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Personalize your custom “木” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “木” title below...
1. Wood
2. Wood Dog
4. Wood Rat
5. Wood Monkey
6. Wood Rooster
7. Wood Ox/Bull
8. Wood Horse
10. Wood Dragon
11. Wood Snake
12. Wood Tiger
13. Wood Rabbit
14. Ebony
15. Jupiter
16. Koumu
17. Magnolia
18. Sakuragi
19. Sammu
20. Squirrel
21. Suzuki
22. Emna
23. Hua Mulan
24. Magnolia Flower
25. Red Maple Tree
27. Almudena
28. Five Elements
(One of the five elements)
木 is the symbol for wood in Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
This can sometimes mean “tree” depending on context. In fact, the character comes from a pictogram that is supposed to resemble a tree.
Wood 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.
The Year of the Wood Dog
The Year of the Wood Pig/Boar
The Year of the Wood Rat
The Year of the Wood Monkey
The Year of the Wood Rooster
The Year of the Wood Ox/Bull
The Year of the Wood Horse
木馬 is Wood Horse in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1894, 1954, 2014, and 2074.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 甲午.
The Year of the Wood Goat/Sheep
The Year of the Wood Dragon
The Year of the Wood Snake
The Year of the Wood Tiger
The Year of the Wood Rabbit
木星 is the planet Jupiter in Chinese characters, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
The literal meaning is “wood star.”
This can also be a given name Mokusei or the surname Kiboshi in Japanese.
木蘭 is a general term for the magnolia (magnolia liliflora) or lily magnolia in Chinese and Japanese.
This can refer to any of the flowering plants or trees in the Magnolia genus.
In Chinese, this is also the name Mulan, as in Hua Mulan, the legendary woman warrior and folk hero of fifth-century China.
In Japanese, this can also be the female given name Mokuren.
Surname
This is the Japanese surname, Suzuki.
This is the family name of the founder of Suzuki Loom Company, which later became Suzuki Motor Corporation.
This name can also be romanized as Sudzuki; Suzushi; Suzuko; Susuheki; Susugi; Susuki.
Chinese pronunciation is shown above but this is recognized as a Japanese surname when read in Chinese.
花木蘭 is the name of the famous Chinese woman warrior Hua Mulan.
She was made famous in the west by Disney's animated movie, “Mulan.”
Most of the historical information about her comes from an ancient poem. It starts with a concerned Mulan, as she is told a man from each family is to serve conscription in the army. Her father is too old, and her brother is too young. Mulan decides to take the place of her father. After twelve years of war, the army returns, and the best warriors are awarded great posts in the government and riches. Mulan turns down all offers and asks only for a good horse for the long trip home. When Mulan greets visiting comrades wearing her old clothes, they are shocked to find the warrior they rode into battle with for years is actually a woman.
入木三分 is a four-character Chinese proverb that translates in English to a strong form of “profound” or “written with a forceful hand.”
But there is much more to the story...
The deep meaning behind this proverb comes from a man named Wan Xizhi, who lived in the third century.
He was a great writer and calligrapher whose writing style influenced generations of other writers and calligraphers.
He once wrote words on a piece of wood to be taken to an engraver.
When the engraver began to carve the characters into the wood, he found that Wang Xizhi's writing had penetrated the wood about 3/8 of an inch.
Thus people believed that his words were so powerful and profound that they caused the ink from his brush to penetrate the wood deeply.
The proverb literally means “penetrated wood three fen” (A fen is an ancient Chinese measurement of a little over 1/8 of an inch or almost 4mm).
金木水火土 is a list of the Chinese characters for the five elements in a comfortable order (meaning that they “feel right” to a Chinese person who views this arrangement).
The order is metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Note that sometimes the metal element is translated as gold. And earth refers to soil versus the whole planet earth.
Meaning: Anyone can make a mistake
猿も木から落ちる is the Japanese proverb, “Even monkeys fall from trees.”
It suggests that even the most skilled, can make a mistake in something they should be a master of. Or, to put it simply, “Anyone can make a mistake.”
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
This Japanese proverb simply reads, “[In] Flowers it's Cherry Blossoms, [In] Men it's Warriors.”
花は櫻木人は武士 is meant to say that of all the flowers in the world, the cherry blossom is the best. And of all men in the world, the Samurai or Warrior is the best
This proverb has been around for a long time. It's believed to have been composed sometime before the Edo Period in Japan (which started in 1603).
