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Personalize your custom “Door” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “Door” title below...
1. Baby
2. Ba Ji Quan
4. Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Chapter 1
5. Darkness
7. Flowers Fall / The End Comes
9. Gate
10. Guanxi
12. Optimistic
13. One Who Does Not Do Bad Things, Worries Not of Knocks at His Door
15. A Traditional Warm Welcome
16. Welcome
18. Worldwide Wish for Peace and Prosperity
20. Open Door
21. Opportunity Knocks Only Once
22. Dharma Gate
寶寶 is how Chinese people express “baby.”
The word is composed of the same character twice, and therefore literally means “double precious” or “double treasure.”
This would be a nice wall scroll to put either inside or by the door of your baby's room (not on the door, as wall scrolls swing around wildly when hung on doors that open and close a lot).
八極拳 is “Ba Ji Quan” or “Eight Extremes Fist.”
Some also translate this as “Eight Extremities Fist,” though I don't feel that's accurate.
八極拳 (Bājíquán) is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. It originated in the Hebei Province in Northern China but spread to Taiwan and other places.
The full title is 開門八極拳 (Kāimén Bājíquán), which means Open-Door Bajiquan.
Other romanizations include: BaJiQuan, Pa Chi Ch`üan, or Pa Chi Chuan.
In Japan, this is known as Hakkyokuken.
五福臨門 means “five good fortunes arrive [at the] door.”
It is understood to mean “may the five blessings descend upon this home.”
These blessings are known in ancient China to be: longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and natural death (living to old age). This is one of several auspicious sayings you might hear during the Chinese New Year.
This text is the first chapter of the Daodejing / Tao Te Ching.
The text reads:
道可道、非常道。名可名、非常名。 無名天地之始 有名萬物之母。故常無欲以觀其妙、常有欲以觀其徼。此兩者同出而異名。同謂之玄。玄之又玄、衆妙之門。
This classical Chinese passage comes from the Mawangdui (馬王堆帛書) text.
闇 is the shortest and universal way (in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja) to write “darkness.”
In Chinese, this can mean dark, gloomy, hidden, secret, to shut the door, or unilluminated.
In Japanese, this can mean darkness, the dark, black-marketeering, dark, shady, or illegal.
In old Korean Hanja, this can mean dark, obscure, hidden, or secret.
Note that there is an alternate form of this character. It is used as an alternate in all three languages (that rarely happens). You can see this alternate version to the right. If you want to order that version, please click on that character, instead of the button above.
黑闇 is the two-character Chinese word for darkness.
The first character alone means black or dark.
The second character has several possible meanings, depending on context; They include: to shut the door, unilluminated, dark, gloomy, hidden, or secret.
Together, these two characters will, in most cases, be translated as dark or darkness.
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
福 is pronounced “fu” in Chinese.
The character “fu” is posted by virtually all Chinese people on the doors of their homes during the Spring Festival (closely associated with the Chinese New Year).
One tradition from the Zhou Dynasty (beginning in 256 B.C.) holds that putting a fu symbol on your front door will keep the goddess of poverty away.
福 literally means good fortune, prosperity, blessed, blessedness, happiness, and fulfillment.
You'll also see this character in Vietnam (where Chinese characters were the written form until a romanization reform) where it is pronounced Phúc - a word commonly used in Vietnamese names because of its good meaning.
See Also: Lucky
門 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja for gate, door, gateway, doorway, opening, entrance, valve, or switch.
Most commonly, this is simply a gate or door.
門 is also a Chinese surname that romanizes as Men.
In Japanese, this can be surnames romanizing as Yuki, Mon, To, or Kado.
In the Buddhist context, beyond meaning a door or gate, this can be a counter for a Buddhist sect, teaching, or school (we might say “slice” of bread, this would be a “gate” of teaching). In this way, it kind of refers to one of several doors that lead to salvation or nirvana.
The Chinese Concept of Relationship and Exchange of Favors
The dictionary definition is:
Relations/relationship, to concern, to affect, to have to do with, or connection.
But there's more to it...
In China, the relationship that you have with certain people can open doors for you. Having guanxi with someone also means they would never defraud you but are honor-bound to treat you fairly (of course, this goes both ways). Sometimes it is suggested that guanxi is the exchange of favors. 關繫 / 関繫 / 關係 is more about having a relationship that allows you to ask for and expect favors without shame.
