Buy a Custom Marriage Chinese or Japanese Calligraphy Wall Scroll

We have many options to create artwork with the Chinese characters / Asian symbols / Japanese Kanji for Marriage on a wall scroll or portrait.
If you want to create a cool Marriage wall scroll, this is the place. Below you will find a few Asian symbols that express the idea of Marriage.


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  1. 100 Years of Happy Marriage

  2. Happy Marriage

  3. Partnership: Marriage

  4. Pillars of Marriage

  5. Double Happiness Guest Book

  6. Double Happiness

  7. 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary

  8. Wedding

  9. Wedding / Getting Married

10. Love

11. Adventure Lover

12. You are always a beauty in your lover’s eyes

13. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

14. Best Friends / Closest Friend

15. Best Friends

16. Best Friends / Buddies

17. Fate / Chance Meeting

18. Predestined Love / Love by Fate

19. Dragon and Phoenix Brings Luck

20. Eternal Friendship / Friends Forever

21. Eternal Love

22. Fate / Opportunity / Chance

23. Forever Love

24. Eternal Friendship / Friends Forever

25. Soul Mates

26. Greatest Infinite Love

27. Happiness / Joyful / Joy

28. Perfect Harmony

29. Soul Mates at Heart

30. I Love You

31. Infinite Love

32. Inuyasha

33. The Karma/Fate/Destiny that Brings Lovers Together

34. Longing for Lover

35. Love and Hate

36. Eternal Love / Love Eternally

37. Love Forever / Love Eternal

38. Love and Honor

39. Love Will Find A Way

40. Pledge of Lifelong Love

41. Lover / Beloved

42. Lover / Spouse / Sweetheart

43. Lover / Sweetheart

44. Better Late Than Never

45. Non-Violence

46. Red Envelope

47. The Red String

48. The Red Thread of Fate

49. Most Sincere Friend / Honest Friend / Real Friend / Best Friend

50. Soul Mates

51. Spiritual Soul Mates

52. Tea Fate

53. True Love

54. In Wine there is Truth

55. Wealth / Riches / Fortune

56. Wolf

57. Brought Together from 1000 Miles Away by Fate


100 Years of Happy Marriage

 bǎi nián hǎo hé
100 Years of Happy Marriage Scroll

百年好合 is a wish or greeting, often heard at Chinese weddings, for a couple to have 100 good years together.

Some will translate this more naturally into English as: “May you live a long and happy life together.”

The character breakdown:
百 = 100
年 = Years
好 = Good (Happy)
合 = Together

Happy Marriage

 fuufuenman
Happy Marriage Scroll

夫婦円満 is a Japanese title that means matrimonial happiness or happy marriage.

If you translate this, you get, “Husband-wife circle complete.”

Partnership: Marriage

 bàn lǚ
 hanryo
 
Partnership: Marriage Scroll

伴侶 is a Chinese, Japanese, and old Korean word that expresses the kind of partnership in which a good marriage is founded.

伴侶 could also be translated as mates or companionship or as a noun to refer to a partner or companion.

This does not have to include marriage but at least refers to a partnership with a deep relationship or bond.


Note that this is not the same as a business partner. Different words are used for various types business partnerships.


See Also:  Friendship

Pillars of Marriage

Respect / Loyalty / Honesty

 zūn zhòng zhōng chéng chéng shí
Pillars of Marriage Scroll

尊重忠誠誠實 is a “word list” consisting of “Respect/Loyalty/Honesty.”

Word lists are not as common in Chinese as they are in English but leaving that concern behind, this has a good meaning.

If you want to customize it more, add an inscription with your wedding date or names (just a small extra fee for translation).

Note: Because these are three separate words, the calligrapher may be inclined to leave a small space between each two-character word. Let us know if you have any preference when you place your order.

Double Happiness Guest Book

Customize a special Asian guest book for your wedding

 xǐ
 
Double Happiness Guest Book Scroll

Start customizing a “Double Happiness Guest Book Wall Scroll” Here!

The paper panel length can be whatever you choose from 68cm to 135cm (27” to 53”).

If you don't mention what paper length you want in the special instructions tab (on the next page), we'll make it about 100cm (40”).

How many signatures fit

The medium-size scroll with a 33cm x 100cm (13” x 40”) paper panel can usually handle up to 89 signatures. That breaks down to 37 signatures per empty square and 15 signatures around the 囍 character. If you switch to a 135cm paper panel, add another 37 potential signatures.

We can splice two 135cm papers together, but that would be a crazy-long scroll. These are only estimates, your mileage may vary.


With silk panels, this will yield a wall scroll about 155cm (61”) long. That's enough for up to 89 signatures. Of course, that depends on if your guests just sign a brief salutation and name, or more verbose good wishes. Customer feedback is that 126 people can sign the 135cm long paper on a medium-sized scroll. If we go bigger than that, there will be a minor paper seam and an extra charge. Email me with your specifications if you need something special.

Most customers pick the festive red paper with gold flecks and white or ivory silk. Red is a good luck color in Chinese culture, thus the most popular choice. But, you can do any color combination that you want.

There is a long history of Chinese-character-use outside of mainland China. This Double Happiness character is also seen at weddings in Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as in Chinese communities in Thailand, Indonesia, and elsewhere. While Japan borrowed Chinese characters into their language, you won't see 囍 as often at Japanese weddings.

Double Happiness

(Happy wedding and marriage)

 xǐ
Double Happiness Scroll

囍 is a common gift for Chinese couples getting married or newly married couples.

As we say in the west, “Two heads are better than one” Well, in the east, two “happinesses” are certainly better than one.

Some will suggest this is a symbol of two happinesses coming together. Others see it as a multiplication of happiness because of the union or marriage.

囍 is not really a character that is pronounced very often - it's almost exclusively used in written form. However, if pressed, most Chinese people will pronounce this “shuang xi” (double happy) although literally there are two “xi” characters combined in this calligraphy (but nobody will say “xi xi”).