Some will drop one syllable and pronounce this, “hana wa sakura hito wa bushi.” That's “sakura” instead of “sakuragi,” which is like saying “cherry blossom” instead of “cherry tree.”
The third character was traditionally written as 櫻. But in modern Japan, that became 桜. You may still see 櫻 used from time to time on older pieces of calligraphy. We can do either one, so just make a special request if you want 櫻.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your 木 search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
木 see styles |
mù mu4 mu moku もく |
More info & calligraphy: Wood(1) (abbreviation) (See 木曜) Thursday; (2) (See 五行・1) wood (first of the five elements); (female given name) Moku Wood; a tree; kāṣṭha, a piece of wood, wood, timber. |
三木 see styles |
mitsugi みつぎ |
More info & calligraphy: Sammu |
木星 see styles |
mù xīng mu4 xing1 mu hsing mokusei / mokuse もくせい |
More info & calligraphy: Jupiter{astron} Jupiter (planet); (given name) Mokusei 勿哩訶婆跋底 Bṛhaspati; 'Lord of increase,' the planet Jupiter. |
木牛 see styles |
mokugyuu / mokugyu もくぎゅう |
More info & calligraphy: Wood Ox/Bull |
木蘭 木兰 see styles |
mù lán mu4 lan2 mu lan mokuren もくれん |
More info & calligraphy: Magnolia(kana only) lily magnolia (Magnolia quinquepeta, Magnolia liliiflora); (female given name) Mokuren |
木虎 see styles |
kitora きとら |
More info & calligraphy: Wood Tiger |
木蛇 see styles |
mù shé mu4 she2 mu she mokuja |
More info & calligraphy: Wood Snake |
木馬 木马 see styles |
mù mǎ mu4 ma3 mu ma mokuba もくば |
More info & calligraphy: Wood Horse(1) wooden horse; rocking horse; (2) (See 跳馬) vaulting horse; horse used in gymnastics; (3) the horse (ancient torture device that one was forced to straddle with rocks hanging from the feet); (given name) Mokuba wooden horse |
木鼠 see styles |
kinezumi きねずみ |
More info & calligraphy: Wood Rat |
木龍 see styles |
kiryuu / kiryu きりゅう |
More info & calligraphy: Wood Dragon |
桜木 see styles |
sakuragi さくらぎ |
More info & calligraphy: Sakuragi |
櫻木 see styles |
sakuragi さくらぎ |
More info & calligraphy: Sakuragi |
烏木 乌木 see styles |
wū mù wu1 mu4 wu mu uboku うぼく |
More info & calligraphy: Ebony(See 黒檀) ebony; (place-name) Karasugi |
鈴木 铃木 see styles |
líng mù ling2 mu4 ling mu suzuki すづき |
More info & calligraphy: Suzuki(surname) Suzuki |
木蘭花 木兰花 see styles |
mù lán huā mu4 lan2 hua1 mu lan hua |
More info & calligraphy: Magnolia Flower |
花の木 see styles |
hananoki はなのき |
More info & calligraphy: Red Maple Tree |
花木蘭 花木兰 see styles |
huā mù lán hua1 mu4 lan2 hua mu lan |
More info & calligraphy: Hua Mulan |
入木三分 see styles |
rù mù sān fēn ru4 mu4 san1 fen1 ju mu san fen |
More info & calligraphy: Profound / Powerful Words |
猿も木から落ちる see styles |
sarumokikaraochiru さるもきからおちる |
More info & calligraphy: Even Monkeys Fall From Trees |
花は桜木人は武士 see styles |
hanahasakuragihitohabushi はなはさくらぎひとはぶし |
(expression) (proverb) the best flowers are the cherry blossoms, the best individuals are the samurai; as the cherry blossom is first among flowers, so is the samurai first among men |
