-blown ambitions.
These are the “Five Reflections” of Vice Admiral Hajime Matsushita of the Japanese Imperial Navy.
These days, the Five Reflections are recited or contemplated daily by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force recruits in training. This long proverb is popularly translated into English this way:
Hast thou not gone against sincerity?
Hast thou not felt ashamed of thy words and deeds?
Hast thou not lacked vigor?
Hast thou not exerted all possible efforts?
Hast thou not become slothful?
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
大公無私 is a Chinese proverb that comes from an old story from some time before 476 BC. About a man named Qi Huangyang, who was commissioned by the king to select the best person for a certain job in the Imperial Court.
Qi Huangyang selected his enemy for the job. The king was very confused by the selection, but Qi Huangyang explained that he was asked to find the best person for the job, not necessarily someone that he liked or had a friendship with.
Later, Confucius commented on how unselfish and impartial Qi Huangyang was by saying, “Da Gong Wu Si” which, if you look it up in a Chinese dictionary, is generally translated as “Unselfish” or “Just and Fair.”
If you translate each character, you'd have something like
“Big/Deep Justice Without Self.”
Direct translations like this leave out a lot of what the Chinese characters really say. Use your imagination, and suddenly you realize that “without self” means “without thinking about yourself in the decision” - together, these two words mean “unselfish.” The first two characters serve to drive the point home that we are talking about a concept that is similar to “blind justice.”
One of my Chinese-English dictionaries translates this simply as “just and fair.” So that is the short and simple version.
Note: This can be pronounced in Korean, but it's not a commonly used term.
See Also: Altruism
Pure and Innocent
純情 means “Pure Heart” in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
It's used to reflect the ideas of being “pure and innocent.”
Depending on the context in which this title is used, it can relay “self-sacrificing devotion” or, in some cases, “naïveté.”
This would be in the same way we might refer to a young girl giving her lunch money to a beggar on the street. She has a pure and precious heart but perhaps is also a bit naive.
生き甲斐 is a Japanese word that means something one lives for, a reason for being, a purpose in life, or French, raison d'etre.
Everyone has an ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search for self. Finding your Ikigai is the way to also find satisfaction and meaning in life.
Your Ikigai could be almost anything. For some, it is running for president. For others, satisfaction is found in raising children.
Ikigai is why you get up in the morning; bringing meaning to your life and pursuing your Ikigai makes life worthwhile.
東方自尊 is the universal way to write “Asian Pride.”
We worked on this one for a long time. The effort involved both Chinese and Japanese translators and lengthy discussions. If you have been searching for this term, there is a reason that it's hard to find the way to write “Asian Pride” in Chinese and Japanese - it's because of the inherent difficulties in figuring out a universal combination of characters that can be read in all languages that use forms of Chinese characters.
This final solution that you see to the left creates a reasonable title in Chinese and an exotic (perhaps unusual) title in Japanese (This could be read as “Eastern Self-Respect” in Japanese”).
Although not as natural, it does have the same meaning as Korean Hanja, and the older generation of Vietnamese people will be able to read it.
The first two characters literally mean “Oriental” and the second two mean “pride,” “self-esteem,” or “self-respect” (we chose the most non-arrogant way to say “pride”). If you have “Asian Pride” (sometimes spelled Asian Pryde) these are the characters for you.
Note: For those who wonder, there is nothing technically wrong with the word “Oriental.” It is a correct word, and any bad meanings were created by so-called “Asian Americans” and Caucasians in the United States. To say “Asian” would not completely correct the intended meaning since that would include people from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, India, and portions of Russia.
For further proof, if you were of East Asian ancestry and born in England, you would be known as a “British Oriental” (The “Oriental stigma” is basically an American creation and, therefore, applies mainly to the American English language - where they get a bit overzealous with political correctness).
Further, since the Chinese and Japanese word for Oriental is not English, they can not be construed as having ill meaning. On one trip to China or Japan, you will find many things titled with these two characters, such as malls, buildings, and business names. These places also use “Oriental” as their English title (much as we do since our Chinese business name starts with these same two characters).
In short, the first two characters have the meaning that Americans attach to “Asian” but is more technically correct.
Here is 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 (just the first sentence of verse 8) in Japanese.
