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1. Without a big net, how can you catch fish?
2. The Confident Helmsman Inspires Confidence in the Passengers
3. Drain the pond to get all the fish
5. Learn New Ways From Old / Onkochishin
7. There is no pleasure without pain
9. Wisdom comes from Experience
10. Each Time You Stumble and Fall, You Gain Experience and Wisdom
11. Seeker of Wisdom
12. Hyakuren-Jitoku
13. Neijing
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.”
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.
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
In 632 BC, Duke Wen of the Kingdom of Jin was about to lead an army against the forces of the Kingdom of Chu.
The Duke asked one of his advisers, Jiu Fan, how they could win the impending battle, as they were drastically outnumbered.
Jiu Fan said, “All is fair in war,” and suggested a plan of dishonorable tactics (cheating).
The Duke was unsure of this advice, so he asked another adviser, Yong Ji, who replied, “If you catch fish by draining the pond, you can certainly get all the fish. But there will be no fish the following year. You can cheat this one time in battle, but such tactics can only be used once, as the enemy will be wise in future encounters.”
The Duke heard the words of his wiser adviser but cheated to gain victory in the battle. However, he rewarded Yong Ji more than Jiu Fan at the victory celebration, stating that while Jiu Fan's advice gained one victory, the wise words of Yong Ji would last forever.
This Chinese idiom/proverb is still used, over 2600 years later to remind people not to burn bridges, cheat, or dishonor themselves in exchange for a short-term gain while sacrificing the future.
竭澤而漁 is very similar to the meaning of the English phrase, “Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
Do not bow down for the sake of five pecks of rice
不为五斗米折腰 is a Chinese idiom/proverb that speaks of being above bribes and not losing face or honor for short-term gain.
Some may also translate the perceived meaning as “high-hearted” or “integrity beyond reproach.”
The more literal meaning is “Do not bow down for the sake of five pecks of rice.”
New ideas coming from past history
溫故知新 is a proverb from Confucius that is used in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures.
It can be translated in several ways:
Coming up with new ideas based on things learned in the past.
Examine things of the past, and obtain new knowledge.
Developing new ideas based on the study of the past.
Gain new insights through restudying old issues.
Understand the present by reviewing the past.
Learning from the past.
Review the old and know the new.
Taking a lesson from the past.
Taking a lesson from the wisdom of the ancients.
Follow the old ways.
The direct translation would be, “By asking old things, know new things.”
The Character meanings breakdown this way:
溫故 = ask old
知新 = know new
Explained: To learn new things that are outside of your experience, you can learn from old things of the past. You can find wisdom in history.
Note: Japanese use a variant of the first Kanji in modern times.
Therefore if you order this from a Japanese calligrapher, expect the first Kanji to look like 温 instead of 溫.
In addition to 温故知新 as mentioned above, this is sometimes written as 温古知新 in Japan.
Literally: No Pain, No Strength
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.
No pain, no gain
酒后吐真言 / 酒後吐真言 is a nice Asian proverb if you know a vintner or wine seller - or wine lover - although the actual meaning might not be exactly what you think or hope.
The literal meaning is that someone drinking wine is more likely to let the truth slip out. It can also be translated as “People speak their true feelings after drinking alcohol.”
It's long believed in many parts of Asia that one can not consciously hold up a facade of lies when getting drunk, and therefore the truth will come out with a few drinks.
I've had the experience where a Korean man would not trust me until I got drunk with him (I was trying to gain access to the black market in North Korea which is tough to do as an untrusted outsider) - so I think this idea is still well-practiced in many Asian countries.
Please note that there are two common ways to write the second character of this phrase. The way it's written will be left up to the mood of the calligrapher, unless you let us know that you have a certain preference.
You can translate this 不经一事不长一智 Chinese proverb in a couple of ways.
The first is: You cannot gain knowledge without practice.
The second, and perhaps more popular way is: Wisdom comes from experience.
It literally means if you are inattentive to your affairs or situations you encounter, you will not gain or grow any wisdom or intellect.
不經一事 means “You can't gain knowledge without practical experience.”
This is the short form (first half) of a longer Chinese proverb. These 4 characters remind you that wisdom only comes from experience.
吃一塹長一智 is a Chinese proverb that means “Fall into a moat, and you will gain wisdom from the experience.”
It really suggests that the failures, troubles, frustrations, and setbacks that you encounter in your life are actually helping you to find wisdom. Some would also translate this proverb as “Learn from your mistakes” or “Learn from your experience.”
If you are studying Chinese, you will recognize the first character as “eat,” but in this case, it means to “experience” (as used in this proverb, it is suggesting that you have fallen into a moat and/or had a hard time crossing it).
Translated character by character, this whole proverb is, “Experience one moat, gain one wisdom/knowledge.”
Note: This can be pronounced in Korean, but it's not a commonly used phrase.
