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Intelligence in Chinese / Japanese...

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Personalize your custom “Intelligence” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “Intelligence” title below...


  1. Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Chapter 33

  2. Deities / Gods

  3. Holy Spirit / Holy Ghost

  4. Inner Light / Intelligence

  5. Intelligence / Intellect

  6. Intelligence / Information-Gathering

  7. Idea / Thought / Meaning

  8. Military Intelligence

  9. Tetsu / Wise Sage

10. When Three People Gather, Wisdom is Multiplied

11. Wisdom / Intelligence

12. Wisdom / Brilliance

13. Wisdom

14. Wisdom / Intelligence

15. Wisdom

16. Wise and Virtuous

17. CIA


Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Chapter 33

 zhī rén zhě zhī yě zì zhī zhě míng yě shèng rén zhě yǒu lì yě zì shèng zhě qiáng yě zhī zú zhě fù yě qiáng xíng zhě yǒu zhì yě bù zhī qí suǒ zhě jiǔ yě sǐ ér bù wáng zhě shòu yě
Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Chapter 33 Scroll

This is referred to as passage or chapter 33 of the Dao De Jing (often Romanized as “Tao Te Ching”).

These are the words of the philosopher Laozi (Lao Tzu).

The following is one translation of this passage:
To know others is wisdom;
To know oneself is acuity/intelligence.
To conquer others is power,
To conquer oneself is strength.
To know contentment is to have wealth.
To act resolutely is to have purpose.
To stay one's ground is to be enduring.
To die and yet not be forgotten is to be long-lived.
Another translation:
To understand others is to be knowledgeable;
To understand yourself is to be wise.
To conquer others is to have strength;
To conquer yourself is to be strong.
To know when you have enough is to be rich.
To go forward with strength is to have ambition.
To not lose your place is to be long-lasting.
To die but not be forgotten -- that's true long life.
A third translation of the second half:
He who is content is rich;
He who acts with persistence has will;
He who does not lose his roots will endure;
He who dies physically but preserves the Dao
will enjoy a long after-life.


Notes:

During our research, the Chinese characters shown here are probably the most accurate to the original text of Laozi. These were taken for the most part from the Mawangdui 1973 and Guodan 1993 manuscripts which pre-date other Daodejing texts by about 1000 years.

Grammar was a little different in Laozi’s time. So you should consider this to be the ancient Chinese version. Some have modernized this passage by adding, removing, or swapping articles and changing the grammar (we felt the oldest and most original version would be more desirable). You may find other versions printed in books or online - sometimes these modern texts are simply used to explain to Chinese people what the original text really means.

This language issue can be compared in English by thinking how the King James (known as the Authorized version in Great Britain) Bible from 1611 was written, and comparing it to modern English. Now imagine that the Daodejing was probably written around 403 BCE (2000 years before the King James Version of the Bible). To a Chinese person, the original Daodejing reads like text that is 3 times more detached compared to Shakespeare’s English is to our modern-day speech.

Extended notes:

While on this Biblical text comparison, it should be noted, that just like the Bible, all the original texts of the Daodejing were lost or destroyed long ago. Just as with the scripture used to create the Bible, various manuscripts exist, many with variations or copyist errors. Just as the earliest New Testament scripture (incomplete) is from 170 years after Christ, the earliest Daodejing manuscript (incomplete) is from 100-200 years after the death of Laozi.

The reason that the originals were lost probably has a lot to do with the first Qin Emperor. Upon taking power and unifying China, he ordered the burning and destruction of all books (scrolls/rolls) except those pertaining to Chinese medicine and a few other subjects. The surviving Daodejing manuscripts were either hidden on purpose or simply forgotten about. Some were not unearthed until as late as 1993.

We compared a lot of research by various archeologists and historians before deciding on this as the most accurate and correct version. But one must allow that it may not be perfect, or the actual and original as from the hand of Laozi himself.

Deities / Gods

 shén míng
 jin myou
Deities / Gods Scroll

In Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja, 神明 title refers to deities or gods (can be the singular or plural form).

Depending on the context, this could also mean “divine.”

Specifically, in Japanese, this can refer to Amaterasu (as an enshrined deity).