In the familiar NIV, this would read:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails...
The Japanese text is from the 新改訳聖書 (Shinkaiyaku) or New Japanese Bible. Popular among most Protestant denominations in modern Japan.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
Give me liberty or give me death
不自由毋寧死 means “Give me liberty or give me death” in Chinese.
This is also the best way to say, “Live free or die.”
The characters break down this way:
不 = Not; none; without.
自由 = Freedom; liberty; freewill; self-determination.
毋寧 = Rather; would rather; rather be.
死 = Dead; death.
This will go nicely next to your “Don't tread on me” flag. This phrase is known well enough in China that it's listed in a few dictionaries. Though I doubt you will find too many Chinese citizens willing to yell this on the steps of the capital in Beijing.
See Also: Death Before Dishonor
Integrity is living by your highest values. It is being honest and sincere. Integrity helps you to listen to your conscience, do the right thing, and tell the truth. You act with integrity when your words and actions match. Integrity gives you self-respect and a peaceful heart.
Please note that the second Kanji sometimes has an alternate form in Japanese. Let us know if you want the alternate form shown to the right.
Note: This entry is cross-listed as “honesty” because it also fits that definition.
Beyond Integrity, this word also means "upright" and "honest" in Chinese. Means "integrity," "honesty" or "frankness" in Japanese.
Year of the Tiger / Zodiac Sign
虎 is the character for tiger in Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji.
Since you already know what a tiger is, here's some trivia: If you look at the Japanese pronunciation, you might remember a movie called “Tora Tora Tora” which was the code word used to initiate the attack on Pearl Harbor. It simply means “Tiger Tiger Tiger.”
In Chinese culture, the tiger is considered to be the king of all animals (in much the way we see the lion in western culture).
From the Chinese Zodiac, if you were born in the year of the tiger, you . . .
Have a strong personality.
Are full of self-confidence.
Love adventure
Don't like to obey others.
See also our Chinese Zodiac or Tiger Calligraphy pages.
Year of the Dragon / Zodiac Sign
龍 is the character for dragon in Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji.
The dragon is a creature of myth and legend that dominates Chinese, Japanese, and even European folklore. In China, the dragon is the symbol of the Emperor, strength, and power, and the Chinese dragon is known as the god of water.
From the Chinese Zodiac, if you were born in the year of the Dragon, you . . .
Have a strong body and spirit.
Are full of energy.
Have vast goals.
Have a deep level of self-awareness.
Will do whatever you can to “save face.”
See also our Chinese Zodiac or Dragon Calligraphy pages.
廉耻精進忍耐遵守克己謙遜百折不屈 are the tenets of Tang Soo Do.
English | Old Hanja | Modern Hangul | Pronunciation |
1. Integrity | 廉耻 | 렴치 or 염치 | yeom ci |
2. Concentration | 精進 | 정진 | jeong jin |
3. Perseverance | 忍耐 | 인내 | in nae |
4. Respect & Obedience | 遵守 | 준수 | jun su |
5. Self-Control | 克己 | 극기 | geug gi |
6. Humility | 謙遜 | 겸손 | gyeom son |
7. Indomitable Spirit | 百折不屈 | 백절불굴 | baeg jeor bur gur |
After some research, it appears this list was compiled in English based on Taekwondo tenets. We filled in a few of the words that did not have a corresponding Hanja or Hangul. If someone else has a better list with characters included, please contact me.
Jita-Kyoei
自他共栄 can be translated in a few different ways. Here are some possibilities:
Benefit mutually and prosper together.
Mutual welfare and benefit.
A learning concept of mutual benefit and welfare (that applies to all fields of society).
Mutual prosperity.
The first two characters are easy to explain. They are “self” and “others.” Together, these two characters create a word that means “mutual” (literally “me and them”).
The third character can have different meanings depending on context. Here, it means “in common” or “to share.”
The fourth character suggests the idea of “prosperity,” “flourishing,” or becoming “glorious.”
It should be noted that these Kanji are used almost exclusively in the context of Judo martial arts. 自他共榮 is not a common or recognized Japanese proverb outside of Judo.
You may see this romanized as Jita-Kyoei or Jitakyoei.
