Fall Down Seven Times, Rise an Eighth - Japanese Proverb Giclee Print Scroll
98cm
38½"
46.4cm
18¼"

Approximate Measurements

Artwork Panel: 28.2cm x 36cm  ≈  11" x 14¼"

Silk/Brocade: 37.4cm x 98cm  ≈  14¾" x 38½"

Width at Wooden Knobs: 46.4cm  ≈  18¼"

Fall Down Seven Times, Rise an Eighth - Japanese Proverb Giclee Print Scroll close up view

Close up view of the artwork mounted to this silk brocade wall scroll

七転八起

Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight
Japanese Calligraphy Scroll

This Japanese proverb relays the vicissitudes of life. It relays the idea of always rising again after a fall or repeated failures. In the background is an Enso symbol or Zen Circle which reinforces the idea of the cycle that this proverb represents.

fiber paper This artwork was giclee printed on very special handmade "grass-leather paper". It has fibers and husks purposely pressed into the finished paper. The paper is quite expensive compared to typical Asian art papers, but the results are worth it.

The first Kanji is literally "7". The second means "fall down" (sometimes this Kanji means "turn around", "revolve" or "turn over", but in this case, it holds the meaning of "fall"). The third is "8". And the last is "get up", "rouse", or "rise".

Basically, if you fail 7 times, you should recover from those events and be prepared to rise an 8th time. This also applies if it is the world or circumstances that knock you down seven times...
...just remember that you have the ability to bounce back from any kind of adversity.

Note: This can be pronounced in two ways. One is "shichi ten hakki". The other is "nana korobi ya oki".