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大師 is a way to title a great master, grand master, or great teacher.
This can be used in the context of martial arts or a Buddhist teacher. Thus, it can be used to title a living Buddha, Bodhisattva, or high-ranking monk.
大光明 is the master symbol “Daikomyo” or “Dai Ko Myo,” which is usually associated with the healing practice of Reiki.
This title can be translated as “Great Bright Light.” This symbol, as used in Reiki, alludes to “Enlightened Nature” or the radiance of a purified soul or deity.
Pronunciations in Chinese and Korean are included above but this title has no meaning except when used by a Reiki practitioner. In fact, this title is not that well known by those outside the Reiki community in Japan.
In Chinese, this would be interpreted as “Great Bright Future” (the second two characters alone create a word that means “bright future” in Chinese).
大道無門 is a Buddhist proverb that means “The Great Way has no entrance,” “The Great Way is gateless,” or “The Great Path lacks a gate.”
This can be translated in many other ways.
This concept was authored within a long sacred text by 無門慧開 (known as Wúmén Huìkāi in Chinese or Mumon Ekai in Japanese). He was a Chinese Chan Master (in Japanese, a Zen Master) who lived between 1183 and 1260 AD. His most famous work was a 48-koan collection titled “The Gateless Barrier” or “The Gateless Gate” (無門關 Wú Mén Guān in Chinese, or 無門関 Mu Mon Kan in Japanese). This calligraphy title is a notable line from this collection.
I like this reference to the source of this proverb: The Gateless Gate 無門關
一心流空手道 is the full title for Isshin-Ryu Karate-Do.
The literal meaning is “one heart method empty hand way.”
There are other ways to translate this, but if you are looking for this title, you already know that.
This would make a great wall scroll for your dojo or private studio if you study this form of Japanese (technically from Okinawa) Karate.
Because this is a specifically-Japanese title, I strongly recommend that you select our Japanese Master Calligrapher to create this artwork.
This House Serves the LORD
至於我和我家我們必定事奉耶和華 is the last sentence of Joshua 24:15 in Chinese.
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Joshua 24:15 (KJV) ...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15 (NIV) ...as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
We used the only official Christian Chinese Bible that I know of so that the translation would be as accurate and standard as possible. Any Chinese Christian worth their salt will easily be able to identify this verse from the Chinese words on this scroll.
I think it is a bit like having a secret code on your wall that quietly expresses to whom you are faithful.
A great gift for your devout Christian or Jewish friend if they happen to be fond of Asian art.
Or perhaps a wonderful “conversation starter” for your own home.
Note: If you are curious, the last three characters represent the way “LORD” is used in most English Bibles. In Chinese, this is actually the phonetic name from Mandarin Chinese for “Jehovah.”
功夫 or Kung Fu is one of the most famous types of martial arts in the world - and not just because of Bruce Lee.
Some translate the meaning as “Accomplishment by Great Effort.” I think this is partially true, but directly translated, it literally means “Merit/Achievement/Accomplishment Man.” The word “fu” can sometimes mean “husband” or “porter,” but in this case, it can only mean “man.” However, few in China will think “man” when they hear the word “Gong Fu” spoken.
This term is also used for things other than martial arts. In fact, it's used to refer to a person with excellent skills in crafts that require a lot of effort to master, such as cooking, tea ceremonies, and calligraphy.
What a lot of people don't know is that the spelling of “Kung Fu” was actually taken from the old Wade Giles form of Romanization. Using this method, the sounds of the English “G” and “K” were both written as “K” and an apostrophe after the “K” told you it was supposed to sound like a “G.” Nobody in the west knew this rule, so most people pronounce it with a “K-sound.” And so, Gong Fu will always be Kung Fu for most westerners.
Also, just to educate you a little more, the “O” in “Gong” has a sound like the English word “oh.”
The popular Chinese dish “Kung Pao Chicken” suffers from the same problem. It should actually be “Gong Bao Chicken.”
Historical note: Many will claim that Kung Fu was invented by the monks of the Shaolin monastery. This fact is argued in both directions by scholars of Chinese history. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that the Shaolin Monks brought the original fame to Kung Fu many generations ago.
Japanese note: While most Japanese martial artists will recognize these characters, Katakana is more often used to approximate the pronunciation of "Kung Fu" with "カンフー." Some will argue as to whether this should be considered a Japanese word at all.