In modern Japanese Kanji, the last character looks like instead of . If you want the older/traditional version, please let us know when you place your order.
Better to be broken jade than unbroken pottery
寧為玉碎不為瓦全 is the long version of a Chinese proverb that means “rather be shattered piece of jade than an unbroken piece of pottery.”
A little more explanation:
Death is implied with the “broken” meaning. Jade is one of the most precious materials in Chinese history, and in this case, is compared with one's honor and self-worth. Pottery is just something you eat off of, it has no deep value, just as a person who has lost their honor, or had none to begin with.
Thus, this means “better to die with honor than to live in shame” or words to that effect.
寧為玉碎不為瓦全 is often translated in English as “Death Before Dishonor,” the famous military slogan.
I would also compare this to the English proverb, “Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”
This is an idiom. It therefore doesn’t directly say exactly what it means. If you think about the English idiom, "The grass is always greener," it does not directly say "jealousy" or "envy" but everyone knows that it is implied.
Better to be broken jade than unbroken pottery
寧為玉碎 is the short version of a longer Chinese proverb which means “rather be shattered piece of jade than an unbroken piece of pottery.”
寧為玉碎 says the “rather be a broken piece of jade” part (the second half is implied - everyone in China knows this idiom).
A little more explanation:
Death is implied with the “broken” meaning. Jade is one of the most precious materials in Chinese history, and in this case, is compared with one's honor and self-worth. Pottery is just something you eat off of; it has no deep value, just as a person who has lost their honor or had none to begin with.
Thus, this means “better to die with honor than to live in shame” or words to that effect.
This is often translated in English as “Death Before Dishonor,” the famous military slogan.
I would also compare this to the English proverb, “Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”
(Used in Japanese version of five elements)
空 is a single character that means empty, void, hollow, vacant, vacuum, blank, nonexistent, vacuity, voidness, emptiness, non-existence, immateriality, unreality, the false or illusory nature of all existence, and being unreal.
In the Buddhist context, this relates to the doctrine that all phenomena and the ego have no reality but are composed of a certain number of skandhas or elements, which disintegrate. The void, the sky, space. The universal, the absolute, complete abstraction without relativity. The doctrine further explains that all things are compounds, or unstable organisms, possessing no self-essence, i.e. are dependent, or caused, come into existence only to perish. The underlying reality, the principle of eternal relativity, or non-infinity, i.e. śūnya, permeates all phenomena making possible their evolution.
From Sanskrit and/or Pali, this is the translation to Chinese and Japanese of the title śūnya or śūnyatā.
In Japanese, when pronounced as “ron” (sounds like “roan”) this can be a given name. It should be noted that this Kanji has about 5 different possible pronunciations in Japanese: kuu, kara, sora, ron, and uro. 空 is also an element in the Japanese version of the five elements.
空無 is “nothingness” in a Buddhist context.
The first character means empty but can also mean air or sky (air and sky have no form).
The second character means have not, no, none, not, or to lack.
Together these characters reinforce each other into a word that means “absolute nothingness.”
I know this is a term used in Buddhism, but I have not yet figured out the context in which it is used. I suppose it can be the fact that Buddhists believe that the world is a non-real illusion, or perhaps it's about visualizing yourself as “nothing” and therefore leaving behind your desire and worldliness.
Buddhist concepts and titles often have this element of ambiguity or, rather, “mystery.” Therefore, such ideas can have different meanings to different people, and that's okay. If you don't get it right in this lifetime, there will be plenty more lifetimes to master it (whatever “it” is, and if “it” really exists at all).
Soothill defines this as “Unreality, or immateriality, of things, which is defined as nothing existing of independent or self-contained nature.”
跆拳道 is one of the most widespread types of martial arts in the world as well as being an Olympic sport. Taekwondo was born in Korea with influences of Chinese and Japanese styles combined with traditional Korean combat skills. Some will define it as the “Korean art of empty-handed self-defense.”
In the simplest translation, the first character means “kick,” the second character can mean either “fist” or “punching,” and the third means “way” or “method.” Altogether, you could say this is the “Kick Punch Method.” When heard or read in various Asian languages, all will automatically think of this famous Korean martial art. It is written the same in Japanese Kanji, Chinese, and Korean Hanja characters - so the appearance of the characters is universal. However, you should note that there is another way to write this in modern Korean Hangul characters, which looks like the image to the right.
