The Name No Rain No Flowers in Chinese/Japanese on a Personalized Wall Scroll.

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  1. No Rain No Flowers

  2. No man knows what he owes to his parents until he comes to have children of his own

  3. Honorable Death - No Surrender

  4. Electricity / Lightning

  5. Fear No Evil

  6. Fearless / Daring

  7. Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall

  8. Soul Mates at Heart

  9. Indomitable Spirit / Indomitable Attitude

10. Bolt of Lightning / Lightning Attack

11. Live Without Regret

12. No Fear

13. No Limits

14. No Regrets

15. No Pain No Gain

16. There is no pleasure without pain

17. Preparation Yields No Regrets

18. Spiritual Soul Mates

19. Storm / Windstorm

20. Time and Tide Wait for No Man

21. Time Waits For No One

22. Trust No One / Trust No Man

23. Have a Walking Stick at the Ready Before You Stumble

24. Ichigo No Hana / Strawberry Flower

25. Shingeki no Kyojin

26. Shinobi No Mono

27. No Place Like Home

28. Osu No Seishin

29. Fix the roof before the rain; Dig the well before you are thirsty

30. Belief / Trust

31. Without a big net, how can you catch fish?

32. The Brave Have No Fears

33. Bravery / Courage

34. No Trouble / Freedom from Problems

35. Confidence / Faithful Heart

36. The Confident Helmsman Inspires Confidence in the Passengers

37. Bravery / Courage

38. Die Without Regret

39. Benevolent and Skilled Doctor

40. Electricity / Lightning

41. Fear No Evil

42. Fear No Man / Fear Nothing

43. Fire and Water Have No Mercy

44. Flower Open / Blooming Flower

45. Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall

46. Flowers Bloom and Flowers Wither

47. Flowers / Blooming / Splendid / China

48. Flowers Fall / The End Comes

49. Flowers

50. The Geisha’s World

51. In Flowers the Cherry Blossom, In Men the Samurai

52. Do No Harm / Harmless

53. Harusame / Spring Rain

54. Holding Flowers with Subtle Smile

55. No Place Like Home

56. No Surrender

57. Jasmine

58. Jasmine Flower

59. Lightning

60. Live Without Regret

61. Lotus

62. Mind Like Water

63. Mono no Aware

64. Namu Myoho Renge Kyo / Homage to Lotus Sutra

65. Never Give Up

66. Freedom from Anger and Worry Yields Longevity

67. No arrogance in victory, No despair in defeat

68. Fear not long roads; Fear only short ambition

69. Do not fear poverty; Fear low ambitions

70. Do not fear being slow, fear standing still

71. No Fear

72. There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger

73. No Mercy

74. There’s No Place Like Home

75. No Regrets

76. There is No Royal Road to Learning

77. No Worries

78. No Mind / Mushin

79. No Apologies

80. No Guts, No Glory

81. No one knows a son better than the father

82. The Sea of Knowledge Has No Limits

83. Opening / Blooming Flowers

84. No Pain No Gain

85. Undaunted After Repeated Setbacks

86. Preparation Yields No Fear or Worries

87. Rain

88. One who is drenched in rain does not fear drops of dew

89. Rain Drop

90. Rose Flowers Given, Frangrance Remains on Hands of Giver

91. Spare No Effort

92. Storm

93. Time and Tide Wait for No Man

94. Trust No One / Trust No Man

95. Tsuki no Kokoro / Mind like the Moon

96. Water Dragon / Rain Dragon

97. Overcome: Regardless of the Rain and Wind

98. Wind and Rain

99. Wisteria / Wistaria

100. No Limitations

101. Endless / Without Limit

102. Kokoro no Heiwa

103. Kawa no Kami / River God

104. The Great Path has No Gate

105. Jiko no Kansei / Self-Completion

106. Kemo no Shin

107. Mujo no Kaze / Wind of Impermanence


No Rain No Flowers

 wú yù wú huā
No Rain No Flowers Scroll

無雨無花 means “No Rain, No Flowers” in Chinese.

No man knows what he owes to his parents until he comes to have children of his own

 ko wo motte shiru oya no on
No man knows what he owes to his parents until he comes to have children of his own Scroll

子を持って知る親の恩 literally translates as: Only after you have a baby, you would appreciate your parents (feel the way they do, etc).

This is a bit like the “walk a mile in another man's shoes” saying. Basically, it's about you cannot fully understand the plight of others until you experience it yourself. It also shows appreciation for the plight of parents.

This Japanese proverb can also be translated a few more ways:

No man knows what he owes to his parents till he comes to have children of his own.

One knows not what one owes to one's parents till one comes to have children of one's own.

Only after you have a baby, you will appreciate your parents or feel the way they do.

Only after becoming a parent yourself do you realize how much you owe [how indebted you are] to your own parents.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Honorable Death - No Surrender

 gyokusai shugi
Honorable Death - No Surrender Scroll

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.

Electricity / Lightning

 den ki
Electricity / Lightning Scroll

電氣 is the title for electricity in Japanese Kanji.

This can also be used to mean lightning in Japanese.


See Also:  Thunder | Power | Energy | Rain

Fear No Evil

 aku o osore nai
Fear No Evil Scroll

悪を恐れない is “Fear No Evil” in Japanese.

Japanese grammar and phrase construction is different than English, so this literally reads, “Evil Fear Not.”

The “evil” Kanji can also be translated as “wickedness.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Fearless / Daring

 dai tan fu teki
Fearless / Daring Scroll

大胆不敵 is a Japanese word that can mean a few things depending on how you read it.

Popular translations include fearless, audacity (the attitude of a) daredevil, or daring.

The first two Kanji create a word that means: bold, fearless, or daring; audacious.

The last two Kanji create a word meaning: no match for, cannot beat, daring, fearless, intrepid, bold, or tough.

As with many Japanese words, the two similar-meaning words work together to multiply the meaning and intensity of the whole 4-Kanji word.

Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall

 hana wa sa ki hana wa chi ru
Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall Scroll

花は咲き花は散る is a Japanese proverb about the cycle of life, or how things come and go in life.

This can be used to suggest that youth, fortune, and life can come and go (everything is temporary).