Double Happiness Portrait Red If you select this character, I strongly suggest the festive bright red paper for your calligraphy. Part of my suggestion comes from the fact that red is a good luck color in China, and this will add to the sentiment that you wish to convey with this scroll to the happy couple.

50th Golden Wedding Anniversary

 xìng fú jīn hūn
 kou fuku kin kon
50th Golden Wedding Anniversary Scroll

幸福金婚 means “Happy Golden Anniversary” and is a great gift for a couple who is celebrating 50 years together.

The first two characters mean happy, blessed, or happiness.

The last two characters mean “couple's golden anniversary.” It means “golden wedding” or “golden marriage,” but this is only used for the 50-year-mark of a marriage (the same way we use gold to represent 50 years in the west).

幸福金婚 is a nice title to use with an inscription. You could request something like, “Happy 50th Anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” to be written down the side of this title in smaller Chinese characters.


Please note: This can be pronounced and understood in Japanese but not as commonly used in Japan. Japanese people who read this will understand it but might tend to feel it’s of Chinese origin.

 hūn
 
Wedding Scroll

婚 is related to the ideas of getting married, being in a marriage, or taking a wife (could also mean take a husband, as “take a wife” is a western term, and this is just a general Chinese term regarding a wedding).


See Also:  Double Happiness

Wedding / Getting Married

 jié hūn
 kettukon / kekkon
Wedding / Getting Married Scroll

結婚 is a word that means wedding or getting married.

In some context, 結婚 can just be read as “marriage.”


See Also:  Double Happiness | Partnership: Marriage

 ài
 ai
 
Love Scroll

愛 universally means love in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, old Korean Hanja, and old Vietnamese.

愛 is one of the most recognized Asian symbols in the West and is often seen on tee shirts, coffee mugs, tattoos, and more.

愛 can also be defined as affection, to be fond of, to like, or to be keen on. It often refers to romantic love, and is found in phrases like, “I love you.” But in Chinese, one can say, “I love that movie” using this character as well.

This can also be a pet name or part of a pet name in the way we say “dear” or “honey” in English.

This can be a girl’s name “Ai” in both Chinese and Japanese.


More about this character:

This may be hard to imagine as a westerner but the strokes at the top of this love character symbolize family & marriage.

心The symbol in the middle is a little easier to identify. It is the character for "heart" (it can also mean "mind" or "soul"). I guess you can say that no matter if you are from the East or the West, you must put your heart into your love.

友The strokes at the bottom create a modified character that means "friend" or "friendship."

I suppose you could say that the full meaning of this love character is to love your family, spouse, and friends with all of your heart, since all three elements exist in this character.


See Also:  I Love You | Caring | Benevolence | Friendliness | Double Happiness Happy Marriage Wall Scroll

Adventure Lover

 bou ken ya rou
Adventure Lover Scroll

冒険野郎 is a Japanese title that means “adventure lover.”

This literally means something like “adventure wild man.”

This is a funny choice for a wall scroll, but it's a legitimate word in Japanese.

You are always a beauty in your lover’s eyes

 qíng rén yǎn lǐ chū xī shī
You are always a beauty in your lover’s eyes Scroll

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.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

 utsukushi-sa wa miru hito no me no naka ni aru
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder Scroll

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.

Best Friends / Closest Friend

 zhì yǒu
Best Friends / Closest Friend Scroll

至友 is one way to say best friend in Chinese.

The first character can mean “most,” “extreme,” or “best.”
The second character means “friend” or “friends” (plural forms work differently in China).

Can also be translated as “close friend” or “most intimate friend.”


See Also:  Friendship | Soulmates

Best Friends

 zhì jiāo
Best Friends Scroll

至交 is an alternate way to say best friend in Chinese.

The first character can mean “most,” “extreme” or “best.” The second character means “making friends” or “building friendship.” There's sort of a suggestion with the second character that fate caused you to intersect in life and become friends (that character can mean intersection in some context).

This can also mean “most intimate friend,” “very good friend of long-standing,” or “closest friend.”


See Also:  Friendship | Soulmates

Best Friends / Buddies

 qīn yǒu
 shin yuu
Best Friends / Buddies Scroll

親友 is the Japanese way to say “best friend.”

The first character can mean “relative” or sometimes “parents.” The second character means “friend.” Think about the close relationship that Japanese people have with their parents and relatives, and this starts to mean “close friends.”

Some Japanese-English dictionaries also translate this as “bosom friend,” “old friend,” “intimate friend,” “buddy,” “crony” or “chum.”

Note that in Chinese, this means “relatives and friends.” It's a good meaning in Chinese, but it's not quite the same as “best friends.”

Fate / Chance Meeting

 yuán fèn
Fate / Chance Meeting Scroll

緣份 specifically represents the fate or destiny that brings two people together.

This is like the chance meeting of two people that leads sometime later to marriage.

This could also be the chance meeting of two business people who become partners and build a huge and successful company.

This idea is often associated with a fateful meeting leading to good fortune.

Some will define this word as “Destiny brings you two together” or “Meant to be.”


分 Note: The second character can also be written without the left radical, as shown to the right. If you have a preference, please let use know in the special instructions for your project. There is no difference in meaning or pronunciation, just two (alternate) ways to write the same character.


See Also:  Soulmates | Good Fortune

Predestined Love / Love by Fate

 qíng yuán
Predestined Love / Love by Fate Scroll

This Chinese word means predestined love or love affinity.

This can be fate, karma, or the bond that brings two lovers together.

Dragon and Phoenix Brings Luck

 lóng fèng chéng xiáng
Dragon and Phoenix Brings Luck  Scroll

龍鳳呈祥 is often seen at weddings and other celebrations in China.

It suggests that the dragon and phoenix will bring you auspicious tidings.