We suggest the original Korean Hanja (Chinese characters) for a wall scroll, but if you need the Hangul version, you must use master calligrapher Cao Bin: Order Taekwondo in Korean Hangul
Note: Taekwondo is sometimes Romanized as Tae-Kwondo, Tae Kwon Do, Taekwon-do, Taegwondo, Tae Gweon Do, Tai Kwon Do, Taikwondo, Taekwando, Tae Kwan Do and in Chinese Taiquandao, Tai Quan Dao, Taichuando, or Tai Chuan Tao.
拳法 is a form of martial arts that can be translated in several ways.
Some will call it “fist principles,” “the way of the fist,” or even “law of the fist.” The first character literally means fist. The second can mean law, method, way, principle, or Buddhist teaching.
Kempo is really a potluck of martial arts. Often a combination of Chinese martial arts such as Shaolin Kung Fu with Japanese martial arts such as Karate, Jujutsu (Jujitsu), Aikido, and others. You may see the term “Kempo Karate,” which basically means Karate with other disciplines added. In this way, Kempo becomes an adjective rather than a title or school of martial arts.
These facts will long be argued by various masters and students of Kempo. Even the argument as to whether it should be spelled “kenpo” or “Kempo” ensues at dojos around the world (the correct Romaji should actually be “kenpou” if you precisely follow the rules).
The benefit of Kempo is that the techniques are easier to learn and master than pure Kung Fu (wu shu). Students are often taught basic Karate moves, kicks, and punches before augmenting the basic skills with complex Kung Fu techniques. This allows students of Kempo to achieve a level where they can defend themselves or fight in a relatively short amount of time (a few years rather than a decade or more).
Because the definition of this word is so fluid, I should make some notes here:
1. Purists in Okinawa will claim that “Okinawa Kenpo” or “Ryukyu Hon Kenpo” is the original and true version of this martial art from the old kingdom. It is actually little or no connection between Okinawa Kenpo and the way the word is used elsewhere.
2. In Chinese, where these characters are pronounced “quan fa” (sometimes Romanized as “chuan fa” because the Chinese-pinyin “q” actually sounds like an English “ch” sound), these characters do not hold the connotation of being a mixed martial art. It is simply defined as “the law of the fist.”
3. My Japanese dictionary oddly defines Kenpo as the “Chinese art of self-defense.” I personally don't feel this is the most common way that people perceive the word but just something you should know.
This proverb is from Sun Tzu's (Sunzi's) Art of War.
It means that if you know and understand the enemy, you also know yourself. Four secondary characters come after this in the Art of War (not included here) which suggests you cannot lose a battle when you follow this philosophy.
In a very literal and somewhat-boring way, this can also be translated as “Estimate correctly one's strength as well as that of one's opponent.”
敵を知り己を知る is the Japanese version of “know your enemy, know yourself.”
There is a longer version of this proverb that adds, “...and you can win 100 battles.”