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

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.

Indomitable Spirit / Indomitable Attitude

Fukutsu no Seishin

 fu kutsu no sei shin
Indomitable Spirit / Indomitable Attitude Scroll

不屈の精神 is one of several versions or ways to write “Indomitable Spirit” in Japanese.

This one is the famous “Fukutsu no Seishin” phrase.

Bolt of Lightning / Lightning Attack

Tokkan

 tokkan
Bolt of Lightning / Lightning Attack Scroll

突貫 is a Japanese word that can be translated as lightning attack, charge, or rush.

It's about a fast run or attack at the speed of lightning.

Live Without Regret

 jinsei kui nashi
Live Without Regret Scroll

人生悔い無し is how to say “live without regrets” in Japanese.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.


See Also:  Live for Today

 oso re zu
No Fear Scroll

恐れず is probably the best way to express “No Fear” in Japanese.

The first Kanji and the following Hiragana character create a word that means: to fear, to be afraid of, frightened, or terrified.

The last Hiragana character serves to modify and negate the first word (put it in negative form). Basically, they carry a meaning like “without” or “keeping away.” 恐れず is almost like the English modifier “-less.”

Altogether, you get something like “Without Fear” or “Fearless.”

Here's an example of using this in a sentence: 彼女かのじょは思い切ったことを恐れずにやる。
Translation: She is not scared of taking big risks.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.


See Also:  Bravery | Courage

 nan de mo a ri
No Limits Scroll

何でもあり is a Japanese phrase meaning, no holds barred, anything goes, or no limits.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

 kou kai na shi
No Regrets Scroll

後悔無し is how to say “no regrets” in Japanese.


See Also:  Live for Today

No Pain No Gain

 itami naku shite erumono wa nashi
No Pain No Gain Scroll

痛みなくして得るものなし is a Japanese phrase that means “no pain, no gain.”

This suggests that with pain, a gain must follow.

The pain Kanji here can also be translated as sorrow or suffering. The gain can also mean profit, advantage, or benefit. In the Japanese Buddhist context, that gain Kanji can mean rebirth in paradise, entering nirvana.

The character breakdown:
痛みなく (itami naku) pain; ache; sore; grief; distress. The naku part adds the meaning of “a lot of” or “extended”
して (shite) and then. (indicates a causative expression; acts as a connective particle)
得る (eru) to get; to acquire; to obtain; to procure; to earn; to win; to gain; to secure; to attain.
もの (mono) conjunctive particle indicating a cause or reason.
なし (nashi) none of; -less; without; no.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

There is no pleasure without pain

No pain, no gain

 ku wa raku no tane
There is no pleasure without pain Scroll

苦は楽の種 is a Japanese proverb that means “One cannot have pleasure without pain.”

It's one of a few Japanese ways to say, “No pain, no gain.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Preparation Yields No Regrets

 sona e a re ba ure i na shi
Preparation Yields No Regrets Scroll

備え有れば憂い無し is as proverb that means “When you are well-prepared, you have nothing to regret” in Japanese.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

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.

Storm / Windstorm

Best for Japanese audience

 bào fēng
 baku fuu / bou fuu / arashi
Storm / Windstorm Scroll

暴風 is the Japanese Kanji and old Korean Hanja word for storm (can also mean gale, tempest, typhoon, hurricane, gale, violent wind, or windstorm - especially in Korean and Chinese).

If the meaning of storm is somehow significant to you, these are the Kanji you want.

The first Kanji means violent or sudden. The second Kanji means wind.

This also means storm in Chinese but more in regards to a wind storm than a general storm. It's about the same for this word in Korean.


See Also:  Rain | Wave | Wind

Time and Tide Wait for No Man

 kouinya no goto shi
Time and Tide Wait for No Man Scroll

光陰矢の如し is a Japanese proverb that means “time flies like an arrow.” It's very similar to the English idiom, “time and tide wait for no man,” or “life is short.”

The Kanji breakdown:
光陰 = Time (the cycle of light and dark).
[and an]
矢 = Arrow
の = are
如し = Alike


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Time Waits For No One

 sai getsu hito o ma ta zu
Time Waits For No One Scroll

歳月人を待たず is a Japanese idiom “Saigetsu hito o matazu” which means “Time waits for no one.”

Another way to put it is, “Time and tide stay for no man.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Trust No One / Trust No Man

 dare mo shin ji ru na
Trust No One / Trust No Man Scroll

誰も信じるな is as close as you can get to the phrase “trust no man” in Japanese, though no gender is specified.

The first two characters mean everyone or anyone but change to “no one” with the addition of a negative verb.

The third through fifth characters express the idea of believing in, placing trust in, confiding in, or having faith in.

The last character makes the sentence negative (without the last character, this would mean “trust everyone,” with that last character, it's “trust no one”).


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Have a Walking Stick at the Ready Before You Stumble

 koro ba nu saki no tsue
Have a Walking Stick at the Ready Before You Stumble Scroll

転ばぬ先の杖 is a Japanese proverb that literally translates as: Have a walking stick ready before stumbling.

This is similar to the English idiom, “A stitch in time saves nine.”

In simple terms, this means: Always being prepared in advance.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.


See Also:  Fix Roof Before the Rain; Dig the Well Before You Are Thirsty

Ichigo No Hana / Strawberry Flower

 ichigo no hana
Ichigo No Hana / Strawberry Flower Scroll

苺の花 is Ichigo No Hana or “Strawberry Flower” in Japanese.

Shingeki no Kyojin

 shingeki no kyojin
Shingeki no Kyojin Scroll

進撃の巨人 is the Shingeki no Kyojin or “Attack on Titan” in Japanese.

This literally means “Advancing Giants.”

Shinobi No Mono

 shinobi no mono
Shinobi No Mono Scroll

忍びの者 or “Shinobi no Mono” is a series of jidaigeki novels written by Tomoyoshi Murayama and the title of a movie and TV series.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

No Place Like Home

 kokyouboujigatashi
No Place Like Home Scroll

故郷忘じ難し is a Japanese proverb that means “there is no place like home” or “home is sweet to an exile.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Osu No Seishin

 o su no sei shin
Osu No Seishin Scroll

押忍の精神 is the name Osu No Seishin or “Spirit of Osu” in Japanese.