The first character is a dragon.
The second is a phoenix.
The third is presents or brings.
And the last means auspicious, propitious, or luck.

Throughout China, the dragon and phoenix are symbols of good fortune. You will see these auspicious figures as decorative symbols on everything from buildings, furniture, wedding costumes, and sculptures in public parks to caskets and items used in ceremonies.

Eternal Friendship / Friends Forever

 ei en no yuu
Eternal Friendship / Friends Forever Scroll

永遠の友 is a Japanese phrase about eternal friendship.

The first two characters mean eternal, eternity, perpetuity, forever, immortality, and permanence.

The third character is a possessive article which sort of makes this selection mean “Love, of the eternal kind.”

The last character is “friend” or “Friendship.”


See Also:  Best Friends

Eternal Love

 yǒng héng de ài
Eternal Love Scroll

永恆的愛 is the best way to write “Eternal Love” in Chinese.

The first two characters mean eternal, eternally, everlasting, and/or perpetual.

The third character is a possessive article which sort of makes this selection mean “Love of the eternal kind.”

The last character is “love.”

This version is best if your audience is Chinese. We also have a Japanese version of eternal love.


See Also:  Forever Love | Eternal Love (Japanese)

Eternal Love

 ei en no ai
Eternal Love Scroll

永遠の愛 is a great way to write “Eternal Love” in Japanese.

The first two characters mean eternal, eternity, perpetuity, forever, immortality, and permanence.

The third character is a possessive article which sort of makes this selection mean “Love, of the eternal kind.”

The last character is “love.”

Cultural note: Most of the time, it is taboo to use the word “love” in Japanese. For instance, a Japanese man will say, “I like you,” rather than, “I love you,” to his spouse/girlfriend. However, this entry for eternal love is acceptable because of the way it is composed.

This entry is only appropriate if your audience is Japanese. We also have a Chinese version of this eternal love.

Fate / Opportunity / Chance

The Buddhist idea of Fate

 yīn yuán
 in nen
Fate / Opportunity / Chance Scroll

因緣 is the Buddhist concept of a chance meeting or an opportunity that presents itself by fate.

Sometimes this is used to describe a cosmic chain of events or cause and effect.

It also is used to describe predestined relationships between people - and sometimes married couples (although if you want one about marriage, try this: Fate / Destiny of Lovers.

因緣 can also be translated as origin, karma, destiny, affinity, connection, and relation. This all depends on context - seen alone on a wall scroll, this will be read with a “fate/chance” meaning by a Chinese person or a Korean person who can read Hanja.

The more complex definition of this word would be, “Direct causes and indirect conditions, which underlie the actions of all things.”

This concept is known as nidana in the original Sanskrit. Also sometimes presented as hetupratyaya (or “hetu and prataya”), which I believe is Pali.


Note: Japanese will tend to use this version of the second Kanji: 縁
If you order this from the Japanese master calligrapher, expect that you’ll get this version. However, this word often carries a negative connotation in Japanese (bad things happen), as it is used that way in a certain Japanese idiom. Therefore, this may not be the best choice if Japanese is your target language.


See Also:  Buddhism | Opportunity

Forever Love

 yǒng yuǎn de ài
Forever Love Scroll

永遠的愛 refers to love that will last forever.

The first two characters mean forever, eternal, eternity, perpetuity, immortality, and/or permanence.

The third character is a possessive article which sort of makes this selection mean “The forever kind of love.”

The last character is “love.”


See Also:  Eternal Love Always

Eternal Friendship / Friends Forever

 yǒng yuǎn de péng yǒu
Eternal Friendship / Friends Forever Scroll

永遠的朋友 means friends that are eternal or a friendship that will last forever - you will remain the best of friends as long as you live.

The first two characters mean forever, eternal, eternity, perpetuity, immortality, and/or permanence.

The middle character links the words (it's a possessive article).

The last two characters represent friendship, or simply “friends.”

 tamashii no tomo
Soul Mates Scroll

魂の友 is one of a few ways to write “Soul Mates” in Japanese.

The first Kanji means soul, spirit, ghost, immortal soul, the mind, or conscious mind. From Sanskrit, it's Vijñāna.

The middle character is a Japanese Hiragana connecting or possessive article that links the two ideas together.

The last Kanji means friends or friendship.

Greatest Infinite Love

 bu gen dai no ai
Greatest Infinite Love Scroll

無限大の愛 is a Japanese title meaning infinite great love, unlimited great love, or eternal love.

無 means never, not, or like a prefix “un-.”

限 means limited, restricted, or bound.
大 means great or big.
の is a possessive article.
愛 means love or affection.

Happiness / Joyful / Joy

 xǐ
 ki / yorokobi
 
Happiness / Joyful / Joy Scroll

喜 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja for the kind of happiness known in the west as “joy.”

喜 can also be translated as rejoice, enjoyment, delighted, pleased, or “take pleasure in.” Sometimes it can mean “to be fond of” (in a certain context).

If you write two of these happiness/joy characters side by side, you create another character known in English as “double happiness,” which is a symbol associated with weddings and happy marriages.


There is another version of this character that you will find on our website with an additional radical on the left side (exactly same meaning, just an alternate form). The version of happiness shown here is the commonly written form in China, Japan and South Korea (banned in North Korea).


See Also:  Contentment | Happiness | Joy

Perfect Harmony

 qín sè hé míng
Perfect Harmony Scroll

琴瑟和鳴 is a Chinese title that means “in perfect harmony” or “in sync.”

This can translate as “two harps in harmony.” While this more literally means “qin [and] se harmonious sound.”

The qin and se are both types of string instruments (Chinese zithers) that are known to play in perfect harmony. Thus, the two together are often used as a metaphor for marital harmony or a happy marriage.

Soul Mates at Heart

 kokoro no han ryo
Soul Mates at Heart Scroll

心の伴侶 is a Japanese-only title for soulmates.