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Self-Restraint Self-Control | 克己 / 剋己 克己 | kokki / koki | kè jǐ / ke4 ji3 / ke ji / keji | k`o chi / kochi / ko chi |
Self-Respect Self-Esteem | 自尊 | jison | zì zūn / zi4 zun1 / zi zun / zizun | tzu tsun / tzutsun |
Prideful Mind Self-Respecting Heart | 自尊心 | ji son shin jisonshin | zì zūn xīn zi4 zun1 xin1 zi zun xin zizunxin | tzu tsun hsin tzutsunhsin |
Self-Reliance | 自恃 | zì shì / zi4 shi4 / zi shi / zishi | tzu shih / tzushih | |
Self-Improvement | 修養 修养 | shuuyou / shuyo shuyo / shuyo | xiū yǎng / xiu1 yang3 / xiu yang / xiuyang | hsiu yang / hsiuyang |
Self-Confidence | 自信心 | zì xìn xīn zi4 xin4 xin1 zi xin xin zixinxin | tzu hsin hsin tzuhsinhsin |
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Introspection Self-Awareness | 自省 | jisei | zì xǐng / zi4 xing3 / zi xing / zixing | tzu hsing / tzuhsing |
Inner Strength Self-Improvement | 自強 自强 | zì qiáng / zi4 qiang2 / zi qiang / ziqiang | tzu ch`iang / tzuchiang / tzu chiang | |
Self-Discipline Will-Power | 自律 | jiritsu | zì lǜ / zi4 lv4 / zi lv / zilv | tzu lü / tzulü |
Self-Confidence | 自信 | jishin | zì xìn / zi4 xin4 / zi xin / zixin | tzu hsin / tzuhsin |
Self-Control | 自制 | jisei | zì zhì / zi4 zhi4 / zi zhi / zizhi | tzu chih / tzuchih |
Jiko no Kansei Self-Completion | 自己の完成 | ji ko no kan sei jikonokansei | ||
Self-Defense | 自衛 自卫 | ji ei / jiei | zì wèi / zi4 wei4 / zi wei / ziwei | tzu wei / tzuwei |
Power of Oneself Self-Sufficient | 自力 | jiriki | zì lì / zi4 li4 / zi li / zili | tzu li / tzuli |
Will-Power Self-Control | 意志力 | ishi ryoku / ishiryoku | yì zhì lì yi4 zhi4 li4 yi zhi li yizhili | i chih li ichihli |
Self-Control | 自己抑制 | jikoyokusei | zì jǐ yì zhì zi4 ji3 yi4 zhi4 zi ji yi zhi zijiyizhi | tzu chi i chih tzuchiichih |
Self-Love Love Yourself Love Oneself | 自愛 自爱 | ji ai / jiai | zì ài / zi4 ai4 / zi ai / ziai | tzu ai / tzuai |
Pride | 自尊 | jison | zì zūn / zi4 zun1 / zi zun / zizun | tzu tsun / tzutsun |
Kensho - Initial Enlightenment | 見性 见性 | ken shou / kenshou / ken sho | jiàn xìng jian4 xing4 jian xing jianxing | chien hsing chienhsing |
Self Actualization | 自己実現 | jikojitsugen | ||
Self Actualization | 自我實現 自我实现 | zì wǒ shí xiàn zi4 wo3 shi2 xian4 zi wo shi xian ziwoshixian | tzu wo shih hsien tzuwoshihhsien |
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Self Sacrifice | 捨己 舍己 | sutemi / suteki | shě jǐ / she3 ji3 / she ji / sheji | she chi / shechi |
Self Consciousness | 自意識 自意识 | jiishiki / jishiki | ||
Consciousness of Self | 自覺 自觉 / 自覚 | jikaku | zì jué / zi4 jue2 / zi jue / zijue | tzu chüeh / tzuchüeh |
Discipline Training Tempering Character | 磨練 / 磨鍊 / 磨鍊 磨练 | mó liàn / mo2 lian4 / mo lian / molian | mo lien / molien | |
To thine own self be true | 己に忠実なれ | onore ni chuujitsu nare onorenichuujitsunare onore ni chujitsu nare | ||
Changing Oneself Self Reformation | 自己改革 | ji ko kai kaku jikokaikaku | ||
Self Awareness Becomes a Buddha | 自性覚れば即ち是れ佛なり | Jishou satore ba sunawachi kore butsu nari Jisho satore ba sunawachi kore butsu nari | ||
Standing by Oneself Walking by Oneself | 獨立獨步 独立独步 | do kuritsu do ppo dokuritsudoppo do kuritsu do po | ||