This Spirit of Osu is an essential concept in Karate. You will hear “Osu!” shouted in every Karate dojo which is not just a sign of respect and obedience to the Sensei but also means patience, determination, and perseverance. Shouting “Osu!” serves as a reminder to embody these qualities.

Fix the roof before the rain; Dig the well before you are thirsty

 bǔ lòu chèn tiān qíng wèi kě xiān jué jǐng
Fix the roof before the rain; Dig the well before you are thirsty Scroll

补漏趁天晴未渴先掘井 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: Mend the roof while the weather is fine, [and when you are] not yet thirsty, dig the well beforehand.

In simple terms, this means: Always being prepared in advance.


See Also:  Have a Walking Stick at the Ready Before You Stumble

Belief / Trust

 xìn rèn
 shinnin
Belief / Trust Scroll

信任 means belief or trust in Chinese characters, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji.

It can also mean having confidence in or credence.

Without a big net, how can you catch fish?

 bù sā dà wǎng bù dé dà yú
Without a big net, how can you catch fish? Scroll

不撒大網不得大魚 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: [if one does] not cast a big net, [one can] not get big fish.

Figuratively, this means: One cannot make great accomplishments without making great efforts or taking great pains.

This is sort of the fishing version of, “No pain, no gain.”

The Brave Have No Fears

 yǒng zhě bú jù
 yuu sha fu ku
The Brave Have No Fears Scroll

This proverb means “Brave people [are] without fear,” or “The brave are without fear.”

勇者不懼 is a proverb credited to Confucius. It's one of three phrases in a set of things he said.

This phrase is originally Chinese but has penetrated Japanese culture as well (many Confucian phrases have) back when Japan borrowed Chinese characters into their language.


This phrase has also been converted into modern Japanese grammar when written as 勇者は懼れず. If you want this version just click on those characters.


See Also:  No Fear

Bravery / Courage

Courage in the face of Fear

 yǒng gǎn
 yuu kan
Bravery / Courage Scroll

勇敢 is about courage or bravery in the face of fear.

You do the right thing even when it is hard or scary. When you are courageous, you don't give up. You try new things. You admit mistakes. This kind of courage is the willingness to take action in the face of danger and peril.

勇敢 can also be translated as braveness, valor, heroic, fearless, boldness, prowess, gallantry, audacity, daring, dauntless, and/or courage in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. This version of bravery/courage can be an adjective or a noun. The first character means bravery and courage by itself. The second character means “daring” by itself. The second character emphasizes the meaning of the first but adds the idea that you are not afraid of taking a dare, and you are not afraid of danger.

勇敢 is more about brave behavior and not so much the mental state of being brave. You'd more likely use this to say, “He fought courageously in the battle,” rather than “He is very courageous.”

Bravery / Courage

Single Character for Courage

 yǒng
 isamu / yu-
 
Bravery / Courage Scroll

勇 can be translated as bravery, courage, valor, or fearless in Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

勇 is the simplest form to express courage or bravery, as there is also a two-character form that starts with this same character.

勇 can also be translated as brave, daring, fearless, plucky, or heroic.


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


See Also:  Bravery | Courage

No Trouble / Freedom from Problems

 wú shì
 buji
No Trouble / Freedom from Problems Scroll

無事 is a Zen Buddhist term meaning no problem and no trouble.

無事 is the Zen state of perfect freedom from troubles and leaving secular affairs behind.

Sometimes this is used to describe the state of satori and complete tranquility of mind.

Written as 無事に with an extra Hiragana at the end, this becomes an adverb to describe something in the condition of safety, peace, quietness, and without troubles.

無事 (Buji) can also be a given name in Japan.

This has more meaning in the Japanese Zen Buddhist community than in China or Korea, where it can mean “be free” or “nothing to do or worry about.”

Confidence / Faithful Heart

 xìn xīn
 shin jin
Confidence / Faithful Heart Scroll

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.”


See Also:  Self-Confidence

The Confident Helmsman Inspires Confidence in the Passengers

 bǎ tuò de bù huāng chéng chuán de wěn dang
The Confident Helmsman Inspires Confidence in the Passengers Scroll

把舵的不慌乘船的稳当 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: [If the] helmsman is not nervous, the passengers [will feel] secure.

Figuratively, this means: If the leader appears confident, his/her followers will gain confidence also.

This is a great suggestion that a confident leader inspires confidence in his/her troops or followers. Of course, a nervous leader will create fear in troops or followers.

Bravery / Courage

Courageous Energy

 yǒng qì
 yuuki
Bravery / Courage Scroll

勇氣 is one of several ways to express bravery and courage in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

This version is the most spiritual. This is the essence of bravery from deep within your being. This is the mental state of being brave versus actual brave behavior. You'd more likely use this to say, “He is very courageous,” rather than “He fought courageously in the battle.”

The first character also means bravery or courage when it's seen alone. With the second character added, an element of energy or spirit is added. The second character is the same “chi” or “qi” energy that Kung Fu masters focus on when they strike. For this reason, you could say this means “spirit of courage” or “brave spirit.”

This is certainly a stronger word than just the first character alone.

Beyond bravery or courage, dictionaries also translate this word as valor/valour, nerve, audacity, daring, pluck, plucky, gallantry, guts, gutsy, and boldness.

This is also one of the 8 key concepts of tang soo do.


Japanese 気 While the version shown to the left is commonly used in Chinese and Korean Hanja (and ancient Japanese Kanji), please note that the second character is written with slightly fewer strokes in modern Japanese. If you want the modern Japanese version, please click on the character to the right. Both styles would be understood by native Chinese, Japanese, and many (but not all) Korean people. You should make your selection based on the intended audience for your calligraphy artwork. Or pick the single-character form of bravery/courage which is universal.

Die Without Regret

 sǐ ér wú huǐ
Die Without Regret Scroll

死而無悔 is how to say “die with no regrets” in Mandarin Chinese.

This proverb comes from the Analects of Confucius.