There is no concept in western culture that exactly matches guanxi, but perhaps having a social or professional network is similar.
Note that there are some variations common within Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja for this word...
Japanese tend to use a Chinese alternate form as shown to the right for
the first character.
There's also another alternate form of that first character (currently used as the official Simplified form in mainland China) which looks like the character shown to the right. It's basically the central radical of the alternate version shown above but without the “door radical” around it. In more free-flowing calligraphy styles, this version would be the likely choice for a calligrapher.
In Modern Japanese, they use the character shown to the right.
They also tend to use this same form in Korean Hanja (I've only checked this word in my Korean dictionary, but it has not been confirmed by a translator's review).
If that was not confusing enough, there is another alternate form of that second character. See right.
An Asian calligrapher of any nationality may use these forms at their discretion. However, They would tend to stick to the most common form used in their respective languages.
If you have any preference on any of these issues, please give us a special note with your order, and we'll make sure it's done the way you want.
悶 is a character that can mean melancholy, sorrow, or depression.
The visual meaning depicts a heart shut behind a door or gate. In some contexts outside of melancholy, this can mean sealed, airtight, or shut indoors.
This sad or sorrowful character is kind of a strange selection for a calligraphy wall scroll.
Beyond optimistic, 豁達 can also be defined as sanguine; magnanimous; open-minded; openhearted; broad-minded.
豁達 is appropriate if you are, or want to be, the kind of person who is not bothered by the little things or minor troubles of life. This signifies a person who always feels things will get better. This is great for the person who figuratively sees a window of opportunity opening even as a door closes.
While a valid word in Japanese, this is kind of antiquated, and not in common use in modern Japan.
白天不做亏心事夜半敲门不吃惊 literally translates as: [If one does] not do bad things in the daytime, one need not be alarmed at knocks on the door in the middle of the night.
The meaning is something like, “A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder.” Basically, the message is, “don't commit crimes and you won't be jumpy every time the doorbell rings (so don't do anything wrong and your life will have fewer worries and you can sleep at night).”
絕處逢生 is a Chinese proverb/idiom that talks of coming back from death's door or an unexpected rescue from danger.
Figuratively, this can be to recover from a seemingly impossible situation or to find a way out of a predicament.
If you have survived a near-death experience or severe illness, this might be an appropriate wall scroll for you.
歡迎光臨 would be the ultimate Chinese “welcome mat.” Except it will be on your wall, and people will not step on it.
In a somewhat literal translation, you could say it means “I feel happy as I welcome you, as you have brought a shining light to this place with your arrival,” or more simply, “I am happy you've come as your presents brightens up the place.”
It has become common for this greeting to be announced by the staff upon the arrival of any customer into a fancy store in China. You will also see these characters on the “welcome mats” in front of 4 and 5-star hotels in China.
Having this on a wall scroll is an extra nice touch. I have seen a few horizontal scrolls with this phrase on the wall behind the reception desk of better hotels or near the front door of fine shops. At the fanciest department stores and restaurants in China, several greeters (almost always young women) will stand by the front door, all wearing sashes with this phrase embroidered. As you walk in, they will bow and say “huan ying guang lin” to welcome you to the establishment.
Note: The first two and last two characters do make words in Korean Hanja but are seldom used as a sentence like this in Korean.
いらっしゃいませ is the Japanese greeting that you'll hear just about every time you enter a sushi bar, restaurant, or shop in Japan.
This calligraphy would be appropriate to hang by the entry door of your business or shop.
Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Hiragana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
A customer asked me to split these Wing Chun maxims into two parts, so he could order a couplet. I thought this was a good idea, so it's been added here.
A couplet is a set of two wall scrolls that start and finish one phrase or idea. Often, couplets are hung with the first wall scroll on the right side, and the second on the left side of a doorway or entrance. The order in Chinese is right-to-left, so that's why the first wall scroll goes on the right as you face the door.
Of course, couplets can also be hung together on a wall. Often they can be hung to flank an altar, or table with incense, or even flanking a larger central wall scroll. See an example here from the home of Confucius
Be sure to order both parts 1 and 2 together. One without the other is like Eve without Adam.