...And this above all to thine own self be true | 尤其要緊的你必須對你自己忠實 尤其要紧的你必须对你自己忠实 | yóu qí yào jǐn de nǐ bì xū duì nǐ zì jǐ zhōng shí you2 qi2 yao4 jin3 de ni3 bi4 xu1 dui4 ni3 zi4 ji3 zhong1 shi2 you qi yao jin de ni bi xu dui ni zi ji zhong shi | yu ch`i yao chin te ni pi hsü tui ni tzu chi chung shih yu chi yao chin te ni pi hsü tui ni tzu chi chung shih |
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Discipline | 紀律 纪律 | jì lǜ / ji4 lv4 / ji lv / jilv | chi lü / chilü | |
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 |
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Well-Disciplined Orderly | 嚴整 严整 | yán zhěng yan2 zheng3 yan zheng yanzheng | yen cheng yencheng |
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Discipline | 規律 规律 | kiritsu | guī / gui1 lu:4 / gui lu: / guilu: | kuei lü / kueilü |
Discipline | 鍛練 / 鍛錬 锻练 | tan ren / tanren | duàn liàn duan4 lian4 duan lian duanlian | tuan lien tuanlien |
Confidence Faithful Heart | 信心 | shin jin / shinjin | xìn xīn / xin4 xin1 / xin xin / xinxin | hsin hsin / hsinhsin |
Military Discipline | 軍紀 军纪 | gun ki / gunki | jūn jì / jun1 ji4 / jun ji / junji | chün chi / chünchi |
Independence | 獨立 独立 | dokuritsu | dú lì / du2 li4 / du li / duli | tu li / tuli |
Conquering Yourself is a Sign of Strength | 自勝者強也 | zì shèng zhě qiáng yě zi4 sheng4 zhe3 qiang2 ye3 zi sheng zhe qiang ye zishengzheqiangye | tzu sheng che ch`iang yeh tzushengchechiangyeh tzu sheng che chiang yeh |
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Gaman | 我慢 | ga man / gaman | wǒ màn / wo3 man4 / wo man / woman | |
Presence of Mind | 泰然自若 | taizenjijaku | tài rán zì ruò tai4 ran2 zi4 ruo4 tai ran zi ruo tairanziruo | t`ai jan tzu jo taijantzujo tai jan tzu jo |
Hyakuren-Jitoku | 百錬自得 | hyaku ren ji toku hyakurenjitoku | ||
Selflessness | 無我 无我 | muga | wú wǒ / wu2 wo3 / wu wo / wuwo | |
Zen Do Kai Zendokai | 禅道会 | zen dou kai zendoukai zen do kai | ||
Moderation Temperance | 節制 节制 | sessei / sesei | jié zhì / jie2 zhi4 / jie zhi / jiezhi | chieh chih / chiehchih |
Lone Wolf | 一匹狼 | ippiki ookami ippikiookami ipiki okami | ||
Sacrifice Devotion Dedication | 獻身 献身 | ken shin / kenshin | xiàn shēn xian4 shen1 xian shen xianshen | hsien shen hsienshen |
I am Enough | 己足以 | jǐ zú yǐ ji3 zu2 yi3 ji zu yi jizuyi | chi tsu i chitsui |
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Korean CKD Virtues | 謙遜正直溫柔忍耐克己不屈 谦逊正直温柔忍耐克己不屈 | qiān xùn zhèng zhí wēn róu rěn nài kè jǐ bù qū qian1 xun4 zheng4 zhi2 wen1 rou2 ren3 nai4 ke4 ji3 bu4 qu1 qian xun zheng zhi wen rou ren nai ke ji bu qu | ch`ien hsün cheng chih wen jou jen nai k`o chi pu ch`ü chien hsün cheng chih wen jou jen nai ko chi pu chü |
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Gentleness | 溫柔 温柔 | wēn róu / wen1 rou2 / wen rou / wenrou | wen jou / wenjou | |
Goshin-Kai | 護身会 护身会 | go shin kai goshinkai | ||
True Victory is Victory Over Oneself | 正勝吾勝 正胜吾胜 | masa katsu a gatsu masakatsuagatsu | ||
Non-Violence | 非暴力 | hibouryoku / hiboryoku | fēi bào lì fei1 bao4 li4 fei bao li feibaoli | fei pao li feipaoli |
Mistress Concubine Servant | 妾 | mekake / sobame / onname | qiè / qie4 / qie | ch`ieh / chieh |