In some Buddhist contexts, this also means deity but can also refer to “intelligence” (as in all-knowing).

Holy Spirit / Holy Ghost

 shèng líng
 sei rei
Holy Spirit / Holy Ghost Scroll

聖靈 is the title for the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as used by Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant (and other Christian) Chinese people.

And yes, Chinese Jews do exist, but there are not many of them.

The first character means Holy, Sacred, Saint, or Sage. The second means ghost, spirit, efficacious, or intelligence.

This is valid in Chinese characters and old Korean Hanja. This will be recognized in Japan but see the note below...


霊 In modern Japan, they now use a variant/simplified Kanji of the second character of Holy Spirit. If you want this Japanese version, click on the Kanji to the right instead of the button above.

Inner Light / Intelligence

 xīn dēng
 shin tou
Inner Light / Intelligence Scroll

心燈 is the Buddhist concept of “The Lamp of the Mind” or “Inner Light.”

It's kind of the Buddhist way to express intelligence.

Directly translated, this means “heart light” or “heart lamp.”
Note: In ancient China, the ideas of heart and mind are interchangeable.

Intelligence / Intellect

 zhì néng
 chinou
Intelligence / Intellect Scroll

These two characters mean intelligence or intelligent.

The first character means wisdom, intellect, or knowledge.

The second means ability, talent, skill, capacity, capable, able, and can even mean competent.

Together, 知能 can mean “capacity for wisdom,” “useful knowledge,” or even “mental power.” Obviously, this translates more clearly into English as “intelligence.”

Note: This is not the same word used to mean “military intelligence.” See our other entry for that.


知In modern Japan, they tend to use a version of the first character without the bottom radical. If your audience for this artwork is Japanese, please click on the Kanji to the right instead of the button above.

Intelligence / Information-Gathering

 qíng bào
 jouhou
Intelligence / Information-Gathering Scroll

If you are a government spy, engaged in business espionage, or in some military intelligence department, 情報 is both the title of what you are doing and what you are collecting about your enemy.

It is suggestive by itself of military intelligence but applies to corporate intelligence if you are keeping an eye on your competition in business.

Idea / Thought / Meaning

 yì
 kokoro
 
Idea / Thought / Meaning Scroll

意 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja for an idea, intention, meaning, thought, wish, desire, intention, feelings, and thoughts.

In Buddhism, this is the last of the six means of perception (the others are sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and this one represents the mind). It does not literally mean “mind,” but rather something more like mental powers, intellect, intelligence, faculty of thought, or understanding in the Buddhist context.

Military Intelligence

 jūn shì qíng bào
 gunji-jouhou
Military Intelligence Scroll

軍事情報 is the full way to say “Military Intelligence.”

The first two characters mean “military affairs.”

The second two characters mean “intelligence” or “information-gathering.”

If you work in the G2 section of your military unit, this is the wall scroll for you.


See Also:  Military

Tetsu / Wise Sage

 zhé
 tetsu
 
Tetsu / Wise Sage Scroll

哲 is a Japanese name that is often romanized as Tetsu.

The meaning of the character can be: philosophy; wise; sage; wise man; philosopher; disciple; sagacity; wisdom; intelligence.

哲 can also be romanized as: Yutaka; Masaru; Hiroshi; Tooru; Tetsuji; Choru; Satoru; Satoshi; Akira; Aki.

When Three People Gather, Wisdom is Multiplied

 san nin yore ba monju no chie
When Three People Gather, Wisdom is Multiplied Scroll

三人寄れば文殊の知恵 literally means “when three people meet, wisdom is exchanged.”

Some will suggest this means when three people come together, their wisdom is multiplied.

That wisdom part can also be translated as wit, sagacity, intelligence, or Buddhist Prajna (insight leading to enlightenment).

In the middle of this proverb is “monju,” suggesting “transcendent wisdom.” This is where the multiplication of wisdom ideas comes from.


Note: This is very similar to the Chinese proverb, "When 3 people meet, one becomes a teacher."


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Wisdom / Intelligence

 huì
 e / kei
 
Wisdom / Intelligence Scroll

慧 is a single character that can be translated as wisdom but it has more of an “intelligent” flavor. This can also mean cleverness or wit.