See Also:  No Regrets

Benevolent and Skilled Doctor

 miào shǒu rén xīn xuán hú jì shì
Benevolent and Skilled Doctor Scroll

妙手仁心悬壶济世 is a phrase that celebrates the benevolence, skill, and service to his/her patients.

Here's a breakdown of the characters:
妙手 miào shǒu admirable skill in curing disease (when used in reference to doctors).
仁心 rén xīn kindheartedness, charity, benevolent heart.
悬壶济世 xuán hú jì shì practice medicine or pharmacy to help the people or the public.

Benevolent and Skilled Doctor

Short version

 miào shǒu rén xīn
Benevolent and Skilled Doctor Scroll

妙手仁心 is a phrase that celebrates the benevolence, skill, and service to his/her patients.

Here's a breakdown of the characters:
妙手 miào shǒu is an admirable skill in curing disease (when referring to doctors).
仁心 rén xīn kindheartedness, charity, benevolent heart.

Electricity / Lightning

 diàn
 den
 
Electricity / Lightning Scroll

電 is the title for electricity in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

While this character means electric or electricity, it can also be used to mean lightning.


Note: This Kanji is not usually used alone like this in Japanese.


See Also:  Thunder | Power | Energy | Rain

Fear No Evil

 bú pà xié è
Fear No Evil Scroll

不怕邪惡 literally means “no fear of evil” in Chinese.

Chinese grammar and word order are a little different than English. 不怕邪惡 is the best way to write something that means “fear no evil” in Chinese.

The first character means “not,” “don't” or “no.”
The second means “fear.”
The last two mean “evil” but can also be translated as sinister, vicious, wickedness, or just “bad.”

Fear No Man / Fear Nothing

 wú suǒ wèi jù
Fear No Man / Fear Nothing Scroll

無所畏懼 means “fear nothing,” but it's the closest thing in Chinese to the phrase “fear no man” which many of you have requested.

This would also be the way to say “fear nobody” and can be translated simply as “undaunted.”

Fire and Water Have No Mercy

 shuǐ huǒ wú qíng
Fire and Water Have No Mercy Scroll

水火無情 is a Chinese proverb that means “fire [and] water have-not mercy.”

This serves to remind us that the forces of nature are beyond human control.

Some may also translate this as “implacable fate.”

Flower Open / Blooming Flower

 huā kāi
Flower Open / Blooming Flower Scroll

These two characters mean “flower open.”

花開 is also associated with Springtime, the beginning of something, or youth.

花開 is often followed by 花落 or “flower falls” (closes and loses its petals) which means “Things come and go” or “Youth comes and goes.”

If you like flowers and Springtime, this is a great selection for you. However, if you want the companion “flower falls” (flower withers), we offer that as a companion wall scroll or all together as a four-character phrase.


See Also:  Flowers Fall

Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall

 huā kāi huā luò
Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall Scroll

花開花落 is a complete proverb that lightly speaks of the cycle of life, or how things come and go in life.

This is used as a metaphor to suggest that youth is a temporary state that in time will pass.

This can also be used to suggest that fortunes can come and go (everything is temporary).

Note: There are two very similar versions of this proverb. The other uses a word that means wither instead of fall.

Flowers Bloom and Flowers Wither

 huā kāi huā xiè
Flowers Bloom and Flowers Wither Scroll

花開花謝 is a complete proverb that lightly speaks of the cycle of life, or how things come and go in life.

This is used as a metaphor to suggest that youth is a temporary state, which in time, will pass.

This proverb can be used to suggest that fortunes can come and go (everything is temporary).

Note: There are two very similar versions of this proverb. The other uses a word that means fall instead of wither.

Flowers / Blooming / Splendid / China

 huá
 ririka
 
Flowers / Blooming / Splendid / China Scroll

華 means blooming flowers or splendid China.

華 is really open to interpretation. 華 meant flowers or blooming in ancient China. It still has that meaning in Japanese, and Buddhist contexts.

In modern China, this means glorious, beautiful, splendid, magnificent, or the best part of something. It can also refer to the country of China or something Chinese (such as people - overseas Chinese are often called “hua ren”). 華 is also a surname in China.

In Japanese, this can be the female given name “Ririka.” It's also the short name for a certain kind of playing cards in Japan.

In Korean, This can be the surname “Hwa.” While it also means splendid, flowery, or the country of China in Korean.

Flowers Fall / The End Comes

 huā sà
Flowers Fall / The End Comes Scroll

花落 means flower fall (closes and loses its petals).

It suggests nearing the end of something. A time that some might call “The sunset of life.” 花落 often follows 花開 or “flower open” to talk of the cycle of life.

We offer this as a possible companion to a “flower open” scroll (to be placed side by side or at either side of a doorway to say “things come and go” - a cool metaphor for a doorway). If placed in a doorway, it could be used to suggest to your guests that things bloom when they arrive through your door but wither when they leave (a great compliment).


See Also:  Flowers Bloom

Flowers

(family name)

 fú láo ěr sī
Flowers Scroll

弗勞爾斯 is the transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the family name Flowers.


This sounds like "Flowers" in Mandarin Chinese but does not mean flowers in any way, shape or form. I strongly suggest the single character which means "flower" in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.


See Also:  Flower

The Geisha’s World

 huā liǔ jiè
 karyuukai
The Geisha’s World Scroll

花柳界 literally means “Flower Willow World/Kingdom.”

In Japanese, this means “The Realm of the Geisha” or “World of the Geisha.” I suppose there is a presumption that the Geisha is surrounded by flowers in their residence. In Chinese and Korean, this pretty much has colloquially come to mean “The Red Light District” or to refer to pimps, prostitutes, and johns as a group.

In Flowers the Cherry Blossom, In Men the Samurai

 hana wa sakuragi hito wa bushi
In Flowers the Cherry Blossom, In Men the Samurai Scroll

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.

Do No Harm / Harmless

 bù hài
 fu gai
Do No Harm / Harmless Scroll

不害 is a Buddhist term that comes from the Sanskrit “ahiṃsā” meaning harmlessness, not injuring or doing harm to no one.

Harusame / Spring Rain

 chūn yǔ
 harusame
Harusame / Spring Rain Scroll

春雨 is a Japanese name that means gentle spring rain or gift from above.