Humble Modesty Humility | 謙虚 | ken kyo / kenkyo | qiān xū / qian1 xu1 / qian xu / qianxu | ch`ien hsü / chienhsü / chien hsü |
Kensho Jobutsu - Enlightenment - Path to Buddha | 見性成佛 見性成仏 | ken shou jou butsu kenshoujoubutsu ken sho jo butsu | ||
Forgive Yourself | 原諒自己 原谅自己 | yuán liàng zì jǐ yuan2 liang4 zi4 ji3 yuan liang zi ji yuanliangziji | yüan liang tzu chi yüanliangtzuchi |
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Kyokushin | 極真 | kyoku shin / kyokushin | ||
Taekwondo Tenets Spirit of Taekwon-do | 跆拳道精神禮義廉耻忍耐克己百折不屈 跆拳道精神礼义廉耻忍耐克己百折不屈 | tái quán dào jīng shén lǐ yì lián chǐ rěn nài kè jǐ bǎi zhé bù qū tai2 quan2 dao4 jing1 shen2 li3 yi4 lian2 chi3 ren3 nai4 ke4 ji3 bai3 zhe2 bu4 qu1 tai quan dao jing shen li yi lian chi ren nai ke ji bai zhe bu qu | t`ai ch`üan tao ching shen li i lien ch`ih jen nai k`o chi pai che pu ch`ü tai chüan tao ching shen li i lien chih jen nai ko chi pai che pu chü |
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Selflessness | 無私 无私 | mushi | wú sī / wu2 si1 / wu si / wusi | wu ssu / wussu |
Goshin-Do | 護身道 护身道 | gou shin dou goushindou go shin do | hù shēn dào hu4 shen1 dao4 hu shen dao hushendao | hu shen tao hushentao |
Honorable Death - No Surrender | 玉砕主義 | gyokusai shugi gyokusaishugi | ||
Engage with Confidence | 理直氣壯 理直气壮 | lǐ zhí qì zhuàng li3 zhi2 qi4 zhuang4 li zhi qi zhuang lizhiqizhuang | li chih ch`i chuang lichihchichuang li chih chi chuang |
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Heijoshin Presence of Mind | 平常心 | hei jou shin heijoushin hei jo shin | píng cháng xīn ping2 chang2 xin1 ping chang xin pingchangxin | p`ing ch`ang hsin pingchanghsin ping chang hsin |
Five Reflections Gosei | 一至誠に悖るなかりしか一言行に恥づるなかりしか一氣力に缺くるなかりしか一努力に憾みなかりしか一不精に亘るなかりしか | shi se i ni moto ru na ka ri shi ka? gen kou ni ha zu ru na ka ri shi ka? ki ryo ku ni ka ku ru na ka ri shi ka? do ryo ku ni u ra mi na ka ri shi ka? bu sho u ni wa ta ru na ka ri shi ka? shi se i ni moto ru na ka ri shi ka? gen ko ni ha zu ru na ka ri shi ka? ki ryo ku ni ka ku ru na ka ri shi ka? do ryo ku ni u ra mi na ka ri shi ka? bu sho u ni wa ta ru na ka ri shi ka? | ||
Unselfish: Perfectly Impartial | 大公無私 大公无私 | dà gōng wú sī da4 gong1 wu2 si1 da gong wu si dagongwusi | ta kung wu ssu takungwussu |
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Pure Heart | 純情 纯情 | jun jou / junjou / jun jo | chún qíng chun2 qing2 chun qing chunqing | ch`un ch`ing chunching chun ching |
Ikigai | 生き甲斐 | ikigai | ||
Asian Pride Oriental Pride AZN Pryde | 東方自尊 东方自尊 | tou hou zi son touhouzison to ho zi son | dōng fāng zì zūn dong1 fang1 zi4 zun1 dong fang zi zun dongfangzizun | tung fang tzu tsun tungfangtzutsun |
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 | 愛は寛容であり愛は親切ですまた人をねたみません愛は自慢せず高慢になりません礼儀に反することをせず自分の利益を求めず怒らず人のした悪を思わず不正を喜ばずに真理を喜びますすべてをがまんしすべてを信じすべてを期待しすべてを耐え忍びます愛は決して絶えることがありません | ai wa kan youdeari ai wa shinsetsudesu mata hito o netamimasen ai wa jiman sezu kouman ni narimasen reigi ni hansuru koto o sezu jibun no rieki o motomezu okorazu hito no shita aku o omowazu fusei o yorokobazu ni shinri o yorokobimasu subete o gaman shi s ai wa kan yodeari ai wa shinsetsudesu mata hito o netamimasen ai wa jiman sezu koman ni narimasen reigi ni hansuru koto o sezu jibun no rieki o motomezu okorazu hito no shita aku o omowazu fusei o yorokobazu ni shinri o yorokobimasu subete o gaman shi s | ||