Japanese note: 慧 is understood in Japanese but seldom seen as a lone Kanji.


See Also:  Knowledge | Learning | Read

Wisdom / Brilliance

 cái zhì
 sai chi
Wisdom / Brilliance Scroll

In Chinese, 纔智 means “ability and wisdom” or “ability and intelligence.”
纔智 can also be defined as brilliance or genius.

In Japanese, 纔智 takes on a meaning more of “wit and intelligence.”


才智Note that the ancient/traditional form is shown above. After WWII, in both Japan and China, the first character was simplified. If you want this reformed/simplified version, just click on the characters to the right, instead of the button above. This is a good choice if your audience is Japanese.

 zhì
 chi / tomo
 
Wisdom Scroll

智 is the simplest way to write wisdom in Chinese, Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji.

Being a single character, the wisdom meaning is open to interpretation, and can also mean intellect, knowledge or reason, resourcefulness, or wit.

智 is also one of the five tenets of Confucius.

智 is sometimes included in the Bushido code but is usually not considered part of the seven key concepts of the code.


See our Wisdom in Chinese, Japanese and Korean page for more wisdom-related calligraphy.


See Also:  Learn From Wisdom | Confucius

Wisdom / Intelligence

 xián míng
 ken mei
Wisdom / Intelligence Scroll

賢明 is a Japanese word that refers to wisdom, intelligence, and prudence.

賢明 was originally a Chinese word that referred to a wise person or enlightened ruler. It means wise and able, sagacious now in China.

Wisdom / Intelligence

 chie
Wisdom / Intelligence Scroll

智恵 is a Japanese word that means wisdom; wit; sagacity; sense; intelligence.

In the Buddhist context, this is prajna (insight leading to enlightenment).

This can also be the Japanese female given name Norie.

Wisdom

(All-Knowing)

 zhì huì
 chie
Wisdom Scroll

Beyond wisdom, 智慧 can be translated as knowledge, sagacity, sense, and intelligence.

The first character means “wise” or “smart,” and the second character means “intelligence.”

Note: 智慧 is used commonly in Chinese and is a less-common word in Japanese and Korean. If your audience is Japanese, I suggest our other Japanese wisdom option.


This means intellect or wisdom in Japanese too but is a more unusual way to write this word (though both versions are pronounced the same in Japanese).


See Also:  Learn From Wisdom

Wise and Virtuous

 xián
 ken
 
Wise and Virtuous Scroll

賢 is used to refer to being a wise, trustworthy, and virtuous person. But it also contains the ideas of intelligence, genius, scholarship, virtue, sage, saint, good, and excellent in character.

賢 is used in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja. Also used in a Buddhist context with the same meaning.

Note: Can also be the male given name, Masaru, in Japanese.

 zhōng yāng qíng bào jú
 chuuoujouhoukyoku / chuojohokyoku
CIA Scroll

中央情報局 is a Japanese and Chinese title for the US Central Intelligence Agency or CIA.


These search terms might be related to Intelligence:

Intelligence / Intellect

The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...