心 means heart, soul, mind, core, or center. In ancient times, the heart was believed to be the mind or center of your soul and being.

の is a possessive article that connects everything here.

伴侶 means mates, companions, partners, and spouses.

This Japanese version of soulmates is about two partners, coupled or joined by their hearts.

 wǒ ài nǐ
I Love You Scroll

我愛你 directly translates as “I love you” from English to Chinese characters.

This “I love you” phrase is very commonly used between lovers in China.

Infinite Love

 wú xiàn ài
 mu gen ai
Infinite Love Scroll

無限愛 is the Chinese and Japanese title meaning infinite love, unlimited love, or unbounded love.

The first character means never, not, or like the prefix “un-.”

The second means limited, restricted, or bound.

The third means love or affection.

 quǎn yè chà
 inu ya sha
Inuyasha Scroll

犬夜叉 is the title Inuyasha or Inu Yasha, a fictional character meaning “dog demon” from Japanese Manga.

Also known by Manga-lovers in China.

The Karma/Fate/Destiny that Brings Lovers Together

 yīn yuán
The Karma/Fate/Destiny that Brings Lovers Together Scroll

姻緣 means “Destiny that brings lovers together.” It can also be translated technically as “Predestined matrimonial affinity” (wow, talk about taking the romance out of this word - that was from the Oxford C-E dictionary).

This speaks to the fate (or karma) that brings a husband and wife together. I would translate this as “Together by fate” or “Joined by destiny” but in the context of marriage. You could use this for non-married lovers, but the first character has a suggestion that this refers to those that are married.

Longing for Lover

 sī liàn
Longing for Lover Scroll

思戀 is a term used for when you miss a lover.

It suggests that you are separated (not by choice) and have longed for each other. It's a strong feeling of missing your lover.

Love and Hate

 ài yǔ hèn
Love and Hate Scroll

Whether you want to make a joke about what marriage really is or just feel that the world is full of love and hate, this selection is for you.

愛與恨 happens to literally translate. So the first character is love. The middle character is a connecting particle-like “and” in English. The last character is hate.

Upon request, we can omit the “and” character and just put a dot to separate love and hate if you prefer.

Eternal Love / Love Eternally

 ài yǒng héng
Eternal Love / Love Eternally Scroll

愛永恆 is the shortest way to express the idea of “love eternally” in Chinese.

The first character here means “love”

The last two mean eternal, eternally, everlasting, and/or perpetual.


See Also:  Love Forever

Love Forever / Love Eternal

 ài yǒng yuǎn
 ai ei en
Love Forever / Love Eternal Scroll

The first character here means “love.”

The last two mean forever, eternity, eternal, perpetuity, immortality, and/or permanence.

愛永遠 is the shortest and most universal way to express this idea in Chinese and Japanese.

Japanese note: This sound more like a title than a phrase in Japanese (if that makes any sense). 愛永遠 is a great title for a romantic book, the title of a movie, the name of a perfume, or even a name for a store.


See Also:  Eternal Love | Forever Love

Love and Honor

 qíng yì
Love and Honor Scroll

情義 means to love and honor in Chinese. 情義 is more or less the kind of thing you'd find in marriage vows.

The first character suggests emotions, passion, heart, humanity, sympathy, and feelings.

In this context, the second character means to honor your lover's wishes and treat them justly and righteously (fairly). That second character can also be translated as “obligation,” as in the obligation a husband and wife have to love each other even through difficult times.

In the context outside of a couple's relationship, this word can mean “comradeship.”

Japanese may see this more as “humanity and justice” than “love and honor.” It's probably best if your target is Chinese.


This is the short and sweet form, there is also a longer poetic form (you can find it here: Love and Honor if it’s not on the page you are currently viewing).


See Also:  Love and Honor

Love and Honor

 shēn qíng hòu yì
Love and Honor Scroll

深情厚義 means to love and honor.

This is more or less the kind of thing you'd find in marriage vows.

The first two characters suggest deep love or deep emotions, passion, and feelings.
The last two characters mean generous justice or thick honor (the third character is an adjective that means generous or thick). It just means that you will honor your lover's wishes and treat them justly and righteously (fairly).


This is the longer four-character version, there is also a short and sweet two character version.


See Also:  Love and Honor

Love and Honor

 ai to keii
Love and Honor Scroll

愛と敬意 is a Japanese phrase that means “Love and Honor” or “Love and Respect.”

There are a few ways to express this idea in Japanese, so you may see other versions used.

Love Will Find A Way

 zhōng chéng juàn shǔ
Love Will Find A Way Scroll

終成眷屬 is a Chinese proverb that translates roughly as “Love will find a way to come together.”

Love Will Find A Way

 yǒu qíng rén zhōng chéng juàn shǔ
Love Will Find A Way Scroll

有情人終成眷屬 is the long version of the Chinese proverb that translates as “Where there are lovers, love will find a way (to come together).”

Pledge of Lifelong Love

 qíng dìng zhōng shēn
Pledge of Lifelong Love Scroll

情定終身 is a pledge of eternal love in Chinese.

This can also be a colloquial way to refer to the act of exchanging marriage vows.

If you and your mate want to express how committed you are to your life-long love, this will be a great piece of calligraphy for your wall. Also, a nice phrase to celebrate an anniversary.

Lover / Beloved

 liàn rén
 koi bito
Lover / Beloved Scroll

戀人 means lover, sweetheart, or beloved in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

This term is gender-neutral, so that anyone can use it.


恋In modern Japan and China, the first character has been simplified. We suggest the traditional version, as shown above if your audience is Chinese or Korean. However, this generation of Japanese are more likely to recognize the simplified version. If you want this simple (modern Japanese) version, please click on the image shown to the right, instead of the button above.

