Buy an 礼 calligraphy wall scroll here!
Personalize your custom “礼” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “礼” title below...
1. Respect
4. Reizan
5. Reza
7. The Five Tenets of Confucius
Politeness, Gratitude and Propriety
礼 is one of the five tenets of Confucius.
Beyond respect, 礼 can also be translated as propriety, good manners, politeness, rite, worship, or an expression of gratitude.
We show respect by speaking and acting with courtesy. We treat others with dignity and honor the rules of our family, school, and nation. Respect yourself, and others will respect you.
Please note that Japanese use this simplified 礼 version of the original 禮 character for respect. 礼 also happens to be the same simplification used in mainland China. While 禮 is the traditional and original version, 礼 has been used as a shorthand version for many centuries. Click on the big 禮 character to the right if you want the Traditional Chinese and older Japanese versions.
This is also a virtue of the Samurai Warrior
See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here
In Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and old Japanese Kanji, 禮儀 means “etiquette” or “courtesy.”
You'll also find a Japanese entry on our website, which uses a modern/simplified first Kanji. The characters shown here compose the best choice if your audience is Chinese or Korean - but also acceptable if you want an ancient-style Japanese scroll (in modern Japanese, it has the same pronunciation, but is written 礼儀).
Note: This can also be translated as propriety, decorum, or formality.
禮貌 is a Chinese and old Korean word that means courtesy or politeness.
Courtesy is being polite and having good manners. When you speak and act courteously, you give others a feeling of being valued and respected. Greet people pleasantly. Bring courtesy home. Your family needs it most of all. Courtesy helps life to go smoothly.
If you put the words "fēi cháng bù" in front of this, it is like adding "very much not." it’s a great insult in China, as nobody wants to be called "extremely discourteous" or "very much impolite."
In Japanese, 礼儀 means “manners,” “courtesy,” or “etiquette.”
This also clearly means etiquette in Chinese, though the first Japanese Kanji has been “modernized” and happens to be the same as the modern Simplified Chinese version. Therefore, this word will be understood by both Japanese and Chinese people but best if your audience is mostly Japanese (Chinese people would generally prefer the ancient Traditional Chinese version).
The Five Cardinal Rules / Virtues of Confucius
仁義禮智信 are the core of Confucius's philosophy.
Simply stated:
仁 = Benevolence / Charity
義 = Justice / Rectitude
禮 = Courtesy / Politeness / Tact
智 = Wisdom / Knowledge
信 = Fidelity / Trust / Sincerity
Many of these concepts can be found in various religious teachings. It should be clearly understood that Confucianism is not a religion but should instead be considered a moral code for a proper and civilized society.
This title is also labeled “5 Confucian virtues.”
If you order this from the Japanese calligrapher, expect the middle Kanji to be written in a more simple form (as seen to the right). This can also be romanized as "jin gi rei satoshi shin" in Japanese. Not all Japanese will recognize this as Confucian tenets but they will know all the meanings of the characters.
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. |
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.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your 礼 search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
礼 see styles |
rei / re れい |
More info & calligraphy: Respect |
禮 礼 see styles |
lǐ li3 li rai らい |
More info & calligraphy: Respect(personal name) Rai Worship, offerings, rites; ritual, ceremonial, decorum, courtesy, etiquette. |
禮儀 礼仪 see styles |
lǐ yí li3 yi2 li i |
More info & calligraphy: Courtesy / Etiquette |
禮貌 礼貌 see styles |
lǐ mào li3 mao4 li mao |
More info & calligraphy: Courtesy / Politeness |
お礼 see styles |
orei / ore おれい |
(1) (polite language) thanks; gratitude; (2) (polite language) manners; etiquette; (3) (polite language) bow; (4) (polite language) reward; gift; (5) (polite language) ceremony; ritual |
一礼 see styles |
ichirei / ichire いちれい |
(n,vs,vi) one bow; one salute; one greeting |
万礼 see styles |
mayuki まゆき |
(female given name) Mayuki |
三礼 see styles |
sanrai; sanrei; mirei / sanrai; sanre; mire さんらい; さんれい; みれい |
(See 三拝) adoration which is performed three times or repeatedly; act of worship which is performed three times or repeatedly; (female given name) Mirei |
三禮 三礼 see styles |
sān lǐ san1 li3 san li mire みれ |
(female given name) Mire Worship with 身, 口, 意, body, mouth, and mind. |
世礼 see styles |
serei / sere せれい |
(surname) Serei |
中礼 see styles |
chuurei / chure ちゅうれい |
(surname) Chuurei |
久礼 see styles |
kurei / kure くれい |
(surname) Kurei |
二礼 see styles |
nire にれ |
(surname) Nire |
亜礼 see styles |
are あれ |
(female given name) Are |
京礼 see styles |
keirei / kere けいれい |
(personal name) Keirei |
仁礼 see styles |
nirei / nire にれい |
(surname, female given name) Nirei |
伊礼 see styles |
irei / ire いれい |
(place-name, surname) Irei |
佐礼 see styles |
zare ざれ |
(place-name) Zare |
作禮 作礼 see styles |
zuò lǐ zuo4 li3 tso li sarai |
To pay one's respect by worship; to make an obeisance. |
佳礼 see styles |
keirei / kere けいれい |
(personal name) Keirei |
保礼 see styles |
horei / hore ほれい |
(surname) Horei |
倫礼 see styles |
rinrei / rinre りんれい |
(female given name) Rinrei |
倶礼 see styles |
gurei / gure ぐれい |
(surname) Gurei |
儀礼 see styles |
girei / gire ぎれい |
(1) courtesy; etiquette; formality; protocol; (2) (religious) observance; ritual; rite; (given name) Girei |
儀禮 仪礼 see styles |
yí lǐ yi2 li3 i li |
Rites and Ceremonies, part of the Confucian Classic of Rites 禮記|礼记[Li3 ji4] |
光礼 see styles |
mirai みらい |
(female given name) Mirai |
克礼 see styles |
yoshinori よしのり |
(given name) Yoshinori |
免禮 免礼 see styles |
miǎn lǐ mian3 li3 mien li |
(formal) you may dispense with curtseying |
典礼 see styles |
tenrei / tenre てんれい |
(noun - becomes adjective with の) ceremony; etiquette; courtesy; (Catholic) liturgy; (given name) Tenrei |
典禮 典礼 see styles |
diǎn lǐ dian3 li3 tien li |
ceremony; celebration See: 典礼 |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Respect | 禮 礼 | rei | lǐ / li3 / li | |
Courtesy Etiquette | 禮儀 礼仪 | lǐ yì / li3 yi4 / li yi / liyi | li i / lii | |
Courtesy Politeness | 禮貌 礼貌 | lǐ mào / li3 mao4 / li mao / limao | ||
Reizan | 礼山 | rei zan / rei san reizan / reisan | ||
Reza | 禮薩 礼萨 | lǐ sà / li3 sa4 / li sa / lisa | ||
Courtesy Etiquette | 礼儀 / 禮儀 礼仪 | rei gi / reigi | lǐ yì / li3 yi4 / li yi / liyi | li i / lii |
The Five Tenets of Confucius | 仁義禮智信 仁义礼智信 | jin gi rei tomo nobu jingireitomonobu | rén yì lǐ zhì xìn ren2 yi4 li3 zhi4 xin4 ren yi li zhi xin renyilizhixin | jen i li chih hsin jenilichihhsin |
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 |
|
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 | ||
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.