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Buy an 当 calligraphy wall scroll here!
Personalize your custom “当” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “当” title below...
1. Adam
2. Adao
3. Idan
4. Nidan
5. Adams
6. Adamson
7. Candance
8. Johnathan
9. Madonna
10. Sheridan
11. Wudang Fist
12. Adamski
13. Old, But More Vigorous in Spirit
14. Unbeatable
15. McAdams
16. To Know Hardship, One Must Experience It
17. If you have not been a monk, how can you know what it is like to be a vegetarian?
18. The Confident Helmsman Inspires Confidence in the Passengers
19. Galatians 5:25
20. Joshua 1:9
Age is just a number
老當益壯 is a Chinese proverb that means “old but vigorous” or “hale and hearty despite the years.”
Said of someone who is more spirited when he/she grows older.
The story behind this Chinese proverb:
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a man named Ma Yuan. He had been planning to herd animals on the frontier since he was young. When he grew up, Ma became a minor official of a county.
Once, he was sending some prisoners to another location. He felt pity for them, so he set them free, and then he fled to another county in the north. He herded animals there, and thus his dream came true. He always said: “If you want to be a great man, the poorer you are, the firmer in spirit you have to be; the older you are, the more spirited you should be.”
Later, when he was even older, Ma Yuan became a famous general of the Eastern Han Dynasty and contributed to many battles.
不當和尚不知頭冷 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: [One who has] not been a monk [does] not know [the feeling of a] cold head.
I need to explain that a Chinese Buddhist monk always has a shaved head, and thus a cold head in winter.
Figuratively, this means: One cannot know the true meaning of hardship until one has experienced it oneself.
This is an idiom in Chinese, so the figurative meaning is what people perceive when they hear or read this phrase. Just as in English, when someone says, "The grass is always greener," one will think about the idea of jealousy, rather than the quality of one’s lawn.
Only by experiencing hardship will allow you understand the plight of others
不當和尚不知齋戒苦 literally translates as:
[One who has] not been a monk [does not] know the suffering of [being on a] vegetarian diet.
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.
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.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
我們若是靠聖靈得生就當靠聖靈行事 is the translation of Galatians 5:25 into Mandarin Chinese via the Chinese Union Bible.
KJV: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
NIV: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The annotation of this Chinese translation:
1.我们 wǒ men - we / us / ourselves
2.若是 ruò shì - if
3.靠 kào - depend upon / lean on / near / by / against / to support
4.圣灵 shèng líng - Holy Ghost
5.得 děi - to have to / must / ought to / degree or possibility
6.生就 shēng jiù - born one way or another (nervous, suspicious, etc.)
7.当 dàng - suitable / adequate / fitting / proper
8.靠 kào - depend upon / lean on / near / by / against / to support
9.圣灵 shèng líng - Holy Ghost
10.行事 xíng shì - how one does things / how one runs things (in this case, it suggests, “to walk in step with”)
Here is the full translation of Joshua 1:9 into Chinese.
The text with punctuation:
我岂没有吩咐你吗?你当刚强壮胆。不要惧怕,也不要惊惶。因为你无论往哪里去,耶和华你的神必与你同在。
Hand-painted calligraphy does not retain punctuation.
This translation comes from the 1919 Chinese Union Bible.
For reference, from the KJV, this reads, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your 当 search...
| Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
亞當 亚当 see styles |
yà dāng ya4 dang1 ya tang |
More info & calligraphy: Adao |
亞當斯 亚当斯 see styles |
yà dāng sī ya4 dang1 si1 ya tang ssu |
More info & calligraphy: Adams |
麥當娜 麦当娜 see styles |
mài dāng nà mai4 dang1 na4 mai tang na |
More info & calligraphy: Madonna |
老當益壯 老当益壮 see styles |
lǎo dāng yì zhuàng lao3 dang1 yi4 zhuang4 lao tang i chuang |
More info & calligraphy: Old, But More Vigorous in Spirit |
萬夫不當 万夫不当 see styles |
wàn fū bù dāng wan4 fu1 bu4 dang1 wan fu pu tang |
More info & calligraphy: UnbeatableSee: 万夫不当 |
噹 当 see styles |
dāng dang1 tang |
(onom.) dong; ding dong (bell) See: 当 |
当 see styles |
masaru まさる |
(prefix) (1) (See 当の) this; our; the ... in question; the said ...; (2) (See 当を得る) right; justice; fairness; (3) (abbreviation) (See 当座預金) checking account; (given name) Masaru |
當 当 see styles |
dàng dang4 tang atari あたり |
at or in the very same...; suitable; adequate; fitting; proper; to replace; to regard as; to think; to pawn; (coll.) to fail (a student) (surname) Atari Suitable, adequate, equal to; to bear, undertake; ought; proper; to regard as, as; to pawn, put in place of; at, in the future. |
上当 see styles |
kamitou / kamito かみとう |
(place-name, surname) Kamitou |
上當 上当 see styles |
shàng dàng shang4 dang4 shang tang uetou / ueto うえとう |
taken in (by sb's deceit); to be fooled; to be duped (surname) Uetou |
下当 see styles |
shimoto しもと |
(place-name) Shimoto |
不当 see styles |
futou / futo ふとう |
(noun or adjectival noun) unfair; unjust; wrongful; improper; unreasonable; unwarranted; unjustified; undeserved; undue |
不當 不当 see styles |
bù dàng bu4 dang4 pu tang futō |
unsuitable; improper; inappropriate inappropriate |
中当 see styles |
nakatou / nakato なかとう |
(place-name) Nakatou |
了當 了当 see styles |
liǎo dàng liao3 dang4 liao tang |
frank; outspoken; ready; settled; in order; (old) to deal with; to handle |
京当 see styles |
kyoutou / kyoto きょうとう |
(surname) Kyōtou |
人当 see styles |
hitoate ひとあて |
(place-name) Hitoate |
仙当 see styles |
sentou / sento せんとう |
(surname) Sentou |
仲当 see styles |
nakadou / nakado なかどう |
(place-name) Nakadou |
伊当 see styles |
itou / ito いとう |
Japanese huchen (Hucho perryi) (salmonoid fish found in Hokkaido that grows up to 1.5 meters); (place-name) Itou |
佐当 see styles |
satou / sato さとう |
(surname) Satou |
便當 便当 see styles |
biàn dāng bian4 dang1 pien tang |
convenient; handy; easy; bento (a meal in a partitioned box); lunchbox |
假當 假当 see styles |
jiǎ dāng jia3 dang1 chia tang ketō |
if |
停當 停当 see styles |
tíng dang ting2 dang5 t`ing tang ting tang |
settled; accomplished; ready; Taiwan pr. [ting2 dang4] |
允當 允当 see styles |
yǔn dàng yun3 dang4 yün tang |
proper; suitable |
充当 see styles |
juutou / juto じゅうとう |
(noun, transitive verb) allocation; appropriation |
充當 充当 see styles |
chōng dāng chong1 dang1 ch`ung tang chung tang |
to serve as; to act as; to play the role of See: 充当 |
光当 see styles |
mitsumasa みつまさ |
(given name) Mitsumasa |
兩當 两当 see styles |
liǎng dāng liang3 dang1 liang tang |
see 兩當縣|两当县[Liang3 dang1 Xian4] |
典當 典当 see styles |
diǎn dàng dian3 dang4 tien tang |
to pawn; pawnshop |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
| Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
| Adam | 亞當 亚当 | yà dāng / ya4 dang1 / ya dang / yadang | ya tang / yatang | |
| Adao | 亞當 亚当 | yà dāng / ya4 dang1 / ya dang / yadang | ya tang / yatang | |
| Idan | 依當 依当 | yī dāng / yi1 dang1 / yi dang / yidang | i tang / itang | |
| Nidan | 內當 内当 | nèi dāng / nei4 dang1 / nei dang / neidang | nei tang / neitang | |
| Adams | 亞當斯 亚当斯 | yà dāng sī ya4 dang1 si1 ya dang si yadangsi | ya tang ssu yatangssu |
|