It has the same meaning (and can be a given name) in Chinese.

Holding Flowers with Subtle Smile

An idiom for heart-to-heart communication

 niān huá wēi xiào
 nenge misho
Holding Flowers with Subtle Smile Scroll

拈華微笑 is a Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Buddhist title that relays the idea of “heart-to-heart communication,” or “thought transference.”

The literal translation is, “holding a flower and subtly smiling,” or “the holding of a flower with a subtle smile.” It is the visual act and emotion that communicates more volume than words can say.

No Place Like Home

 zài jiā qiān rì hǎo chū mén yì shí nán
No Place Like Home Scroll

在家千日好出门一时难 is a Chinese proverb that literally means “At home, one can spend a thousand days in comfort but spending a day away from home can be challenging.”

Figuratively, this means “There's no place like home,” or roughly a Chinese version of “Home sweet home.”

No Surrender

Honor Does Not Allow Second Thoughts

 yì wú fǎn gù
No Surrender Scroll

義無反顧 is a Chinese proverb that can be translated in a few different ways. Here are some examples:

Honor does not allow one to glance back.
Duty-bound not to turn back.
No surrender.
To pursue justice with no second thoughts.
Never surrender your principles.

This proverb is about the courage to do what is right without questioning your decision to take the right and just course.

 mò lì
 matsu ri
Jasmine Scroll

This is the title for “Jasmine” in Chinese.

This title is also used in Japanese but for a specific species known as “Arabian jasmine” (Jasminum sambac).

You will also find a longer version of this title. The longer version just adds a third character which means “flower.” This one is just “jasmine” in Chinese, and the short form of “Arabian jasmine” in Japanese.

Jasmine Flower

 mò lì huā
 ma ri ka
Jasmine Flower Scroll

茉莉花 is the title for “Jasmine Flower” in Chinese.

This title is rarely used in Japanese for a specific species known as “Arabian jasmine” (Jasminum sambac).
Japanese will more commonly write ジャスミンの花 (jyasumin no hana).

 shǎn diàn
Lightning Scroll

閃電 is the title for lightning in Chinese.

The first character means flash, dodge, or get out of the way. In this case, it's the “flash” meaning. Sometimes this character can be used to mean lightning by itself.

The second character means electricity.


See Also:  Thunder | Rain | Storm

Live Without Regret

 shēng ér wú huǐ
Live Without Regret Scroll

生而無悔 is how to say “live without regrets” in Mandarin Chinese.


Note: There is some debate about whether this makes sense in Japanese. It would be read, "nama ji mu ke," and be understood in Japanese. But, a Japanese person will probably think it’s Chinese (not Japanese).


See Also:  Live for Today

 hé huā
Lotus Scroll

荷花 is one of two ways to write/say “lotus” or “lily” in Chinese.

It will make a nice wall scroll if you are fond of lotus flowers and/or lotuses have a special meaning to you.

 lián
 hasu
Lotus Scroll

蓮 is another name for “lotus.”

This happens to be a single character that expresses “lotus” in Chinese, and the common name of “lotus” in Japanese and Korean (note that there are two ways to pronounce this character in Korean).

Mind Like Water

Mizu No Kokoro

 mizu no kokoro
Mind Like Water Scroll

水の心 is the Japanese Buddhist and martial arts phrase, “Mizu no Kokoro,” which means “mind like water” or “heart of water.”

The phrase is a metaphor describing the pond that clearly reflects its surroundings when calm but whose images are obscured once a pebble is dropped into its waters.

Mono no Aware

 mono no awa-re
Mono no Aware Scroll

This translates as “the pathos of things,” “an empathy toward things,” or “a sensitivity to ephemera.”

物の哀れ is a Japanese proverb for the awareness of impermanence, or transience of things.

Both things and the emotions about those things do not last forever.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo / Homage to Lotus Sutra

 nán wú miào fǎ lián huá jīng
 na mu myou hou ren ge kyou
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo / Homage to Lotus Sutra Scroll

南無妙法蓮華經 is sometimes translated as the “Devotion to the Law of the Lotus Flower Scripture.”

This is a meditation chant and homage to the Lotus Sutra, used by Nichiren Buddhists in Japan.
This is also a chant used in China by certain sects of Buddhism that celebrate the deity Guanyin.

Also romanized as “Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō” or without accents as “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.”


經
Original
Traditional
Version

The last character was originally written as seen on the left. Sometimes, you will see it written in the Japanese variant form as shown on the right. If you want this Japanese variant, click on the "Modern Japanese Variant" text instead of the button up by the main title of this entry.

Never Give Up

 yǒng bù fàng qì
Never Give Up Scroll

The first character means “eternal” or “forever,” and the second means “not” (together, they mean “never”). The last two characters mean “give up” or “abandon.” Altogether, you can translate this proverb as “never give up” or “never abandon.”

Depending on how you want to read this, 永不放棄 is also a statement that you will never abandon your hopes, dreams, family, or friends.


See Also:  Undaunted | No Fear | Hope

Freedom from Anger and Worry Yields Longevity

 bù qì bù chóu huó dào bái tóu
Freedom from Anger and Worry Yields Longevity Scroll

不气不愁活到白头 is a Chinese proverb that means “Without anger or worry, you will have a long life, until after all your hair is white.”

It more literally reads, “Don't get angry or worried [and you will] live [long] till [all your] hair [becomes] white.”

No arrogance in victory, No despair in defeat

 shèng bù jiāo bài bù něi
No arrogance in victory, No despair in defeat Scroll

勝不驕敗不餒 is a Chinese proverb suggesting you should have no arrogance when you experience a victory and not despair in failure or defeat.

Fear not long roads; Fear only short ambition

 bú pà lù yuǎn zhǐ pà zhì duǎn
Fear not long roads; Fear only short ambition Scroll

不怕路遠隻怕志短 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as “Fear not long roads; fear only short ambition,” or “Don't fear that the road is long, only fear that your will/ambition/aspiration is short.”

Figuratively, this means: However difficult the goal is, one can achieve it as long as one is determined to do so.

Others may translate the meaning as “Don't let a lack of willpower stop you from pressing onward in your journey.”