Title CharactersRomaji (Romanized Japanese)Various forms of Romanized Chinese
Daodejing
Tao Te Ching - Chapter 33
知人者知也自知者明也勝人者有力也自勝者強也知足者富也強行者有志也不失其所者久也死而不亡者壽也
知人者知也自知者明也胜人者有力也自胜者强也知足者富也强行者有志也不失其所者久也死而不亡者寿也
zhī rén zhě zhī yě zì zhī zhě míng yě shèng rén zhě yǒu lì yě zì shèng zhě qiáng yě zhī zú zhě fù yě qiáng xíng zhě yǒu zhì yě bù zhī qí suǒ zhě jiǔ yě sǐ ér bù wáng zhě shòu yě
zhi1 ren2 zhe3 zhi1 ye3 zi4 zhi1 zhe3 ming2 ye3 sheng4 ren2 zhe3 you3 li4 ye3 zi4 sheng4 zhe3 qiang2 ye3 zhi1 zu2 zhe3 fu4 ye3 qiang2 xing2 zhe3 you3 zhi4 ye3 bu4 zhi1 qi2 suo3 zhe3 jiu3 ye3 si3 er2 bu4 wang2 zhe3 shou4 ye3
zhi ren zhe zhi ye zi zhi zhe ming ye sheng ren zhe you li ye zi sheng zhe qiang ye zhi zu zhe fu ye qiang xing zhe you zhi ye bu zhi qi suo zhe jiu ye si er bu wang zhe shou ye
chih jen che chih yeh tzu chih che ming yeh sheng jen che yu li yeh tzu sheng che ch`iang yeh chih tsu che fu yeh ch`iang hsing che yu chih yeh pu chih ch`i so che chiu yeh ssu erh pu wang che shou yeh
chih jen che chih yeh tzu chih che ming yeh sheng jen che yu li yeh tzu sheng che chiang yeh chih tsu che fu yeh chiang hsing che yu chih yeh pu chih chi so che chiu yeh ssu erh pu wang che shou yeh
Deities
Gods
神明jin myou / jinmyou / jin myoshén míng
shen2 ming2
shen ming
shenming
Holy Spirit
Holy Ghost
聖靈 / 聖霊
圣灵
sei rei / seireishèng líng
sheng4 ling2
sheng ling
shengling
Inner Light
Intelligence
心燈
心灯
shin tou / shintou / shin toxīn dēng / xin1 deng1 / xin deng / xindenghsin teng / hsinteng
Intelligence
Intellect
智能 / 知能
智能
chinou / chinozhì néng / zhi4 neng2 / zhi neng / zhinengchih neng / chihneng
Intelligence
Information-Gathering
情報
情报
jouhou / johoqíng bào / qing2 bao4 / qing bao / qingbaoch`ing pao / chingpao / ching pao
Idea
Thought
Meaning
kokoroyì / yi4 / yii
Military Intelligence軍事情報
军事情报
gunji-jouhou
gunji-joho
jūn shì qíng bào
jun1 shi4 qing2 bao4
jun shi qing bao
junshiqingbao
chün shih ch`ing pao
chünshihchingpao
chün shih ching pao
Tetsu
Wise Sage
tetsuzhé / zhe2 / zheche
When Three People Gather, Wisdom is Multiplied三人寄れば文殊の知恵san nin yore ba monju no chie
sanninyorebamonjunochie
Wisdom
Intelligence
e / keihuì / hui4 / hui
Wisdom
Brilliance
纔智
才智
sai chi / saichicái zhì / cai2 zhi4 / cai zhi / caizhits`ai chih / tsaichih / tsai chih
Wisdomchi / tomozhì / zhi4 / zhichih
Wisdom
Intelligence
賢明
贤明
ken mei / kenmeixián míng
xian2 ming2
xian ming
xianming
hsien ming
hsienming
Wisdom
Intelligence
智恵chie
Wisdom智慧chiezhì huì / zhi4 hui4 / zhi hui / zhihuichih hui / chihhui
Wise and Virtuous
kenxián / xian2 / xianhsien
CIA中央情報局
中央情报局
chuuoujouhoukyoku / chuojohokyoku
chuojohokyoku / chuojohokyoku
zhōng yāng qíng bào jú
zhong1 yang1 qing2 bao4 ju2
zhong yang qing bao ju
zhongyangqingbaoju
chung yang ch`ing pao chü
chungyangchingpaochü
chung yang ching pao chü
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.


Dictionary

Lookup Intelligence in my Japanese & Chinese Dictionary


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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!

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A nice Chinese calligraphy wall scroll

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.

A professional Chinese Calligrapher

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.

Trying to learn Chinese calligrapher - a futile effort

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.

A high-ranked Chinese master calligrapher that I met in Zhongwei

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 Intelligence Kanji, Intelligence Characters, Intelligence in Mandarin Chinese, Intelligence Characters, Intelligence in Chinese Writing, Intelligence in Japanese Writing, Intelligence in Asian Writing, Intelligence Ideograms, Chinese Intelligence symbols, Intelligence Hieroglyphics, Intelligence Glyphs, Intelligence in Chinese Letters, Intelligence Hanzi, Intelligence in Japanese Kanji, Intelligence Pictograms, Intelligence in the Chinese Written-Language, or Intelligence in the Japanese Written-Language.

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