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Literally: The Way or Road
道 is the character “dao” which is sometimes written as “tao” but pronounced like “dow” in Mandarin.
道 is the base of what is known as “Taoism.” If you translate this literally, it can mean “the way” or “the path.”
Dao is believed to be that which flows through all things and keeps them in balance. It incorporates the ideas of yin and yang (e.g. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)
The beginning of Taoism can be traced to a mystical man named
Lao Zi (604-531 BC), who followed, and added to the teachings of Confucius.
More about Taoism / Daoism here.
Note that this is pronounced “dou” and sometimes “michi” when written alone in Japanese but pronounced “do” in word compounds such as Karate-do and Bushido. It's also “do” in Korean.
Alternate translations and meanings: road, way, path; truth, principle province.
Important Japanese note: In Japanese, this will generally be read with the road, way, or path meaning. Taoism is not as popular or well-known in Japan so Daoist/Taoist philosophy is not the first thing a Japanese person will think of when they read this character.
See our Taoism Page
島 means island in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
There are a few variants of this 島 character.
嶌 is sometimes used in Japan for place names.
嶋 is another variant that used to refer to the zone or area of operation of an organized crime gang or prostitution ring.
Be careful which character you use. But
don’t
worry, we’ll only write a proper island Kanji for you.
Japanese Samurai Sword
刀 is the Japanese Kanji for “sword.” This refers to the style of sword carried by warriors, samurai, and shogun of ancient Japan.
With the pacification of Japan, such swords are now only used for ceremony and decoration. The true art of sword-smithing is all but lost in Japan with new sword production dedicated to making inexpensive replicas for the tourist and foreign market.
For those of you that want to ask whether I can get you a real antique sword. Let me tell you that most real Asian swords were melted down after WWII in Japan, and during the Great Leap Forward in China. Any remaining swords are family heirlooms that nobody will part with.
Please carefully note that the Japanese kanji character shown above is only for a Japanese audience. In China, this character means “knife.” See our other entry for “sword” in Chinese.
Note: 刀 can mean knife, sword, or blade in Korean, depending on context.
See Also: Sword
道教 is the title often used in both Chinese and Japanese to describe the beliefs or religion of Taoism / Daoism.
The first character is simply “dao” and the second character can be translated as “teachings,” “faith” or “doctrine.”
The Tao of the Waves
茶道 means The Way of Tea (literally, “tea way”) in Chinese and Japanese.
This may refer to a tea ceremony or a general lifestyle of tea preparation and drinking.
In Japanese, this can be pronounced sadō or chadō (seems that sadō refers more often to a tea ceremony, and chadō when it's the Way of Tea).
茶道 is also used in the Buddhist context with the same meaning as the Way of Tea.
波の道 is the simple way to write “The Way of the Wave” in Japanese.
I added this at the request of several customers. 波の道 is not a very common Japanese phrase.
波 = Wave
の = Of
道 = Way
The word order is the opposite of English. Most Japanese phrases that end in “の道” are translated to English as “The Way of...”
Technically, you could write “波道” as a shorter version of “The Way of the Wave.” However, without context, 波道 can mean channel or suggest a path to redirect ocean flow.
This in-stock artwork might be what you are looking for, and ships right away...
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your Dao search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
刀 see styles |
dāo dao1 tao katana(p); tou / katana(p); to かたな(P); とう |
More info & calligraphy: Katana(1) sword (esp. Japanese single-edged); katana; (2) (とう only) scalpel; (3) (とう only) (See 彫刻刀・ちょうこくとう) chisel; burin; graver; (4) (とう only) (See 刀銭) knife money (knife-shaped commodity money used in ancient China); (personal name) Tou sword |
島 岛 see styles |
dǎo dao3 tao tou / to とう |
More info & calligraphy: Island(suffix) (1) (in place names) Island; (n-suf,n) (2) (sometimes read しま) insula; island; islet; (surname) Yoshizaki |
道 see styles |
dào dao4 tao dou / do どう |