尋智者 is a Chinese title that means “Seeker of Wisdom.”
It's a little ambiguous, as you can also read this as “Seeking a Wise Person.”
Whether you are the person seeking wisdom or in the process of seeking a wise person (you will probably gain wisdom from the wise) this short phrase should suit your needs.
百錬自得 is a Japanese proverb that means only if you practice something 100 times will it become a part of yourself.
Some translate it in a short form like “Well train, self-gain.”
The first two characters are a word that means “100 forges” (or to forge 100 times). It translates more naturally as well-tempered, well-drilled, or well-trained.
The last two characters mean “self-benefit” or “self-gain.” It can also be translated into English as contented, self-satisfaction, realizing (through one's ability), or being paid back for one's deeds.
These search terms might be related to Gain:
Achieve Inner Peace; Find Deep Understanding
Advance Bravely / Indomitable Spirit
Determination to Achieve
Determination to Achieve / Will-Power
Drain the Pond to Get All the Fish
Even the 100-Foot Bamboo Can Grow One More Foot
Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight
Hold Hands With You, Grow Old With You
Inner Strength / Self-Improvement
Know Your Enemy, Know Yourself, and Win 100 Battles
Mutual Benefit
Mutual Welfare and Benefit
Plant / Grow / Cultivate
Return From Death’s Door
Safe / Secure
Self-Improvement
We Are Not Born With Knowledge, How Does One Achieve Maturity?
Win / Victory
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Without a big net, how can you catch fish? | 不撒大網不得大魚 不撒大网不得大鱼 | bù sā dà wǎng bù dé dà yú bu4 sa1 da4 wang3 bu4 de2 da4 yu2 bu sa da wang bu de da yu busadawangbudedayu | pu sa ta wang pu te ta yü pusatawangputetayü |
|
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 |
|
Drain the pond to get all the fish | 竭澤而漁 竭泽而渔 | jié zé ér yú jie2 ze2 er2 yu2 jie ze er yu jiezeeryu | chieh tse erh yü chiehtseerhyü |
|
Having High Principles | 不為五斗米折腰 不为五斗米折腰 | bù wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhé yāo bu4 wei4 wu3 dou3 mi3 zhe2 yao1 bu wei wu dou mi zhe yao buweiwudoumizheyao | pu wei wu tou mi che yao puweiwutoumicheyao |
|
Learn New Ways From Old Onkochishin | 溫故知新 温故知新 | on ko chi shin onkochishin | wēn gù zhī xīn wen1 gu4 zhi1 xin1 wen gu zhi xin wenguzhixin | wen ku chih hsin wenkuchihhsin |
No Pain No Gain | 不痛不強 不痛不强 | bú tòng bù qiáng bu2 tong4 bu4 qiang2 bu tong bu qiang butongbuqiang | pu t`ung pu ch`iang putungpuchiang pu tung pu chiang |
|
No Pain No Gain | 痛みなくして得るものなし | itami naku shite erumono wa nashi | ||
There is no pleasure without pain | 苦は楽の種 | ku wa raku no tane kuwarakunotane | ||
In Wine there is Truth | 酒后吐真言 / 酒後吐真言 酒后吐真言 | jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēn yán jiu3 hou4 tu3 zhen1 yan2 jiu hou tu zhen yan jiuhoutuzhenyan | chiu hou t`u chen yen chiuhoutuchenyen chiu hou tu chen yen |
|
Wisdom comes from Experience | 不經一事不長一智 不经一事不长一智 | bù jīng yī shì bù zhǎng yī zhì bu4 jing1 yi1 shi4 bu4 zhang3 yi1 zhi4 bu jing yi shi bu zhang yi zhi bujingyishibuzhangyizhi | pu ching i shih pu chang i chih puchingishihpuchangichih |
|
Wisdom comes from Experience | 不經一事 不经一事 | bù jīng yī shì bu4 jing1 yi1 shi4 bu jing yi shi bujingyishi | pu ching i shih puchingishih |
|
Each Time You Stumble and Fall, You Gain Experience and Wisdom | 吃一塹長一智 吃一堑长一智 | chī yí qiàn, zhǎng yí zhì chi1 yi2 qian4 zhang3 yi2 zhi4 chi yi qian zhang yi zhi chiyiqianzhangyizhi | ch`ih i ch`ien chang i chih chihichienchangichih chih i chien chang i chih |
|
Seeker of Wisdom | 尋智者 寻智者 | xún zhì zhě xun2 zhi4 zhe3 xun zhi zhe xunzhizhe | hsün chih che hsünchihche |
|
Hyakuren-Jitoku | 百錬自得 | hyaku ren ji toku hyakurenjitoku | ||
Neijing | 內勁 内劲 | nèi jìng / nei4 jing4 / nei jing / neijing | nei ching / neiching | |
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.
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