Lover / Spouse / Sweetheart

 ài ren
 ai jin
Lover / Spouse / Sweetheart Scroll

愛人 means lover, sweetheart, spouse, husband, wife, or beloved in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

The first character means “love,” and the second means “person.”

This title can be used in many different ways, depending on the context. Husbands and wives may use this term for each other. But, if you change the context, this title could be used to mean “mistress.” It's pretty similar to the way we can use “lover” in many different ways in English.

In modern Japan, this lover title has slipped into the definition of mistress and is not good for a wall scroll.

Lover / Sweetheart

 qíng rén
 jou nin / jou jin
Lover / Sweetheart Scroll

情人 means lover, sweetheart, or beloved in Chinese and Japanese Kanji.

This term is gender-neutral so anyone can use it.

Please note that this term can easily be read or used to mean “mistress” or the kind of lover you have an affair with (especially in Japanese). The context in which this word is used affects the actual meaning. Husbands and wives or boyfriends and girlfriends can also use this term for each other with no ill meaning.

Better Late Than Never

It's Never Too Late Too Mend

 wáng yáng bǔ láo yóu wèi wéi wǎn
Better Late Than Never Scroll

Long ago in what is now China, there were many kingdoms throughout the land. This time period is known as “The Warring States Period” by historians because these kingdoms often did not get along with each other.

Sometime around 279 B.C. the Kingdom of Chu was a large but not particularly powerful kingdom. Part of the reason it lacked power was the fact that the King was surrounded by “yes men” who told him only what he wanted to hear. Many of the King's court officials were corrupt and incompetent which did not help the situation.

The King was not blameless himself, as he started spending much of his time being entertained by his many concubines.

One of the King's ministers, Zhuang Xin, saw problems on the horizon for the Kingdom, and warned the King, “Your Majesty, you are surrounded by people who tell you what you want to hear. They tell you things to make you happy and cause you to ignore important state affairs. If this is allowed to continue, the Kingdom of Chu will surely perish, and fall into ruins.”

This enraged the King who scolded Zhuang Xin for insulting the country and accused him of trying to create resentment among the people. Zhuang Xin explained, “I dare not curse the Kingdom of Chu but I feel that we face great danger in the future because of the current situation.” The King was simply not impressed with Zhuang Xin's words.
Seeing the King's displeasure with him and the King's fondness for his court of corrupt officials, Zhuang Xin asked permission from the King that he may take leave of the Kingdom of Chu, and travel to the State of Zhao to live. The King agreed, and Zhuang Xin left the Kingdom of Chu, perhaps forever.

Five months later, troops from the neighboring Kingdom of Qin invaded Chu, taking a huge tract of land. The King of Chu went into exile, and it appeared that soon, the Kingdom of Chu would no longer exist.

The King of Chu remembered the words of Zhuang Xin and sent some of his men to find him. Immediately, Zhuang Xin returned to meet the King. The first question asked by the King was “What can I do now?”

Zhuang Xin told the King this story:

A shepherd woke one morning to find a sheep missing. Looking at the pen saw a hole in the fence where a wolf had come through to steal one of his sheep. His friends told him that he had best fix the hole at once. But the Shepherd thought since the sheep is already gone, there is no use fixing the hole.
The next morning, another sheep was missing. And the Shepherd realized that he must mend the fence at once. Zhuang Xin then went on to make suggestions about what could be done to reclaim the land lost to the Kingdom of Qin, and reclaim the former glory and integrity of the Kingdom of Chu.

The Chinese idiom shown above came from this reply from Zhuang Xin to the King of Chu almost 2,300 years ago.
It translates roughly into English as...
“Even if you have lost some sheep, it's never too late to mend the fence.”

This proverb, 亡羊补牢犹未为晚, is often used in modern China when suggesting in a hopeful way that someone change their ways, or fix something in their life. It might be used to suggest fixing a marriage, quitting smoking, or getting back on track after taking an unfortunate path in life among other things one might fix in their life.

I suppose in the same way that we might say, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” in our western cultures to suggest that you can always start anew.

Note: This does have Korean pronunciation but is not a well-known proverb in Korean (only Koreans familiar with ancient Chinese history would know it). Best if your audience is Chinese.

Non-Violence

 fēi bào lì
 hibouryoku
Non-Violence Scroll

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

Red Envelope

 hóng bāo
Red Envelope Scroll

紅包 literally means “red treasure.”

Depending on the context, it can also mean “money wrapped in red as a gift,” “a bonus payment,” “a kickback,” or “a bribe.”

However, most of the time, this is an innocent gift of money in a red envelope that is given from an elder relative to a youngster. This usually happens during the Chinese New Year. It can also happen in preparation for or during a wedding in China.

紅包 is pronounced “Hong Bao” (with an “oh” vowel sound on hong) in Mandarin Chinese. Filipino Chinese call it “Ang Pao.” There are a few other variations.

The Red String

Thread of Lover's Destiny / Fate

 akai ito
The Red String Scroll

This literally translates as “the red string” or “the red thread” in Japanese, but the real meaning is much deeper...

In Japanese culture, it's believed that fate, destiny, or karma joins lovers by an unseen string, tied around one little finger of each. 赤い糸 is how soul mates find and are drawn to each other.

The Japanese concept of the red thread of fate, by most estimations, comes from Chinese folklore, where it's known as 姻緣紅線. The only difference is that in China, the celestial red thread is tied around the ankles of the lovers (versus what is usually represented as the pinky finger in Japan).

The Red Thread of Fate

 yīn yuán hóng xiàn
The Red Thread of Fate Scroll

姻緣紅線 is the legendary red string of destiny that binds all soul mates or lovers together.

In ancient Chinese culture, a mythological matchmaker named 月老 (Yuè Lǎo) was the controller of the fate that led lovers to meet. He did this by tying a celestial red string to the ankle of each person. Sometime during their life, they will meet and marry as fate dictates.

While the origin of the red string comes from China, it has spread to other parts of Asia (such as Japan, where it's known as 赤い糸).

