Many custom options...

Tan Paper and Copper Silk Love Wall Scroll
Red Paper and Ivory Silk Love Wall Scroll
Orange Paper Love Scroll
Crazy Blue and Gold Silk Love Scroll


And formats...

Love Vertical Portrait
Love Horizontal Wall Scroll
Love Vertical Portrait

Katana in Chinese / Japanese...

Buy a Katana calligraphy wall scroll here!

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

Katana

Japanese Samurai Sword

 dāo
 katana
 
Katana Scroll

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

Kendo / The Way of the Sword

 jiàn dào
 kendou
Kendo / The Way of the Sword Scroll

Often associated with Kenjutsu, 剱道/劍道 means “The way of the sword” in Japanese (and Korean with an alternate form of the first character).
This is also the term used for swordsmanship and even fencing in Japanese and Korean, depending on context.

Note: These same characters are also used separately in Chinese, but this exact combination yields a common title in Japanese only (perhaps someone who is really into swords would use this in China).

Note: There is more than one way to write the “sword” character (shown above is the Japanese version - if you want the Korean version, please let me know when you place your order).


See Also:  Sword

 jiàn
 ken / tsurugi
 
Sword Scroll

劍 is pronounced “jian” in Chinese. When you say it, imagine that you are making the sound of a sword as it clashes with a metal shield. This might get you closer to the correct pronunciation in Chinese.

I actually wonder if this word came from the metallic ringing sounds of a sword in battle - but such knowledge is lost in history.

The sword is a symbol of a warrior. The one thing that a soldier in ancient China lived and died by. A warrior with his skills and sword proves himself of great value. A warrior who losses his sword instantly becomes worthless.

劍 is an excellent scroll for someone in the military (especially officers of all services - as well as enlisted NCO Marines since they still carry swords even if mainly for ceremonial purposes). Or perhaps someone who practices variations of kung fu or tai chi that involve weapons.

Please note that while this character is understood with the sword meaning in Japanese, you might be looking for the word “katana” which also means sword in Japanese but means “knife” in Chinese.


There are other ways to write sword, and here are a few...
Common Japanese and rare Chinese traditional form of sword Typical traditional form of sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese This one kind of means golden sword in Chinese Typical traditional form of sword in Chinese Common Japanese and rare Chinese traditional form of sword Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese This one kind of means golden sword in Chinese Typical traditional form of sword in Chinese Typical traditional form of sword in Chinese Common Japanese and rare Chinese traditional form of sword Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese This one kind of means golden sword in Chinese Typical traditional form of sword in Chinese Common Japanese and rare Chinese traditional form of sword Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese This one kind of means golden sword in Chinese Typical traditional form of sword in Chinese Common Japanese and rare Chinese traditional form of sword Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese Old/Alternative way to write sword in Chinese This one kind of means golden sword in Chinese
If you are particular about the version you receive, please let me know when you place your order (Note: Special styles are only available from one of our master calligraphers).

 jiàn
 ken
Sword Scroll

剱 is the modern Japanese way to write sword.

This Kanji character comes from original Chinese. This form would also be understood in Chinese (there are often several ways to write the same character) but I suggest this one only if your audience is Japanese (because they've settled on a slightly different form as the standard in China).

In Japanese, this character also means saber/sabre, blade, bayonet, stinger, and clock hand (clock hands are the “swords” of the clock).

 battou jutsu
Battojutsu Scroll

Battōjutsu or 抜刀術 is the art of sword drawing associated closely with the tradition of Kenjutsu.

Battōjutsu typically is done with a real and sharp-bladed katana and is often practiced as a form of kata.


Not the results for katana that you were looking for?

Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your katana search...

Characters

If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese

Pronunciation
Romanization
Simple Dictionary Definition

see styles
dāo
    dao1
tao
 katana(p); tou / katana(p); to
    かたな(P); とう

More info & calligraphy:

Katana
knife; blade; single-edged sword; cutlass; CL:把[ba3]; (slang) dollar (loanword); classifier for sets of one hundred sheets (of paper); classifier for knife cuts or stabs
(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

両腰

see styles
 ryougoshi / ryogoshi
    りょうごし
katana and wakizashi

打刀

see styles
 uchigatana
    うちがたな
(See 刀・1) katana; var. of Japanese long sword

片名

see styles
piān míng
    pian1 ming2
p`ien ming
    pien ming
 katana
    かたな
movie title
(place-name) Katana

竹光

see styles
 takemitsu
    たけみつ
(1) bamboo sword (resembling a katana, etc.); bamboo imitation sword; (2) dull sword; (surname) Takemitsu