| Adamson | 亞當森 亚当森 | yà dāng sēn ya4 dang1 sen1 ya dang sen yadangsen | ya tang sen yatangsen |
|
| Candance | 康當斯 康当斯 | kāng dāng sī kang1 dang1 si1 kang dang si kangdangsi | k`ang tang ssu kangtangssu kang tang ssu |
|
| Johnathan | 喬納當 乔纳当 | qiáo nà dāng qiao2 na4 dang1 qiao na dang qiaonadang | ch`iao na tang chiaonatang chiao na tang |
|
| Madonna | 麥當娜 麦当娜 | mài dāng nà mai4 dang1 na4 mai dang na maidangna | mai tang na maitangna |
|
| Sheridan | 雪力當 雪力当 | xuě lì dāng xue3 li4 dang1 xue li dang xuelidang | hsüeh li tang hsüehlitang |
|
| Wudang Fist | 武當拳 武当拳 | wǔ dāng quán wu3 dang1 quan2 wu dang quan wudangquan | wu tang ch`üan wutangchüan wu tang chüan |
|
| Adamski | 亞當斯基 亚当斯基 | yà dāng sī jī ya4 dang1 si1 ji1 ya dang si ji yadangsiji | ya tang ssu chi yatangssuchi |
|
| Old, But More Vigorous in Spirit | 老當益壯 老当益壮 | lǎo dāng yì zhuàng lao3 dang1 yi4 zhuang4 lao dang yi zhuang laodangyizhuang | lao tang i chuang laotangichuang |
|
| Unbeatable | 萬夫不當 万夫不当 | wàn fū bù dāng wan4 fu1 bu4 dang1 wan fu bu dang wanfubudang | wan fu pu tang wanfuputang |
|
| McAdams | 麥克亞當斯 麦克亚当斯 | mài kè yà dāng sī mai4 ke4 ya4 dang1 si1 mai ke ya dang si maikeyadangsi | mai k`o ya tang ssu maikoyatangssu mai ko ya tang ssu |
|
| To Know Hardship, One Must Experience It | 不當和尚不知頭冷 不当和尚不知头冷 | bù dāng hé shàng bù zhī tóu lěng bu4 dang1 he2 shang4 bu4 zhi1 tou2 leng3 bu dang he shang bu zhi tou leng | pu tang ho shang pu chih t`ou leng pu tang ho shang pu chih tou leng |
|
| If you have not been a monk, how can you know what it is like to be a vegetarian? | 不當和尚不知齋戒苦 不当和尚不知斋戒苦 | bù dāng hé shang bù zhī zhāi jiè kǔ bu4 dang1 he2 shang bu4 zhi1 zhai1 jie4 ku3 bu dang he shang bu zhi zhai jie ku | pu tang ho shang pu chih chai chieh k`u pu tang ho shang pu chih chai chieh ku |
|
| The Confident Helmsman Inspires Confidence in the Passengers | 把舵的不慌乘船的穩當 把舵的不慌乘船的稳当 | bǎ tuò de bù huāng chéng chuán de wěn dang ba3 tuo4 de bu4 huang1 cheng2 chuan2 de wen3 dang ba tuo de bu huang cheng chuan de wen dang | pa t`o te pu huang ch`eng ch`uan te wen tang pa to te pu huang cheng chuan te wen tang |
|
| Galatians 5:25 | 我們若是靠聖靈得生就當靠聖靈行事 我们若是靠圣灵得生就当靠圣灵行事 | wǒ men ruò shì kào shèng líng shēn jiù dāng kào shèng líng xíng shì wo3 men ruo4 shi4 kao4 sheng4 ling2 dei3 shen1 jiu4 dang1 kao4 sheng4 ling2 xing2 shi4 wo men ruo shi kao sheng ling dei shen jiu dang kao sheng ling xing shi | wo men jo shih k`ao sheng ling tei shen chiu tang k`ao sheng ling hsing shih wo men jo shih kao sheng ling tei shen chiu tang kao sheng ling hsing shih |
|
| Joshua 1:9 | 我豈沒有吩咐你嗎你當剛強壯膽不要懼怕也不要驚惶因為你無論往哪里去耶和華你的神必與你同在 我岂没有吩咐你吗你当刚强壮胆不要惧怕也不要惊惶因为你无论往哪里去耶和华你的神必与你同在 | wǒ qǐ méi yǒu fēn fù nǐ ma nǐ dāng gāng qiáng zhuàng dǎn bù yào jù pà yě bù yào jīng huáng yīn wèi nǐ wú lùn wǎng nǎ lǐ qù yē hé huá nǐ de shén bì yǔ nǐ tóng zài wo3 qi3 mei2 you3 fen1 fu4 ni3 ma ni3 dang1 gang1 qiang2 zhuang4 dan3 bu4 yao4 ju4 pa4 ye3 bu4 yao4 jing1 huang2 yin1 wei4 ni3 wu2 lun4 wang3 na3 li3 qu4 ye1 he2 hua2 ni3 de shen2 bi4 yu3 ni3 tong2 zai4 wo qi mei you fen fu ni ma ni dang gang qiang zhuang dan bu yao ju pa ye bu yao jing huang yin wei ni wu lun wang na li qu ye he hua ni de shen bi yu ni tong zai | wo ch`i mei yu fen fu ni ma ni tang kang ch`iang chuang tan pu yao chü p`a yeh pu yao ching huang yin wei ni wu lun wang na li ch`ü yeh ho hua ni te shen pi yü ni t`ung tsai wo chi mei yu fen fu ni ma ni tang kang chiang chuang tan pu yao chü pa yeh pu yao ching huang yin wei ni wu lun wang na li chü yeh ho hua ni te shen pi yü ni tung tsai |
|
| In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. | ||||
Successful Chinese Character and Japanese Kanji calligraphy searches within the last few hours...
All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.