Most Sincere Friend / Honest Friend / Real Friend / Best Friend

 zhì yǒu
Most Sincere Friend / Honest Friend / Real Friend / Best Friend Scroll

摯友 is one way to say best friend in Chinese.

The first character can mean “honest” or “most sincere.” The second character means “friend” or “friends” (plural forms work differently in Chinese).


See Also:  Friendship | Soulmates

 tiān shēng yí duì
Soul Mates Scroll

It was tough to find the best way to say “soul mates” in Chinese. We settled on 天生一對 as an old way to say, “A couple selected by heaven.”

The first two characters together mean “natural” or “innate.” Separated, they mean “heaven” and “born.” The last two characters mean “couple.” So this can be translated as “A couple that is together by nature,” or “A couple brought together by heaven's decree.” With a slight stretch, you could say, “A couple born together from heaven.”

It's a struggle to find the best way to describe this idea in English but trust me, it is pretty cool, and it is a great way to say “soulmates.”

If you're in a happy relationship or marriage and think you have found your soul mate, this would be a wonderful wall scroll to hang in your home.

 líng hún bàn lǚ
 reikon hanryo
Soul Mates Scroll

靈魂伴侶 is the literal translation of “Soul Mates.”

This is kind of the western way to express “soul mates” but translated into Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
The first two characters mean “soul” or “spirit.”
The second two characters mean “mate,” “companion” or “partner.”

Although not the most common title, these characters have good meaning and will be received well in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. It's a universal title!

Spiritual Soul Mates

 jīng shén bàn lǚ
 sei shin han ryo
Spiritual Soul Mates Scroll

精神伴侶 means “Spiritual Soul Mates.” The first two characters mean “spiritual” or “soul.” The second two characters mean “mates,” “companions,” or “partners.”

This is more about the spiritual connection between partners rather than a “fate-brought-us-together” kind of soul mates.

Both halves of this title have meaning in Japanese but I've not yet confirmed that this is a commonly used title in Japan.

Spiritual Soul Mates

 tamashii no han ryo
Spiritual Soul Mates Scroll

魂の伴侶 is a Japanese-only title for soulmates.

魂 means soul, spirit, immortal soul (the part of you that lives beyond your physical body), or the conscious mind. In the Buddhist context, this is vijñāna or viññāṇa (consciousness, life force, or mind).

の is a possessive article that connects everything here.

伴侶 means mates, companions, partners, and spouses.

 chá yuán
Tea Fate Scroll

茶緣 is a special title for the tea lover. This kind of means “tea fate,” but it's more spiritual and hard to define. Perhaps the tea brought you in to drink it. Perhaps the tea will bring you and another tea-lover together. Perhaps you were already there, and the tea came to you. Perhaps it's the ah-ha moment you will have when drinking the tea.

I've been told not to explain this further, as it will either dilute or confuse the purposefully-ambiguous idea embedded in this enigma.

I happen to be the owner of a piece of calligraphy written by either the son or nephew of the last emperor of China, which is the title he wrote. It was given to me at a Beijing tea house in 2001. 茶緣 is where I learned to love tea after literally spending weeks tasting and studying everything I could about Chinese tea. I did not understand the significance of the authorship or the meaning of the title at all. Some 10 years later, I realized the gift was so profound and had such providence. Only now do I realize the value of a gift that it is too late to give proper thanks for. It was also years later that I ended up in this business and could have the artwork properly mounted as a wall scroll. It has been borrowed for many exhibitions and shows and always amazes native Chinese and Taiwanese who read the signature. This piece of calligraphy I once thought was just a bit of ink on a thin and wrinkled piece of paper, is now one of my most valued possessions. And fate has taught me to be more thankful for seemingly simple gifts.

 zhēn ài
 shinai
True Love Scroll

真愛 is literally “True Love” in Chinese.

The first character means “real,” “true,” and “genuine.” The second character means “love” and “affection.”

During the customization of your calligraphy wall scroll, there is a place to add an inscription. You might want that inscription to be your names in Chinese down the side of your wall scroll or perhaps just below these two main characters (just $9 extra). A nice gift to celebrate an anniversary or marriage!

In Wine there is Truth

 jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēn yán
In Wine there is Truth Scroll

酒后吐真言 / 酒後吐真言 is a nice Asian proverb if you know a vintner or wine seller - or wine lover - although the actual meaning might not be exactly what you think or hope.

The literal meaning is that someone drinking wine is more likely to let the truth slip out. It can also be translated as “People speak their true feelings after drinking alcohol.”

It's long believed in many parts of Asia that one can not consciously hold up a facade of lies when getting drunk, and therefore the truth will come out with a few drinks.

I've had the experience where a Korean man would not trust me until I got drunk with him (I was trying to gain access to the black market in North Korea which is tough to do as an untrusted outsider) - so I think this idea is still well-practiced in many Asian countries.

后 VS 後

Please note that there are two common ways to write the second character of this phrase. The way it's written will be left up to the mood of the calligrapher, unless you let us know that you have a certain preference.


See Also:  Honesty | Truth

Wealth / Riches / Fortune

 cái fù
Wealth / Riches / Fortune Scroll

財富 means wealth or riches in Chinese.

Hanging this on your wall will label you as a “lover of money” or a “greedy person.” Order this only if you don't mind being seen in this light.

 láng
 okami
Wolf Scroll

狼 is the character used to represent the elusive animal known as the wolf in both Chinese and Japanese.

If you are a fan of the wolf or the wolf means something special to you, this could make a great addition to your wall.

Do keep in mind, that much like our perception of wolves in the history of western culture, eastern cultures do not have a very positive view of wolves (save the scientific community and animal lovers). The wolf is clearly an animal that is misunderstood or feared the world over.

狼 is seldom used alone in Korean Hanja but is used in a compound word that means utter failure (as in a wolf getting into your chicken pen - or an otherwise ferocious failure). Not a good choice if your audience is Korean.