Do not fear poverty; Fear low ambitions

 bú pà rén qióng zhǐ pà zhì duǎn
Do not fear poverty; Fear low ambitions Scroll

不怕人窮隻怕志短 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: It is not poverty that is to be feared; It is low ambition.

Figuratively, this means: It is not poverty but a lack of lofty aspiration that is to be regretted.

Do not fear being slow, fear standing still

 bú pà màn jiù pà zhàn
Do not fear being slow, fear standing still Scroll

不怕慢就怕站 is a Chinese proverb that translates as: Don't worry about being slow; only worry about standing still.

Figuratively, this means: A slow progress holds some promise but to stand still promises failure.

No Fear

(2 characters)

 wú wèi
 mui
No Fear Scroll

無畏 literally means “No Fear.” But perhaps not the most natural Chinese phrase (see our other “No Fear” phrase for a complete thought). However, this two-character version of “No Fear” seems to be a very popular way to translate this into Chinese when we checked Chinese Google.

Note: This also means “No Fear” in Japanese and Korean, but this character pair is not often used in Japan or Korea.

This term appears in various Chinese dictionaries with definitions like “without fear,” intrepidity, fearless, dauntless, and bold.

In the Buddhist context, this is a word derived from the word Abhaya, meaning: Fearless, dauntless, secure, nothing, and nobody to fear. Also, from vīra meaning: courageous, bold.


See Also:  Never Give Up | No Worries | Undaunted | Bravery | Courage | Fear No Man

No Fear

(four-character version)

 yǒng zhě wú wèi
No Fear Scroll

勇者無畏 is a complete sentence that means “Brave People Have No Fear” or “A Brave Person Has No Fear” (plural or singular is not implied).

We translated “No Fear” into the two variations that you will find on our website. Then we checked Chinese Google and found that others had translated “No Fear” in the exact same ways. Pick the one you like best. A great gift for your fearless friend.


See Also:  Fear No Man

There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger

 wú yī shì zhǔ wéi yǒu ān lā mù hǎn mò dé shì ān lā de chāi shǐ
There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger Scroll

無一是主惟有安拉穆罕默德是安拉的差使 is one of the key creeds of Islam.

While perhaps more often seen in Arabic as
There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger
there are many native Chinese Muslims (especially the Hui ethnicity) that do not speak Arabic.

Instead, they use this Chinese phrase to express this idea or statement of faith.

 wú qíng
 mujou
No Mercy Scroll

無情 is a terrible phrase for a calligraphy wall scroll. I'm not even sure any of my calligraphers will write this. It's just that many people have searched my website for “no mercy.”

This word means pitiless, ruthless, merciless, heartless, heartlessness, hardness, cruelty, or ruthless.

In the context of Buddhism, this is used to describe something or someone that is non-sentient (inhuman or without feeling).

There’s No Place Like Home

 jīn wō yín wō bù rú zì jǐ de gǒu wō
There’s No Place Like Home Scroll

金窝银窝不如自己的狗窝 is a Chinese slang proverb that means “Golden house, [or a] silver house, not as good as my own dog house.”

It's basically saying that even a house made of gold or silver is not as good as my own home (which may only be suitable for a dog but at least it's mine).

 wú huǐ
 mu ke
No Regrets Scroll

無悔 is how to say “no regrets” in Mandarin Chinese.

This also makes sense in Japanese, though not the most common way to express “no regrets” in Japanese.


See Also:  Live for Today

There is No Royal Road to Learning

 qiú xué wú tǎn tú
There is No Royal Road to Learning Scroll

求學無坦途 is a Chinese proverb that translates as “There is no royal road to learning.”

This suggests that the path of learning can never be smooth, there will be difficulties and troubles along the way.


See Also:  Learning is Eternal

 fàng xīn
 houshin
No Worries Scroll

My Australian friends always say, “No worries, mate.” It's caught on with me, though I drop the “mate” part since it confuses my fellow Americans.

If you would like to express the idea of “no worries,” 放心 is the best and most natural way to say it in Chinese.

The characters you see to the left can be translated as “put your mind at rest” or “to be at ease.” You could literally translate “no worries,” but it doesn't “flow” like this simple Chinese version.

For your info, the first character means to release, to free, to let go, to relax, or to rest. The second character means your heart or your mind.

Note that in Japanese and Korean, this holds the similar meaning of “peace of mind” but can also mean absentmindedness or carelessness, depending on context.

No Mind / Mushin

 wú xīn
 mu shin
No Mind / Mushin Scroll

In Japanese, 無心 means innocent or without knowledge of good and evil. It literally means “without mind.”

無心 is one of the five spirits of the warrior (budo) and is often used as a Japanese martial arts tenet. Under that context, places such as the Budo Dojo define it this way: “No mind, a mind without ego. A mind like a mirror which reflects and dos not judge.” The original term was “mushin no shin,” meaning “mind of no mind.” It is a state of mind without fear, anger, or anxiety. Mushin is often described by the phrase “Mizu no Kokoro,” which means “mind like water.” The phrase is a metaphor describing the pond that clearly reflects its surroundings when calm but whose images are obscured once a pebble is dropped into its waters.

This has a good meaning in conjunction with Chan / Zen Buddhism in Japan. However, out of that context, it means mindlessness or absent-mindedness. To non-Buddhists in China, this is associated with doing something without thinking.
In Korean, this usually means indifference.

Use caution and know your audience before ordering this selection.


More info: Wikipedia: Mushin

No Apologies

 méi yǒu dào qiàn
No Apologies Scroll

沒有道歉 means “no apologies” or “without apologies” in Chinese.

This phrase is inappropriate for custom calligraphy and is for educational purposes only.

No Guts, No Glory

 wú yǒng bù róng
No Guts, No Glory Scroll

While difficult to translate “No guts no glory,” into Mandarin Chinese, 無勇不榮 is kind of close.

The first two characters mean “without bravery,” or “without courage.” In this case, bravery/courage is a stand-in for “guts.”

The last two characters mean “no glory.”

The idea that guts (internal organs) are somehow equal to courage, does not crossover to Chinese. However, translating the phrase back from Chinese to English, you get, “No Courage, No Glory,” which is pretty close to the intended idea.