〆木 see styles |
shimeki しめき |
(surname) Shimeki |
一木 see styles |
ichiboku いちぼく |
one tree; (place-name, surname) Hitotsugi |
七木 see styles |
nanaki ななき |
(surname) Nanaki |
万木 see styles |
yorozuki よろづき |
(surname) Yorozuki |
上木 see styles |
jouboku; uwaki / joboku; uwaki じょうぼく; うわき |
(noun/participle) (1) (じょうぼく only) (See 上梓・1) publication; wood-block printing; (2) (usu. うわき) (See 下木) canopy (trees); (surname) Jōki |
下木 see styles |
shitaki; kaboku; shitagi したき; かぼく; したぎ |
(See 上木・じょうぼく・2) understory trees; underbrush; undergrowth; (surname) Shimoki |
不木 see styles |
fuboku ふぼく |
(given name) Fuboku |
与木 see styles |
yogi よぎ |
(surname) Yogi |
丑木 see styles |
ushiki うしき |
(surname) Ushiki |
世木 see styles |
segi せぎ |
(surname) Segi |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Wood | 木 | ki | mù / mu4 / mu | |
Wood Dog | 木狗 | mù gǒu / mu4 gou3 / mu gou / mugou | mu kou / mukou | |
Wood Pig/Boar | 木豬 木猪 | mù zhū / mu4 zhu1 / mu zhu / muzhu | mu chu / muchu | |
Wood Rat | 木鼠 | mù shǔ / mu4 shu3 / mu shu / mushu | ||
Wood Monkey | 木猴 | mù hóu / mu4 hou2 / mu hou / muhou | ||
Wood Rooster | 木雞 木鸡 | mù jī / mu4 ji1 / mu ji / muji | mu chi / muchi | |
Wood Ox/Bull | 木牛 | mù niú / mu4 niu2 / mu niu / muniu | ||
Wood Horse | 木馬 木马 | mù mǎ / mu4 ma3 / mu ma / muma | ||
Wood Goat/Sheep | 木羊 | mù yáng / mu4 yang2 / mu yang / muyang | ||
Wood Dragon | 木龍 木龙 | mù lóng / mu4 long2 / mu long / mulong | mu lung / mulung | |
Wood Snake | 木蛇 | mù shé / mu4 she2 / mu she / mushe | ||
Wood Tiger | 木虎 | mù hǔ / mu4 hu3 / mu hu / muhu | ||
Wood Rabbit | 木兔 | mù tù / mu4 tu4 / mu tu / mutu | mu t`u / mutu / mu tu | |
Ebony | 烏木 乌木 | uboku | wū mù / wu1 mu4 / wu mu / wumu | |
Jupiter | 木星 | Mokusei | mù xīng / mu4 xing1 / mu xing / muxing | mu hsing / muhsing |
Koumu | 寇木 | kòu mù / kou4 mu4 / kou mu / koumu | k`ou mu / koumu / kou mu | |
Magnolia | 木蘭 木兰 | mokuren | mù lán / mu4 lan2 / mu lan / mulan | |
Sakuragi | 桜木 | sakuragi | ||
Sakuragi | 櫻木 | sakuragi sakuraki | ||
Sammu | 三木 | sān mù / san1 mu4 / san mu / sanmu | ||
Squirrel | 木鼠 | kinezumi | ||
Suzuki | 鈴木 | suzu ki / suzuki | líng mù / ling2 mu4 / ling mu / lingmu | |
Emna | 艾木娜 | ài mù nà ai4 mu4 na4 ai mu na aimuna | ||
Hua Mulan | 花木蘭 花木兰 | huā mù lán hua1 mu4 lan2 hua mu lan huamulan | ||
Magnolia Flower | 木蘭花 木兰花 | mù lán huā mu4 lan2 hua1 mu lan hua mulanhua | ||
Red Maple Tree | 花の木 | hananoki | ||
Profound Powerful Words | 入木三分 | rù mù sān fēn ru4 mu4 san1 fen1 ru mu san fen rumusanfen | ju mu san fen jumusanfen |
|
Almudena | 阿拉木德娜 | ā lā mù dé nà a1 la1 mu4 de2 na4 a la mu de na alamudena | a la mu te na alamutena |
|
Five Elements | 金木水火土 | jīn mù shuǐ huǒ tǔ jin1 mu4 shui3 huo3 tu3 jin mu shui huo tu jinmushuihuotu | chin mu shui huo t`u chinmushuihuotu chin mu shui huo tu |
|
Even Monkeys Fall From Trees | 猿も木から落ちる | saru mo ki kara ochiru sarumokikaraochiru | ||
In Flowers the Cherry Blossom, In Men the Samurai | 花は櫻木人は武士 花は桜木人は武士 | hana wa sakuragi hito wa bushi | ||
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.