Live Free or Die | 不自由毋寧死 不自由毋宁死 | bú zì yóu wú nìng sǐ bu2 zi4 you2 wu2 ning4 si3 bu zi you wu ning si buziyouwuningsi | pu tzu yu wu ning ssu putzuyuwuningssu |
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Integrity | 正直 | shoujiki / shojiki | zhèng zhí zheng4 zhi2 zheng zhi zhengzhi | cheng chih chengchih |
Tiger | 虎 | tora | hǔ / hu3 / hu | |
Dragon | 龍 龙 | ryuu / tatsu ryu / tatsu | lóng / long2 / long | lung |
Tang Soo Do Tenets | 廉耻精進忍耐遵守克己謙遜百折不屈 / 廉恥精進忍耐遵守克己謙遜百折不屈 廉耻精进忍耐遵守克己谦逊百折不屈 | lián chǐ jīng jìn rěn nài zūn shǒu kè jǐ qiān xùn bǎi zhé bù qū lian2 chi3 jing1 jin4 ren3 nai4 zun1 shou3 ke4 ji3 qian1 xun4 bai3 zhe2 bu4 qu1 lian chi jing jin ren nai zun shou ke ji qian xun bai zhe bu qu | lien ch`ih ching chin jen nai tsun shou k`o chi ch`ien hsün pai che pu ch`ü lien chih ching chin jen nai tsun shou ko chi chien hsün pai che pu chü |
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Mutual Welfare and Benefit | 自他共榮 自他共荣 / 自他共栄 | ji ta kyou ei jitakyouei ji ta kyo ei | ||
Death Before Dishonor | 寧為玉碎不為瓦全 宁为玉碎不为瓦全 | níng wéi yù suì bù wéi wǎ quán ning2 wei2 yu4 sui4 bu4 wei2 wa3 quan2 ning wei yu sui bu wei wa quan ningweiyusuibuweiwaquan | ning wei yü sui pu wei wa ch`üan ning wei yü sui pu wei wa chüan |
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Death Before Dishonor | 寧為玉碎 宁为玉碎 | níng wéi yù suì ning2 wei2 yu4 sui4 ning wei yu sui ningweiyusui | ning wei yü sui ningweiyüsui |
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Sky Ether Void Emptiness Unreality | 空 | kuu / kara / sora / ron ku / kara / sora / ron | kōng / kong1 / kong | k`ung / kung |
Nothingness | 空無 空无 | kuu mu / kuumu / ku mu | kōng wú / kong1 wu2 / kong wu / kongwu | k`ung wu / kungwu / kung wu |
Taekwondo | 跆拳道 | te kon do / tekondo | tái quán dào tai2 quan2 dao4 tai quan dao taiquandao | t`ai ch`üan tao taichüantao tai chüan tao |
Kenpo Kempo Quan Fa Chuan Fa | 拳法 | kenpou / kenpo | quán fǎ / quan2 fa3 / quan fa / quanfa | ch`üan fa / chüanfa / chüan fa |
Know Thy Enemy, Know Thyself | 知彼知己 | zhí bǐ zhí jī zhi2 bi3 zhi2 ji1 zhi bi zhi ji zhibizhiji | chih pi chih chi chihpichihchi |
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Know Thy Enemy, Know Thyself | 敵を知り己を知る | te ki o shi ri o no re o shi ru tekioshirionoreoshiru | ||
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. |
Successful Chinese Character and Japanese Kanji calligraphy searches within the last few hours...
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 Self- Kanji, Self- Characters, Self- in Mandarin Chinese, Self- Characters, Self- in Chinese Writing, Self- in Japanese Writing, Self- in Asian Writing, Self- Ideograms, Chinese Self- symbols, Self- Hieroglyphics, Self- Glyphs, Self- in Chinese Letters, Self- Hanzi, Self- in Japanese Kanji, Self- Pictograms, Self- in the Chinese Written-Language, or Self- in the Japanese Written-Language.