See Also: Bruce Lee
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Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your great master search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
大師 大师 see styles |
dà shī da4 shi1 ta shih daishi だいし |
More info & calligraphy: Grand Master / Great Teacher(honorific or respectful language) {Buddh} great teacher (i.e. a buddha, bodhisattva or high monk, esp. Kobo Daishi); (place-name) Daishi Great teacher, or leader, one of the ten titles of a Buddha. |
剣豪 see styles |
kengou / kengo けんごう |
great swordsman; master fencer |
名家 see styles |
míng jiā ming2 jia1 ming chia meika / meka めいか |
renowned expert; master (of an art or craft) (1) distinguished family; good family; reputable family; (2) great master; expert; authority; eminent person; (3) (hist) (See 公家・1) Meika; kuge family class ranking above Hanke and below Urinke; (4) (hist) School of Names (China); Logicians; Disputers; (place-name) Myōke |
名師 名师 see styles |
míng shī ming2 shi1 ming shih |
famous master; great teacher |
大慧 see styles |
dà huì da4 hui4 ta hui daie だいえ |
(personal name) Daie Mahāmati 摩訶摩底 (1) Great wisdom, the leading bodhisattva of the Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra. (2) Name of a Hangchow master of the Chan school, Zonggao 宗杲 of the Song dynasty, whose works are the 大慧書. (3) Posthumous title of 一行Yixing, a master of the Chan school in the Tang dynasty. |
大殿 see styles |
dà diàn da4 dian4 ta tien ootono おおとの |
main hall of a Buddhist temple (1) (honorific or respectful language) (See 若殿・わかとの・2) current master; father of one's current master; (2) (honorific or respectful language) minister (of government); noble; (3) (honorific or respectful language) (archaism) nobleman's residence; (surname) Daiden great shrine hall |
巨匠 see styles |
jù jiàng ju4 jiang4 chü chiang kyoshou / kyosho きょしょう |
great master (of literature, music etc) master; masterhand; maestro |
文豪 see styles |
wén háo wen2 hao2 wen hao bungou / bungo ぶんごう |
literary giant; great writer; eminent writer literary master; (given name) Bungou |
施護 施护 see styles |
shī hù shi1 hu4 shih hu Sego |
Dānapāla, a native of Udyāna who translated into Chinese some 111 works and in A. D. 982 received the title of Great Master and brilliant expositor of the faith. |
書聖 书圣 see styles |
shū shèng shu1 sheng4 shu sheng shosei / shose しょせい |
great calligraphy master; the Sage of Calligraphy, traditional reference to Wang Xizhi 王羲之[Wang2 Xi1 zhi1] (303-361) famous or accomplished calligrapher |
棋聖 see styles |
kisei / kise きせい |
great master of go; great master of shogi |
画伯 see styles |
gahaku がはく |
(1) master painter; great artist; (n,n-suf) (2) (honorific or respectful language) (oft. used as a title after a name) painter; artist |
画聖 see styles |
gasei / gase がせい |
master painter; great artist |
修証義 see styles |
shushougi / shushogi しゅしょうぎ |
(work) Shushogi (compilation of Great Master Dogen's ideas, put together by the Soto Zen school); (wk) Shushogi (compilation of Great Master Dogen's ideas, put together by the Soto Zen school) |
六成就 see styles |
liù chéng jiù liu4 cheng2 jiu4 liu ch`eng chiu liu cheng chiu roku jōjū |
Six perfections (some say five, some seven) found in the opening phrase of each sutra: (1) 'Thus' implies perfect faith; (2) ' have I heard, ' perfect hearing; (3) 'once, 'the perfect time; (4) 'the Buddha, ' the perfect lord or master; (5) 'on Mt. Gṛdhrakūṭa, ' the perfect place; (6) 'with the great assembly of bhikṣus, ' the perfect assembly. |
可大師 可大师 see styles |
kě dà shī ke3 da4 shi1 k`o ta shih ko ta shih Ka Daishi |
Great Master (Hui-)Ke |
大先生 see styles |
daisensei / daisense だいせんせい |
(n,n-suf) great teacher; great master; great author; great doctor |
大宗師 大宗师 see styles |
dà zōng shī da4 zong1 shi1 ta tsung shih daisōshi |
great master |
大法師 大法师 see styles |
dà fǎ shī da4 fa3 shi1 ta fa shih dai hosshi |
a great Dharma-master |
大論師 大论师 see styles |
dà lùn shī da4 lun4 shi1 ta lun shih dai ronshi |