More info & calligraphy: Daoism / Taoism(1) (abbreviation) (See 道・みち・1) road; path; street; route; (2) (See 道・みち・5) way; set of practices; rules for conducting oneself; (3) (abbreviation) (in Japanese schools) (See 道徳教育) moral education; (4) Buddhist teachings; (5) Taoism; (6) administrative region of Japan (Hokkaido); (7) (hist) administrative region of Japan (Tokaido, Tosando, etc.); (8) province (administrative region of Korea); (9) circuit (administrative region of China); (10) (hist) province (Tang-era administrative region of China); (personal name) Wataru mārga. A way, road; the right path; principle, Truth, Reason, Logos, Cosmic energy; to lead; to say. The way of transmigration by which one arrives at a good or bad existence; any of the six gati, or paths of destiny. The way of bodhi, or enlightenment leading to nirvāṇa through spiritual stages. Essential nirvāṇa, in which absolute freedom reigns. For the eightfold noble path v. 八聖道.; The two Ways: (1) (a) 無礙道 or 無間道 The open or unhindered way, or the way of removing all obstacles or intervention, i. e. all delusion; (b) 解脫道 the way of release, by realization of truth. (2) (a) 難行道 The hard way of "works", i. e. by the six pāramitā and the disciplines. (b) 易行道 the easy way salvation, by the invocation of Amitābha. (3) (a) 有漏道 The way of reincarnation or mortality; (b) 無漏 the enlightened way of escape from the miseries of transmigration. (4) (a) 教道 The way of instruction; (b) 證道 the way of realization. (5) The two lower excretory organs. |
中道 see styles |
zhōng dào zhong1 dao4 chung tao nakamichi なかみち |
More info & calligraphy: The Middle WayThe 'mean' has various interpretations. In general it denotes the mean between two extremes, and has special reference to the mean between realism and nihilism, or eternal substantial existence and annihilation; this 'mean' is found in a third principle between the two, suggesting the idea of a realm of mind or spirit beyond the terminology of 有 or 無, substance or nothing, or, that which has form, and is therefore measurable and ponderable, and its opposite of total non-existence. See 中論. The following four Schools define the term according to their several scriptures: the 法相 School describes it as the 唯識, v. 唯識中道; the 三論 School as the 八不 eight negations, v. 三論; the Tiantai as 實相 the true reality; and the Huayan as the 法界 dharmadhātu. Four forms of the Mean are given by the 三論玄義. |
人道 see styles |
rén dào ren2 dao4 jen tao jindou(p); nindou / jindo(p); nindo じんどう(P); にんどう |
More info & calligraphy: The Tao or Dao of Being Human / Humanity(1) humanity; (2) sidewalk; footpath; (3) (にんどう only) {Buddh} (See 六道) human realm rebirth as a human being |
佛道 see styles |
fó dào fo2 dao4 fo tao butsudō |
More info & calligraphy: Buddha Way |
冰島 冰岛 see styles |
bīng dǎo bing1 dao3 ping tao |
More info & calligraphy: Iceland |
古道 see styles |
gǔ dào gu3 dao4 ku tao kodou; furumichi / kodo; furumichi こどう; ふるみち |
More info & calligraphy: The Old Way / Old School(1) old road; ancient road; (2) (こどう only) ancient methods; ancient moral teachings; the way of learning; (place-name, surname) Furumichi |
孝道 see styles |
xiào dao xiao4 dao5 hsiao tao koudou / kodo こうどう |
More info & calligraphy: The Dao of Filial Pietyfilial piety; (given name) Takamichi |
實道 实道 see styles |
shí dào shi2 dao4 shih tao jitsudō |
More info & calligraphy: True Religion / Buddha Truth |
教導 教导 see styles |
jiào dǎo jiao4 dao3 chiao tao kyoudou / kyodo きょうどう |
More info & calligraphy: Teach / Instruct(noun, transitive verb) instruction; teaching To instruct and lead. |
柔道 see styles |
róu dào rou2 dao4 jou tao juudou / judo じゅうどう |
More info & calligraphy: Judojudo |
求道 see styles |
qiú dào qiu2 dao4 ch`iu tao chiu tao kyuudou; gudou / kyudo; gudo きゅうどう; ぐどう |
More info & calligraphy: Seeking Truthto seek (practice for, strive for) enlightenment |
海盜 海盗 see styles |
hǎi dào hai3 dao4 hai tao |
More info & calligraphy: Pirate / Viking |
祈禱 祈祷 see styles |
qí dǎo qi2 dao3 ch`i tao chi tao kitō |
More info & calligraphy: Prayer / Praying祈念; 祈請 To pray, beg, implore, invite. |
神道 see styles |
shén dào shen2 dao4 shen tao shintou(p); shindou / shinto(p); shindo しんとう(P); しんどう |
More info & calligraphy: ShintoShinto; Shintoism; (surname) Jindō The spirit world of devas, asuras, and pretas. Psychology, or the doctrines concerning the soul. The teaching of Buddha. Shinto, the Way of the Gods, a Japanese national religion. |
禱告 祷告 see styles |
dǎo gào dao3 gao4 tao kao |
More info & calligraphy: Prayer |
舞蹈 see styles |
wǔ dǎo wu3 dao3 wu tao butou / buto ぶとう |
More info & calligraphy: Dance / Dancing(n,vs,vi) dancing |
茶道 see styles |
chá dào cha2 dao4 ch`a tao cha tao sadou(p); chadou(ok)(p) / sado(p); chado(ok)(p) さどう(P); ちゃどう(ok)(P) |
More info & calligraphy: The Way of Teatea ceremony; Way of Tea; sadō; (place-name) Chadō the way of tea |