諸腰

see styles
 morokoshi; morogoshi
    もろこし; もろごし
(rare) (See 両腰) katana and wakizashi

佳多奈

see styles
 katana
    かたな
(female given name) Katana

日本刀

see styles
rì běn dāo
    ri4 ben3 dao1
jih pen tao
 nihontou(p); nippontou / nihonto(p); nipponto
    にほんとう(P); にっぽんとう
Japanese sword; katana
Japanese sword (usu. single-edged and curved); Japanese bladed weapon

武士刀

see styles
wǔ shì dāo
    wu3 shi4 dao1
wu shih tao
katana

抜き打ち

see styles
 nukiuchi
    ぬきうち
(1) drawing a katana and attacking in the same stroke; (2) doing something suddenly, without warning

上毛野形名

see styles
 kamitsukenukatana
    かみつけぬかたな
(person) Kamitsukenu Katana

Variations:
打刀
打ち刀

see styles
 uchigatana
    うちがたな
(See 刀・1) katana (sword worn on the hip edge up by samurai)

Variations:
抜き打ち
抜打ち

see styles
 nukiuchi
    ぬきうち
(1) drawing a katana and attacking in the same stroke; (noun - becomes adjective with の) (2) doing (something) suddenly and without warning; doing without prior notice

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

Title CharactersRomaji (Romanized Japanese)Various forms of Romanized Chinese
Katanakatanadāo / dao1 / daotao
Kendo
The Way of the Sword
剱道 / 劍道
剣道
kendou / kendojiàn dào / jian4 dao4 / jian dao / jiandaochien tao / chientao
Sword
ken / tsurugijiàn / jian4 / jianchien
Sword
kenjiàn / jian4 / jianchien
Battojutsu抜刀術battou jutsu
battoujutsu
batto jutsu
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 Katana in my Japanese & Chinese Dictionary


Successful Chinese Character and Japanese Kanji calligraphy searches within the last few hours...

A Journey of 1000 Miles Feels Like OneA Life of Serenity Yields UnderstandingAadenAadilAadonAbdulAchrafAdeleAdhiAdrianAdrielAikidoAikikaiAiniAiramAlanisAlexaAliceAlistairAllyAlone With Only Your Shadow for CompanyAlways Be PreparedAlways Striving for Inner StrengthAnahiAnderAndersonAngelicaAngieAnitaAnnalynAntoinetteAntonArandaArelyArindamArjonArnieArt of HealingAsayama Ichiden-RyuAvengerAvinAvrilAwakeningBarunBastiBeginner MindBendijoBerengarBetelgeuseBlancaBloodless VictoryBodhisattvaBon VoyageBoundlessBreaBreannaBrielBrooklynBuddha ScrollBudo-KaiBujutsuBullBushi KaiCaineCalm MindCapricornCarmeliCastilloCelestial DragonCesarChadCheriChristaChristyCirceClarisseClaudiuClementineCliffordConstantinoCorazonCourage to Do What is RightDaito-RyuDakotaDalenDanielleDanniDarinDavianDemonteDennieDenzDetermination to AchieveDhannaDiamondDickinsonDojochoDonaDragon EmperorDynamic Energy EnthusiasmEagleEdenEleuterioEllenElmerEloiseEmmanuelEnisEnjoy LifeEssenceEverlyEzraFailure Teaches SuccessFearlessFernFifiFive FortunesFive Reflections - GoseiFlexibility Overcomes StrengthFordForeverFour SeasonsFudoshinGeminyGeorgeGladysGo Rin No ShoGoju-RyuGoldGood Health Healthy VigorGoshin JutsuGoshin-DoGouthamGregGreggGuanyinGudoGunterHaiderHarmonyHaruHealing PersonHeartHollyHoshiHunterIchigo IchieIchigo KurosakiImprovise Adapt OvercomeIndestructibleIron ManIssacIzabellaJanaJayeJeraldJerlynJeromeJessicaJettJobinJollyJuliKadieKaelynKarate-DoKareemKarlKateKathyKatrinKatsujinkenKawasakiKayleighKeep CalmKelseaKen Zen Ichi NyoKenyonKeziahKodokan AikidoKodyKokoro O MoyaseKusaLambertLathamLightning BoltLitaLoreenLuceroLucioMacintyreMadonnaMaiaMaliaManzoMariaMarimarMarishiten MariciMarita

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.


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

140 people have searched for Katana in Chinese or Japanese in the past year.
Katana was last searched for by someone else on Feb 28th, 2024