No one knows a son better than the father

 zhī zǐ mò ruò fù
No one knows a son better than the father Scroll

知子莫若父 can be translated as “No one knows a son better than his father.”

This idiom is based on the idea that after spending many years together, family members know everything about each other. Better than anyone else, a father knows the qualities and shortcomings of his son.

If you are looking for something about “father and son,” this is probably the best selection.

While this is the original proverb (very old), others have been composed about various combinations of mothers, sons, daughters, and fathers. Let me know if you need a custom version.

The Sea of Knowledge Has No Limits

 xué hǎi wú yá
The Sea of Knowledge Has No Limits Scroll

學海無涯 is a Chinese proverb that reads, “sea of learning, no horizon.”

Colloquially, it means there are no limits to what one still has left to learn.

This would be the Chinese equivalent to the quote from Hippocrates, “ars longa, vita brevis,” meaning “it takes a long time to acquire and perfect one's expertise.”


See Also:  Learning is Eternal

Opening / Blooming Flowers

 kāi huā
 kai ka
Opening / Blooming Flowers Scroll

開花 literally means opening flowers (a verb).

開花 is also associated with Springtime, the beginning of something, or youth.

If you like flowers and Springtime, this is a great selection for you.

In Korean Hanja, this can be a metaphor for achieving enlightenment or becoming civilized (blooming civilization).


See Also:  Flowers Fall

No Pain No Gain

Literally: No Pain, No Strength

 bú tòng bù qiáng
No Pain No Gain Scroll

不痛不強 is a proverb that is close to our idea of “no pain, no gain” in English. It holds this meaning in the context of working out at the gym etc.

不痛不強 means “no pain, no strength,” meaning that if you don't experience a little pain, you will not gain any strength.

Undaunted After Repeated Setbacks

Persistence to overcome all challenges

 bǎi zhé bù náo
 hyaku setsu su tou
Undaunted After Repeated Setbacks Scroll

百折不撓 is a Chinese proverb that means “Be undaunted in the face of repeated setbacks.”

More directly translated, it reads, “[Overcome] a hundred setbacks, without flinching.” 百折不撓 is of Chinese origin but is commonly used in Japanese and somewhat in Korean (same characters, different pronunciation).

This proverb comes from a long, and occasionally tragic story of a man that lived sometime around 25-220 AD. His name was Qiao Xuan, and he never stooped to flattery but remained an upright person at all times. He fought to expose the corruption of higher-level government officials at great risk to himself.

Then when he was at a higher level in the Imperial Court, bandits were regularly capturing hostages and demanding ransoms. But when his own son was captured, he was so focused on his duty to the Emperor and the common good that he sent a platoon of soldiers to raid the bandits' hideout, and stop them once and for all even at the risk of his own son's life. While all of the bandits were arrested in the raid, they killed Qiao Xuan's son at first sight of the raiding soldiers.

Near the end of his career, a new Emperor came to power, and Qiao Xuan reported to him that one of his ministers was bullying the people and extorting money from them. The new Emperor refused to listen to Qiao Xuan and even promoted the corrupt Minister. Qiao Xuan was so disgusted that in protest, he resigned from his post as minister (something almost never done) and left for his home village.

His tombstone reads “Bai Zhe Bu Nao” which is now a proverb used in Chinese culture to describe a person of strong will who puts up stubborn resistance against great odds.

My Chinese-English dictionary defines these 4 characters as “keep on fighting despite all setbacks,” “be undaunted by repeated setbacks,” and “be indomitable.”

Our translator says it can mean “never give up” in modern Chinese.

Although the first two characters are translated correctly as “repeated setbacks,” the literal meaning is “100 setbacks” or “a rope that breaks 100 times.” The last two characters can mean “do not yield” or “do not give up.”
Most Chinese, Japanese, and Korean people will not take this absolutely literal meaning but will instead understand it as the title suggests above. If you want a single big word definition, it would be indefatigability, indomitableness, persistence, or unyielding.


See Also:  Tenacity | Fortitude | Strength | Perseverance | Persistence

Preparation Yields No Fear or Worries

 yǒu bèi wú huàn
Preparation Yields No Fear or Worries Scroll

有備無患 means “When you are well-prepared, you have nothing to fear.”

Noting that the third character means “no” or “without” and modifies the last... The last character can mean misfortune, troubles, worries, or fears. It could even be stretched to mean sickness. Therefore you can translate this proverb in a few ways. I've also seen it translated as “Preparedness forestalls calamities.”

有備無患 is comparable to the English idiom, “Better safe than sorry,” but does not directly/literally mean this.

 yǔ
 ame
 
Rain Scroll

雨 is how to write “rain” in Chinese. If rain is your name or has some significance to you in your life, this is the character you want.

If your name is Varṣā or Varsha, this is how your name translates into Chinese.


See Also:  Storm | Water | Wave

One who is drenched in rain does not fear drops of dew

 bèi yǔ lín guò de rén bù pà lù shuǐ
One who is drenched in rain does not fear drops of dew Scroll

被雨淋過的人不怕露水 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as “One who has been drenched by the rain is not afraid of dew drops.”

Figuratively, this means:
One who has gone through hardships is not afraid of (minor)setbacks.

 yǔ dī
 uteki
Rain Drop Scroll

雨滴 is the Chinese and Japanese Kanji for “raindrop” or “raindrops.”

Rose Flowers Given, Frangrance Remains on Hands of Giver

 zèng rén méi guī shǒu liú yú xiāng
Rose Flowers Given, Frangrance Remains on Hands of Giver Scroll

赠人玫瑰手留余香 is a proverb that has been translated several ways:

1. Roses given, fragrance in hand.

2. You present others roses, and the fragrance remains.

3. The fragrance of the rose always remains on the hand of those that bestow them.

4. A little bit of fragrance always clings to the hands which gives the flowers

However, this literally translates as “Give someone rose flowers, [your] hands keep [the] remaining fragrance.”

Spare No Effort

 bù yí yú lì
Spare No Effort Scroll

不遺餘力 is a Chinese proverb that can be translated in many ways. Here are some of them: go to any lengths; with all one's might; spare no pain; do one's utmost.