行道 see styles |
xíng dào xing2 dao4 hsing tao yukimichi ゆきみち |
More info & calligraphy: Walk in the WayTo walk in the way, follow the Buddha-truth; to make procession round an image, especially of the Buddha, with the right shoulder towards it. |
道元 see styles |
dào yuán dao4 yuan2 tao yüan michimoto みちもと |
More info & calligraphy: DogenThe beginning of right doctrine, i.e. faith. |
道場 道场 see styles |
dào chǎng dao4 chang3 tao ch`ang tao chang doujou / dojo どうじょう |
More info & calligraphy: Dojo / Martial Arts Studio(1) dojo; hall used for martial arts training; (2) (abbreviation) {Buddh} (See 菩提道場) manda (place of Buddhist practice or meditation, esp. the place under the bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment); (surname) Michiba Truth-plot. bodhimaṇḍala, circle, or place of enlightenment. The place where Buddha attained enlightenment. A place, or method, for attaining to Buddha-truth. An object of or place for religious offerings. A place for teaching, learning, or practising religion. |
道士 see styles |
dào shì dao4 shi4 tao shih doushi / doshi どうし |
More info & calligraphy: Taoist / Daoist(1) Taoist; (2) person of high morals; (3) Buddhist monk; (4) immortal mountain wizard; Taoist immortal; (personal name) Michishi A Taoist (hermit), also applied to Buddhists, and to Śākyamuni. |
道德 see styles |
dào dé dao4 de2 tao te dōtoku |
More info & calligraphy: Ethics / Ethical / Moralitythe virtues of the (Buddha-)Path |
道教 see styles |
dào jiào dao4 jiao4 tao chiao doukyou / dokyo どうきょう |
More info & calligraphy: Daoism / TaoismTaoism; Daoism; (personal name) Michinori Taoism. The teaching of the right way, i.e. of Buddhism. |
道諦 道谛 see styles |
dào dì dao4 di4 tao ti doutai / dotai どうたい |
More info & calligraphy: Four Noble Truths: Path Leading Away From Sufferingmārga, the dogma of the path leading to the extinction of passion, the fourth of the four axioms, i.e. the eightfold noble path, v. 八聖道. |
醫道 医道 see styles |
yī dào yi1 dao4 i tao idō |
More info & calligraphy: Art of Healingart of healing |
關島 关岛 see styles |
guān dǎo guan1 dao3 kuan tao |
More info & calligraphy: Guam |
領導 领导 see styles |
lǐng dǎo ling3 dao3 ling tao ryoudou / ryodo りょうどう |
More info & calligraphy: Leadership(noun/participle) leadership; guidance |
八正道 see styles |
bā zhèng dào ba1 zheng4 dao4 pa cheng tao hasshōdō はっしょうどう |
More info & calligraphy: The Noble Eightfold Path(Buddhist term) noble eightfold path (八正道分) Āryamārga. The eight right or correct ways, the "eightfold noble path" for the arhat to nirvāṇa; also styled 八道船, 八正門, 八由行, 八游行, 八聖道支, 八道行, 八直行, 八直道. The eight are: (1) 正見Samyag-dṛṣṭi, correct views in regard to the Four Axioms, and freedom from the common delusion. (2) 正思 Samyak-saṁkalpa, correct thought and purpose. (3) 正語 Samyag-vāc, correct speech, avoidance of false and idle talk. (4) 正業 Samyak-karmānta, correct deed, or conduct, getting rid of all improper action so as to dwell in purity. (5) 正命 Smnyag-ājīva, correct livelihood or occupation, avoiding the five immoral occupations. (6) 正精進 Samyag-vyāyāma, correct zeal, or energy in uninterrupted progress in the way of nirvāṇa. (7) 正念 Samyak-smṛti, correct remembrance, or memory, which retains the true and excludes the false. (8) 正定 Samyak-samadhi, correct meditation, absorption, or abstraction. The 正 means of course Buddhist orthodoxy, anything contrary to this being 邪 or heterodox, and wrong. |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Daoism Taoism | 道 | michi / -do | dào / dao4 / dao | tao |
Island | 島 岛 | tou / to | dǎo / dao3 / dao | tao |
Katana | 刀 | katana | dāo / dao1 / dao | tao |
Daoism Taoism | 道教 | doukyou / dokyo | dào jiào / dao4 jiao4 / dao jiao / daojiao | tao chiao / taochiao |
The Way of the Wave | 浪之道 | làng zhī dào lang4 zhi1 dao4 lang zhi dao langzhidao | lang chih tao langchihtao |
|
The Way of Tea | 茶道 | cha dou / chadou / cha do | chá dào / cha2 dao4 / cha dao / chadao | ch`a tao / chatao / cha tao |
The Way of the Wave | 波の道 | nami no michi naminomichi | ||
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
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All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as Dao Kanji, Dao Characters, Dao in Mandarin Chinese, Dao Characters, Dao in Chinese Writing, Dao in Japanese Writing, Dao in Asian Writing, Dao Ideograms, Chinese Dao symbols, Dao Hieroglyphics, Dao Glyphs, Dao in Chinese Letters, Dao Hanzi, Dao in Japanese Kanji, Dao Pictograms, Dao in the Chinese Written-Language, or Dao in the Japanese Written-Language.
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