Brought Together from 1000 Miles Away by Fate

 yǒu yuán qiān lǐ lái xiāng huì
Brought Together from 1000 Miles Away by Fate Scroll

有緣千里來相會 means that fate or destiny has caused us to meet from a thousand miles away.

The 有緣 part suggests something that is connected as if by a thread due to fate, destiny, or karma.

This romantic phrase is seen in Chinese greeting cards. It relays the idea that your love was meant to be and that you were destined to meet (regardless of what distance or obstacles might have made such a meeting unlikely).


See Also:  Red Thread




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The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...

Title CharactersRomaji (Romanized Japanese)Various forms of Romanized Chinese
100 Years of Happy Marriage百年好合bǎi nián hǎo hé
bai3 nian2 hao3 he2
bai nian hao he
bainianhaohe
pai nien hao ho
painienhaoho
Happy Marriage夫婦円満fuufuenman / fufuenman
Partnership: Marriage伴侶
伴侣
hanryobàn lǚ / ban4 lv3 / ban lv / banlvpan lü / panlü
Pillars of Marriage尊重忠誠誠實
尊重忠诚诚实
zūn zhòng zhōng chéng chéng shí
zun1 zhong4 zhong1 cheng2 cheng2 shi2
zun zhong zhong cheng cheng shi
tsun chung chung ch`eng ch`eng shih
tsun chung chung cheng cheng shih
Double Happiness Guest Book
喜喜
xǐ / xi3 / xihsi
Double Happiness
喜喜
xǐ / xi3 / xihsi
50th Golden Wedding Anniversary幸福金婚 / 倖福金婚
幸福金婚
kou fuku kin kon
koufukukinkon
ko fuku kin kon
xìng fú jīn hūn
xing4 fu2 jin1 hun1
xing fu jin hun
xingfujinhun
hsing fu chin hun
hsingfuchinhun
Weddinghūn / hun1 / hun
Wedding
Getting Married
結婚
结婚
kettukon / kekkon
kettukon / kekon
jié hūn / jie2 hun1 / jie hun / jiehunchieh hun / chiehhun
Love
aiài / ai4 / ai
Adventure Lover冒険野郎bou ken ya rou
boukenyarou
bo ken ya ro
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
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
Best Friends
Closest Friend
至友zhì yǒu / zhi4 you3 / zhi you / zhiyouchih yu / chihyu
Best Friends至交zhì jiāo / zhi4 jiao1 / zhi jiao / zhijiaochih chiao / chihchiao
Best Friends
Buddies
親友
亲友
shin yuu / shinyuu / shin yuqīn yǒu / qin1 you3 / qin you / qinyouch`in yu / chinyu / chin yu
Fate
Chance Meeting
緣份 / 緣分
缘份 / 缘分
yuán fèn / yuan2 fen4 / yuan fen / yuanfenyüan fen / yüanfen
Predestined Love
Love by Fate
情緣
情缘
qíng yuán
qing2 yuan2
qing yuan
qingyuan
ch`ing yüan
chingyüan
ching yüan
Dragon and Phoenix Brings Luck 龍鳳呈祥
龙凤呈祥
lóng fèng chéng xiáng
long2 feng4 cheng2 xiang2
long feng cheng xiang
longfengchengxiang
lung feng ch`eng hsiang
lungfengchenghsiang
lung feng cheng hsiang
Eternal Friendship
Friends Forever
永遠の友ei en no yuu
eiennoyuu
ei en no yu
Eternal Love永恆的愛
永恒的爱
yǒng héng de ài
yong3 heng2 de ai4
yong heng de ai
yonghengdeai
yung heng te ai
yunghengteai
Eternal Love永遠の愛ei en no ai
eiennoai
Fate
Opportunity
Chance
因緣
因缘 / 因縁
in nen / innenyīn yuán / yin1 yuan2 / yin yuan / yinyuanyin yüan / yinyüan
Forever Love永遠的愛
永远的爱
yǒng yuǎn de ài
yong3 yuan3 de ai4
yong yuan de ai
yongyuandeai
yung yüan te ai
yungyüanteai
Eternal Friendship
Friends Forever
永遠的朋友
永远的朋友
yǒng yuǎn de péng yǒu
yong3 yuan3 de peng2 you3
yong yuan de peng you
yongyuandepengyou
yung yüan te p`eng yu
yungyüantepengyu
yung yüan te peng yu
Soul Mates魂の友tamashii no tomo
tamashiinotomo
tamashi no tomo
Greatest Infinite Love無限大の愛bu gen dai no ai
bugendainoai
Happiness
Joyful
Joy
ki / yorokobixǐ / xi3 / xihsi
Perfect Harmony琴瑟和鳴
琴瑟和鸣
qín sè hé míng
qin2 se4 he2 ming2
qin se he ming
qinseheming
ch`in se ho ming
chinsehoming
chin se ho ming
Soul Mates at Heart心の伴侶kokoro no han ryo
kokoronohanryo
I Love You我愛你
我爱你
wǒ ài nǐ
wo3 ai4 ni3
wo ai ni
woaini
Infinite Love無限愛
无限爱
mu gen ai / mugenaiwú xiàn ài
wu2 xian4 ai4
wu xian ai
wuxianai
wu hsien ai
wuhsienai
Inuyasha犬夜叉inu ya sha / inuyashaquǎn yè chà
quan3 ye4 cha4
quan ye cha
quanyecha
ch`üan yeh ch`a
chüanyehcha
chüan yeh cha
The Karma/Fate/Destiny that Brings Lovers Together姻緣
姻缘
yīn yuán / yin1 yuan2 / yin yuan / yinyuanyin yüan / yinyüan
Longing for Lover思戀
思恋
sī liàn / si1 lian4 / si lian / silianssu lien / ssulien
Love and Hate愛與恨
爱与恨
ài yǔ hèn