Mahāvādin, Doctor of the Śāstras, a title given to eminent teachers, especially of the Sāṅkhya and Vaiseṣika schools. |
能大師 能大师 see styles |
néng dà shī neng2 da4 shi1 neng ta shih Nō Daishi |
能行者 The sixth patriarch 慧能 Hui-neng of the Ch'an (Zen) School. |
三種大智 三种大智 see styles |
sān zhǒng dà zhì san1 zhong3 da4 zhi4 san chung ta chih sanshu daichi |
The three major kinds of wisdom: (a) self-acquired, no master needed; (b) unacquired and natural; (c) universal. |
六祖壇經 六祖坛经 see styles |
liù zǔ dà shī fǎ bǎo tán jīng // liù zǔ tán jīng liu4 zu3 da4 shi1 fa3 bao3 tan2 jing1 // liu4 zu3 tan2 jing1 liu tsu ta shih fa pao t`an ching // liu tsu t`an liu tsu ta shih fa pao tan ching // liu tsu tan Rokuso daishi hōbō dan kyō |
Dharma Jewel Platform Sūtra of the Great Master the Sixth Patriarch; Platform Sūtra of the Sixth Patriarch |
十大弟子 see styles |
shí dà dì zǐ shi2 da4 di4 zi3 shih ta ti tzu juudaideshi / judaideshi じゅうだいでし |
{Buddh} the ten great disciples (of Buddha) The ten chief discip1es of Śākyamuni, each of whom was master of one power or gift. Śāriputra of wisdom; Maudgalyāyana of supernatural powers; Mahākāśyapa of discipline; Aniruddha of 天眼 deva vision; Subhūti of explaining the void or immaterial; Pūrṇa of expounding the law; Kātyāyana of its fundamental principles; Upāli of maintaining the rules; Rāhula of the esoteric; and Ānanda of hearing and remembering. |
圭峯大士 see styles |
guī fēng dà shì gui1 feng1 da4 shi4 kuei feng ta shih Keihō daishi |
Great Master Guifeng |
大乘法師 大乘法师 see styles |
dà shèng fǎ shī da4 sheng4 fa3 shi1 ta sheng fa shih daijō hōshi |
a title for 窺基 v. 大乘基. |
天台大師 天台大师 see styles |
tiān tái dà shī tian1 tai2 da4 shi1 t`ien t`ai ta shih tien tai ta shih tendaidaishi てんだいだいし |
(personal name) Tendaidaishi The actual founder of the Tiantai 'school' 智顗 Zhiyi; his 字 was 德安 De-an, and his surname 陳 Chen, A. D. 538-597. Studying under 慧思 Huici of Hunan, he was greatly influenced by his teaching; and found in the Lotus Sutra the real interpretation of Mahayanism. In 575 he first came to Tiantai and established his school, which in turn was the foundation of important Buddhist schools in Korea and Japan. |
慈恩大師 慈恩大师 see styles |
cí ēn dà shī ci2 en1 da4 shi1 tz`u en ta shih tzu en ta shih Jion Daishi |
the great master Cien |
慧可大師 慧可大师 see styles |
huì kě dà shī hui4 ke3 da4 shi1 hui k`o ta shih hui ko ta shih Eka Daishi |
Great Master Huike |
智者大師 智者大师 see styles |
zhì zhě dà shī zhi4 zhe3 da4 shi1 chih che ta shih Chisha Daishi |
Great Master Zhizhe |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Grand Master Great Teacher | 大師 大师 | daishi | dà shī / da4 shi1 / da shi / dashi | ta shih / tashih |
Reiki - Master Symbol | 大光明 | dai kou myou daikoumyou dai ko myo | dà guāng míng da4 guang1 ming2 da guang ming daguangming | ta kuang ming takuangming |
The Great Path has No Gate | 大道無門 大道无门 | dai dou mu mon daidoumumon dai do mu mon | dà dào wú mén da4 dao4 wu2 men2 da dao wu men dadaowumen | ta tao wu men tataowumen |
Isshin Ryu Karate Do | 一心流空手道 | i sshin ryuu kara te dou isshinryuukaratedou i shin ryu kara te do | ||
Joshua 24:15 | 至於我和我家我們必定事奉耶和華 至于我和我家我们必定事奉耶和华 | zhì yú wǒ hé wǒ jiā wǒ men bì dìng shì fèng yē hé huá zhi4 yu2 wo3 he2 wo3 jia1 wo3 men bi4 ding4 shi4 feng4 ye1 he2 hua2 zhi yu wo he wo jia wo men bi ding shi feng ye he hua | chih yü wo ho wo chia wo men pi ting shih feng yeh ho hua | |
Kung Fu Gong Fu | 功夫 | kan fu / ku fu kanfu / kufu | gōng fu / gong1 fu / gong fu / gongfu | kung fu / kungfu |
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.
Some people may refer to this entry as Great Master Kanji, Great Master Characters, Great Master in Mandarin Chinese, Great Master Characters, Great Master in Chinese Writing, Great Master in Japanese Writing, Great Master in Asian Writing, Great Master Ideograms, Chinese Great Master symbols, Great Master Hieroglyphics, Great Master Glyphs, Great Master in Chinese Letters, Great Master Hanzi, Great Master in Japanese Kanji, Great Master Pictograms, Great Master in the Chinese Written-Language, or Great Master in the Japanese Written-Language.