If you feel hard work and holding nothing back is your philosophy, this is the phrase for you.

 fēng bào
Storm Scroll

風暴 is the Chinese word for storm.

If the meaning of storm is somehow important or significant to you, these are the characters you want.

The first character means wind, and the second means violent or sudden.


Note: This would be understood in Korean Hanja, however, Koreans would generally use these characters in reverse order.


See Also:  Rain | Wave

Time and Tide Wait for No Man

 suì bù wǒ yǔ
Time and Tide Wait for No Man Scroll

歲不我與 is a Chinese proverb that means is a way to express, “Time and tide wait for no man.”

The literal meaning of these Chinese characters is, “Years don't [for] oneself wait.” In more natural English, it's more like, “Years will pass by, with or without you.”

There is also an alternate version, 时不我待, which literally means “Time doesn't [for] oneself, wait.” In natural English, it's more like, “Time waits for no man.”

Trust No One / Trust No Man

 wú fǎ xìn rèn
Trust No One / Trust No Man Scroll

無法信任 is the kind of thing you expect to hear in a spy movie.

“Trust no one, 007!”

The first two characters express the idea of “no way” or “cannot.”

The last two characters mean “trust.”

The characters must go in this order due to Chinese grammar issues and in order to sound natural.

Note: This is not an ancient Chinese phrase by any means. It's just that we received a lot of requests for this phrase.

This is as close as you can get to the phrase “trust no man,” though technically, no gender is specified.

Tsuki no Kokoro / Mind like the Moon

 tsuki no kokoro
Tsuki no Kokoro / Mind like the Moon Scroll

月の心 means “Mind like the Moon” or, more directly translated, “Moon of Mind.”

月の心 is a phrase used in Zen Buddhism and some Japanese martial arts.

Water Dragon / Rain Dragon

 jiāo
 kou ryuu
Water Dragon / Rain Dragon Scroll

蛟龍 is the title for the water dragon is the hornless or scaled dragon. 蛟龍 is the king of all aquatic animals with the ability to control rain and floods.

In Japanese, the rain dragon can represent hidden genius. This dragon's domain is the deep murky water, thus with hidden potential. This can also be the Japanese given name Kouryuu.

Overcome: Regardless of the Rain and Wind

 fēng yǔ wú zǔ
Overcome: Regardless of the Rain and Wind Scroll

風雨無阻 is a proverb that is often translated as “Go ahead as planned regardless of the weather” or, “[Overcome] despite the rain and wind.”

This is a Chinese proverb that suggests that you are willing (or should be willing) to overcome any adversity, and accomplish your task at hand.

There is a second/optional part to this phrase that suggests that you should do this together with someone (see our other 8-character version if you want the full phrase).

Wind and Rain

 fēng yǔ
 fuu-u
Wind and Rain Scroll

風雨 is wind and rain in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

This can also refer to the elements of trials and hardships (in life).

Wisteria / Wistaria

 zǐ téng
Wisteria / Wistaria Scroll

紫藤 is the Chinese name for the climbing woody vines of the genus Wisteria in the pea family featuring purplish or white flowers.

No Limitations

 màn lán
 man ran
No Limitations Scroll

漫瀾 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja for “Having no boundaries or limitations.”

This literally talks of the vastness of an ocean or river.

Character breakdown:
漫 = free; unrestrained; to inundate; overflowing; boundless.
澜 = swelling water; large wave.

Endless / Without Limit

 wú jìn
 mu jin
Endless / Without Limit Scroll

無盡 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja for endless; inexhaustible; without limits; infinite.

In the Buddhist context, this can refer to the infinitude of living beings, of worlds, of space, of the dharmadhātu, of nirvāṇa, etc.

Kokoro no Heiwa

 kokoro no heiwa
Kokoro no Heiwa Scroll

心の平和 means “heart of peace” or “peaceful heart” in Japanese.

Kawa no Kami / River God

 kawa no kami
Kawa no Kami / River God Scroll

川の神 is the title of Kawa no Kami - a River deity of Japanese folklore.

The Great Path has No Gate

 dà dào wú mén
 dai dou mu mon
The Great Path has No Gate Scroll

大道無門 is a Buddhist proverb that means “The Great Way has no entrance,” “The Great Way is gateless,” or “The Great Path lacks a gate.”

This can be translated in many other ways.

This concept was authored within a long sacred text by 無門慧開 (known as Wúmén Huìkāi in Chinese or Mumon Ekai in Japanese). He was a Chinese Chan Master (in Japanese, a Zen Master) who lived between 1183 and 1260 AD. His most famous work was a 48-koan collection titled “The Gateless Barrier” or “The Gateless Gate” (無門關 Wú Mén Guān in Chinese, or 無門関 Mu Mon Kan in Japanese). This calligraphy title is a notable line from this collection.


I like this reference to the source of this proverb: The Gateless Gate 無門關

Jiko no Kansei / Self-Completion

 ji ko no kan sei
Jiko no Kansei / Self-Completion Scroll

自己の完成 or Jiko no Kansei is a Japanese phrase that means self-completion, self-accomplishment, or self-perfection.

Kemo no Shin

 kemou no shin
Kemo no Shin Scroll

悕望の心 is “Kemō no Shin,” a Japanese Zen Buddhist word that means “The seeking mind” or “[Having] The mind to seek something.”

The first two characters mean longing for. The last two mean “of mind” or “of heart.” So, this is a mind that longs for or seeks knowledge, etc.

Mujo no Kaze / Wind of Impermanence

 mu jou no kaze
Mujo no Kaze / Wind of Impermanence Scroll

無常の風 is an old Japanese proverb that means the wind of impermanence or the wind of change in Japanese.

This can refer to the force that ends life, like the wind scattering a flower's petals. Life is yet another impermanent existence that is fragile, blown out like a candle.

The first two characters mean uncertainty, transiency, impermanence, mutability, variable, and/or changeable.

In some Buddhist contexts, 無常 can be analogous to a spirit departing at death (with a suggestion of the impermanence of life).

The last two characters mean “of wind” or a possessive like “wind of...” but Japanese grammar will have the wind come last in the phrase.




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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.