ai4 yu3 hen4
ai yu hen
aiyuhen
ai yü hen
aiyühen
Eternal Love
Love Eternally
愛永恆
爱永恒
ài yǒng héng
ai4 yong3 heng2
ai yong heng
aiyongheng
ai yung heng
aiyungheng
Love Forever
Love Eternal
愛永遠
爱永远
ai ei en / aieienài yǒng yuǎn
ai4 yong3 yuan3
ai yong yuan
aiyongyuan
ai yung yüan
aiyungyüan
Love and Honor情義
情义
qíng yì / qing2 yi4 / qing yi / qingyich`ing i / chingi / ching i
Love and Honor深情厚義
深情厚义
shēn qíng hòu yì
shen1 qing2 hou4 yi4
shen qing hou yi
shenqinghouyi
shen ch`ing hou i
shenchinghoui
shen ching hou i
Love and Honor愛と敬意ai to keii / aitokeii / ai to kei
Love Will Find A Way終成眷屬
终成眷属
zhōng chéng juàn shǔ
zhong1 cheng2 juan4 shu3
zhong cheng juan shu
zhongchengjuanshu
chung ch`eng chüan shu
chungchengchüanshu
chung cheng chüan shu
Love Will Find A Way有情人終成眷屬
有情人终成眷属
yǒu qíng rén zhōng chéng juàn shǔ
you3 qing2 ren2 zhong1 cheng2 juan4 shu3
you qing ren zhong cheng juan shu
yu ch`ing jen chung ch`eng chüan shu
yu ching jen chung cheng chüan shu
Pledge of Lifelong Love情定終身
情定终身
qíng dìng zhōng shēn
qing2 ding4 zhong1 shen1
qing ding zhong shen
qingdingzhongshen
ch`ing ting chung shen
chingtingchungshen
ching ting chung shen
Lover
Beloved
戀人
恋人
koi bito / koibitoliàn rén / lian4 ren2 / lian ren / lianrenlien jen / lienjen
Lover
Spouse
Sweetheart
愛人
爱人
ai jin / aijinài ren / ai4 ren / ai ren / airenai jen / aijen
Lover
Sweetheart
情人jou nin / jou jin
jounin / joujin
jo nin / jo jin
qíng rén / qing2 ren2 / qing ren / qingrench`ing jen / chingjen / ching jen
Better Late Than Never亡羊補牢猶未為晚
亡羊补牢犹未为晚
wáng yáng bǔ láo yóu wèi wéi wǎn
wang2 yang2 bu3 lao2 you2 wei4 wei2 wan3
wang yang bu lao you wei wei wan
wang yang pu lao yu wei wei wan
wangyangpulaoyuweiweiwan
Non-Violence非暴力hibouryoku / hiboryokufēi bào lì
fei1 bao4 li4
fei bao li
feibaoli
fei pao li
feipaoli
Red Envelope紅包
红包
hóng bāo / hong2 bao1 / hong bao / hongbaohung pao / hungpao
The Red String赤い糸akai ito / akaiito
The Red Thread of Fate姻緣紅線
姻缘红线
yīn yuán hóng xiàn
yin1 yuan2 hong2 xian4
yin yuan hong xian
yinyuanhongxian
yin yüan hung hsien
yinyüanhunghsien
Most Sincere Friend
Honest Friend
Real Friend
Best Friend
摯友
挚友
zhì yǒu / zhi4 you3 / zhi you / zhiyouchih yu / chihyu
Soul Mates天生一對
天生一对
tiān shēng yí duì
tian1 sheng1 yi2 dui4
tian sheng yi dui
tianshengyidui
t`ien sheng i tui
tienshengitui
tien sheng i tui
Soul Mates靈魂伴侶
灵魂伴侣
reikon hanryo
reikonhanryo
líng hún bàn lǚ
ling2 hun2 ban4 lv3
ling hun ban lv
linghunbanlv
ling hun pan lü
linghunpanlü
Spiritual Soul Mates精神伴侶
精神伴侣
sei shin han ryo
seishinhanryo
jīng shén bàn lǚ
jing1 shen2 ban4 lv3
jing shen ban lv
jingshenbanlv
ching shen pan lü
chingshenpanlü
Spiritual Soul Mates魂の伴侶tamashii no han ryo
tamashiinohanryo
tamashi no han ryo
Tea Fate茶緣
茶缘
chá yuán / cha2 yuan2 / cha yuan / chayuanch`a yüan / chayüan / cha yüan
True Love真愛
真爱
shinaizhēn ài / zhen1 ai4 / zhen ai / zhenaichen ai / chenai
In Wine there is Truth酒后吐真言 / 酒後吐真言
酒后吐真言
jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēn yán
jiu3 hou4 tu3 zhen1 yan2
jiu hou tu zhen yan
jiuhoutuzhenyan
chiu hou t`u chen yen
chiuhoutuchenyen
chiu hou tu chen yen
Wealth
Riches
Fortune
財富
财富
cái fù / cai2 fu4 / cai fu / caifuts`ai fu / tsaifu / tsai fu
Wolfokamiláng / lang2 / lang
Brought Together from 1000 Miles Away by Fate有緣千里來相會
有缘千里来相会
yǒu yuán qiān lǐ lái xiāng huì
you3 yuan2 qian1 li3 lai2 xiang1 hui4
you yuan qian li lai xiang hui
youyuanqianlilaixianghui
yu yüan ch`ien li lai hsiang hui
yu yüan chien li lai hsiang hui
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.


Dictionary

Lookup in my Japanese & Chinese Dictionary

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.


A nice Chinese calligraphy wall scroll

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.

A professional Chinese Calligrapher

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.

Trying to learn Chinese calligrapher - a futile effort

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.

A high-ranked Chinese master calligrapher that I met in Zhongwei

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.