啟盛世開太平 means “To bring flourishing peace and security to the world (our current era).”
It's a wish that a new door leading to peace and prosperity could be opened to mankind.
Character and word breakdown:
啟 to open; to start; to initiate; to enlighten or awaken.
盛世 a flourishing period; period of prosperity; a golden age.
開 to open; to start; to turn on.
太平 peace and security; peace and tranquility; peace; tranquility.
I don't like to do breakdowns like this, as the words altogether create their unique meaning (encompassed in the main title above).
開門 means “to open a door,” “opening gate” or figuratively, “to open for business.”
This is the Dharma Gate, The Gate to Enlightenment, or Dharmaparyāya.
The doctrines, or wisdom of Buddha is regarded as the door to enlightenment.
This in-stock artwork might be what you are looking for, and ships right away...
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These search terms might be related to Door:
Black Flag Gate / Hek Ki Boen
Dharma Gate
Dharma Gate of Bliss
Gate
Monshu / Gate Keeper
Mumonkan / the Gateless Gate
The Gateless Gate
The Great Path Has No Gate
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Baby | 寶寶 宝宝 | bǎo bao / bao3 bao / bao bao / baobao | pao pao / paopao | |
Ba Ji Quan | 八極拳 八极拳 | hakkyo ku ken hakkyokuken hakyo ku ken | bā jí quán ba1 ji2 quan2 ba ji quan bajiquan | pa chi ch`üan pachichüan pa chi chüan |
Blessings on this Home | 五福臨門 五福临门 | wǔ fú lín mén wu3 fu2 lin2 men2 wu fu lin men wufulinmen | ||
Daodejing Tao Te Ching - Chapter 1 | 道可道非常道名可名非常名無名天地之始有名萬物之母故常無欲以觀其妙常有欲以觀其徼此兩者同出而異名同謂之玄玄之又玄衆妙之門 道可道非常道名可名非常名无名天地之始有名万物之母故常无欲以观其妙常有欲以观其徼此两者同出而异名同谓之玄玄之又玄众妙之门 | dào kě dào fēi cháng dào míng kě míng fēi cháng míng wú míng tiān dì zhī shǐ yǒu míng wàn wù zhī mǔ gù cháng wú yù yǐ guān qí miào cháng yǒu yù yǐ guān qí zhēng cǐ liǎng zhě tóng chū ér yì míng tóng wèi zhī xuán xuán zhī yòu xuán zhòng miào zhī mén dao4 ke3 dao4 fei1 chang2 dao4 ming2 ke3 ming2 fei1 chang2 ming2 wu2 ming2 tian1 di4 zhi1 shi3 you3 ming2 wan4 wu4 zhi1 mu3 gu4 chang2 wu2 yu4 yi3 guan1 qi2 miao4 chang2 you3 yu4 yi3 guan1 qi2 jiao3 ci3 liang3 zhe3 tong2 chu1 er2 yi4 ming2 tong2 wei4 zhi1 xuan2 xuan2 zhi1 you4 xuan2 zhong4 miao4 zhi1 men2 dao ke dao fei chang dao ming ke ming fei chang ming wu ming tian di zhi shi you ming wan wu zhi mu gu chang wu yu yi guan qi miao chang you yu yi guan qi jiao ci liang zhe tong chu er yi ming tong wei zhi xuan xuan zhi you xuan zhong miao zhi men | tao k`o tao fei ch`ang tao ming k`o ming fei ch`ang ming wu ming t`ien ti chih shih yu ming wan wu chih mu ku ch`ang wu yü i kuan ch`i miao ch`ang yu yü i kuan ch`i chiao tz`u liang che t`ung ch`u erh i ming t`ung wei chih hsüan hsüan chih yu hsüan chung miao chih men tao ko tao fei chang tao ming ko ming fei chang ming wu ming tien ti chih shih yu ming wan wu chih mu ku chang wu yü i kuan chi miao chang yu yü i kuan chi chiao tzu liang che tung chu erh i ming tung wei chih hsüan hsüan chih yu hsüan chung miao chih men |
|
Darkness | 闇 暗 | yami | àn / an4 / an | |
Darkness | 黑闇 黑暗 | hēi àn / hei1 an4 / hei an / heian | ||
Door of Great Wisdom | 大智慧門 大智慧门 | dai chi e mon daichiemon | dà zhì huì mén da4 zhi4 hui4 men2 da zhi hui men dazhihuimen | ta chih hui men tachihhuimen |
Flowers Fall The End Comes | 花落 | huā sà / hua1 luo4 / hua luo / hualuo | hua lo / hualo | |
Good Luck Good Fortune | 福 | fuku | fú / fu2 / fu | |
Gate | 門 门 | mon | mén / men2 / men | |
Guanxi | 關繫 / 関繫 / 關係 关系 / 関係 | kankei | guān xì / guan1 xi4 / guan xi / guanxi | kuan hsi / kuanhsi |
Melancholy Sorrow | 悶 闷 | mon | mèn / men4 / men | |
Optimistic | 豁達 豁达 | katsudatsu | huò dá / huo4 da2 / huo da / huoda | huo ta / huota |
One Who Does Not Do Bad Things, Worries Not of Knocks at His Door | 白天不做虧心事夜半敲門不吃驚 白天不做亏心事夜半敲门不吃惊 | bái tiān bú zuò kuī xīn shì yè bàn qiāo mén bù chī jīng bai2 tian1 bu2 zuo4 kui1 xin1 shi4 ye4 ban4 qiao1 men2 bu4 chi1 jing1 bai tian bu zuo kui xin shi ye ban qiao men bu chi jing | pai t`ien pu tso k`uei hsin shih yeh pan ch`iao men pu ch`ih ching pai tien pu tso kuei hsin shih yeh pan chiao men pu chih ching |
|
Return From Death’s Door | 絕處逢生 绝处逢生 | jué chǔ féng shēng jue2 chu3 feng2 sheng1 jue chu feng sheng juechufengsheng | chüeh ch`u feng sheng chüehchufengsheng chüeh chu feng sheng |
|
A Traditional Warm Welcome | 歡迎光臨 欢迎光临 | huān yíng guāng lín huan1 ying2 guang1 lin2 huan ying guang lin huanyingguanglin | huan ying kuang lin huanyingkuanglin |
|
Welcome | いらっしゃいませ | irasshai mase irasshaimase irashai mase | ||
Wing Chun Fist Maxims (Part 1) | 有手黐手無手問手來留區送甩手直沖怕打終歸打貪打終被打粘連迫攻絕不放鬆來力瀉力借力出擊 有手黐手无手问手来留区送甩手直冲怕打终归打贪打终被打粘连迫攻绝不放松来力泻力借力出击 | |||
Worldwide Wish for Peace and Prosperity | 啟盛世開太平 启盛世开太平 | qǐ shèng shì kāi tài píng qi3 sheng4 shi4 kai1 tai4 ping2 qi sheng shi kai tai ping qishengshikaitaiping | ch`i sheng shih k`ai t`ai p`ing chishengshihkaitaiping chi sheng shih kai tai ping |
|
Dharma Gate of Bliss | 安樂の法門 | an raku no hou mon anrakunohoumon an raku no ho mon | ||
Open Door | 開門 开门 | kai mon / kaimon | kāi mén / kai1 men2 / kai men / kaimen | k`ai men / kaimen / kai men |
Opportunity Knocks Only Once | 機會隻敲一次門 机会只敲一次门 | jī huì zhǐ qiāo yī cì mén ji1 hui4 zhi3 qiao1 yi1 ci4 men2 ji hui zhi qiao yi ci men jihuizhiqiaoyicimen | chi hui chih ch`iao i tz`u men chihuichihchiaoitzumen chi hui chih chiao i tzu men |
|
Dharma Gate | 法門 法门 | hou mon / houmon / ho mon | fǎ mén / fa3 men2 / fa men / famen | |
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 Door Kanji, Door Characters, Door in Mandarin Chinese, Door Characters, Door in Chinese Writing, Door in Japanese Writing, Door in Asian Writing, Door Ideograms, Chinese Door symbols, Door Hieroglyphics, Door Glyphs, Door in Chinese Letters, Door Hanzi, Door in Japanese Kanji, Door Pictograms, Door in the Chinese Written-Language, or Door in the Japanese Written-Language.
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