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1. In the Abyss of Infinite Bitterness - Turn to the Shore
2. Blue Lotus
3. The one who retreats 50 paces mocks the one to retreats 100
5. Four Noble Truths: Suffering
6. Four Noble Truths: Desire and Attachment
7. Four Noble Truths: Path Leading Away From Suffering
9. Use Hard Work to Overcome Adversity
10. Contentment
11. If you have not been a monk, how can you know what it is like to be a vegetarian?
12. No Pain No Gain
13. The Pain of Separation from Your Loves
14. Phoenix Rise from the Ashes
15. Release / Let Go
16. Self-Love / Love Yourself / Love Oneself
17. Brahmavihara - The Four Immeasurables
18. Birth Old-Age Sickness Death
19. Give Up Desire
20. Samudaya
苦海無邊, 回頭是岸 can be translated almost directly as “The sea of bitterness has no bounds, turn your head to see the shore.”
Often this proverb refers to how Buddhist enlightenment can allow one to shed off the abyss of worldly suffering. But it can apply to other religions. If you find yourself trapped in the hardship of this worldly life, take a new turn, and seek a path to salvation.
靑蓮 is a common title for Blue Lotus.
靑蓮 is often used in a Buddhist context for blue lotus from the Sanskrit “utpala.” This often refers to the clarity and purity of the lotus blue eyes possessed by a Living Buddha. It can also represent the purity of mind (without desire, suffering, fear, etc.).
The pot calls the kettle black
五十步笑百步 is a Chinese proverb that means the one who retreats 50 paces mocks the one who retreats 100 paces.
During the Warring States Period of what is now China (475 - 221 B.C.), the King of Wei was in love with war. He often fought with other kingdoms just for spite or fun.
One day, the King of Wei asked the philosopher Mencius, “I love my people, and all say I do the best for them. I move the people from famine-stricken areas to places of plenty and transport grains from rich areas to the poor. Nobody goes hungry in my kingdom, and I treat my people far better than other kings. But why does the population of my kingdom not increase, and why does the population of other kingdoms not decrease?”
Mencius answered, “Since you love war, I will make this example: When going to war, and the drums beat to start the attack, some soldiers flee for their lives in fear. Some run 100 paces in retreat, and others run 50 steps. Then the ones who retreated 50 paces laugh and taunt those who retreated 100 paces, calling them cowards mortally afraid of death. Do you think this is reasonable?
The King of Wei answered, “Of course not! Those who run 50 paces are just as timid as those who run 100 paces.”
Mencius then said, “You are a king who treats his subjects better than other kings treat their people, but you are so fond of war that your people suffer from great losses in battle. Therefore, your population does not grow. While other kings allow their people to starve to death, you send your people to die in war. Is there any difference?”
This famous conversation led to the six-character proverb shown here. It serves as a warning to avoid hypocrisy. It goes hand-in-hand with the western phrase, “The pot calls the kettle black,” or the Biblical phrase, “Before trying to remove a splinter from your neighbor's eye, first remove the plank from your own eye.”
堅忍 means persistent, steadfast, fortitude, and/or perseverance.
The first character means strong, solid, firm, unyielding, or resolute.
The second character means to beat, endure, or tolerate.
Together they speak of the strength from within yourself. Some may also translate this as long-suffering in a more Biblical sense.
堅忍 is a common term in Chinese and Korean Hanja but a little less commonly used in modern Japanese Kanji. For that reason, this selection is best if your audience is Chinese or Korean.
Note that when writing this as Kanji, Japanese will tend to write the second Kanji a little differently. If you select our Japanese master calligrapher, please expect the form where the little horizontal stroke crosses the vertical stroke. See differences in the images to the right. Technically, they are both the same character, and will be read the same in either language.
Dukkha
苦諦 relays that part of life in this universe is suffering.
All living things experience some form of suffering, according to Buddhist teaching.
This title is about accepting and understanding that the world is full of suffering.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an unknown concept to most Chinese, Japanese and Korean people.
See Also: Buddhism | Enlightenment
Samudaya
集諦 represents the idea that the core of suffering is often the concept of desire or attachment.
This can be carnal desire, monetary desire, or the attachment you have to something that you are unwilling to part with (such as a fancy car). 集諦 is a simplification of the second noble truth which is an exploration into the root causes of suffering - it's deeper than I can go in a few sentences.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an unknown concept to most Chinese, Japanese and Korean people.
See Also: Buddhism | Enlightenment
Magga
道諦 is the idea that once you have dealt with your desires and left all desire and attachment behind, only then are you on the path away from suffering (and on your way to enlightenment).
道諦 is also called the path to liberation in some English texts on Buddhism.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an unknown concept to most Chinese, Japanese and Korean people.
See Also: Buddhism | Enlightenment
四諦 is the title of the Four Noble Truths as taught in virtually all sects of Buddhism.
These truths are suffering (dukkha), desire/attachment (samudaya), release from desire/attachment (nirodha), and the path leading away from suffering (magga).
The suggestion behind these truths is that all things in nature suffer. All things in nature have desire and attachment for things in the physical world. The enlightened can release themselves from the bonds of desire and attachment. And finally, once they release all desire and attachment, the enlightened will find a path that leads away from suffering.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an unknown concept to most Japanese, Chinese, and Korean people.
See Also: Buddhism | Enlightenment
苦諦集諦滅諦道諦 is the list of tenets of the Four Noble Truths as taught in virtually all sects of Buddhism.
They are suffering (dukkha), desire/attachment (samudaya), release from desire/attachment (nirodha), and the path leading away from suffering (magga).
知足 means content with one's situation or to know contentment (hence happiness).
From the Zen Buddhist context, Chisoku or 知足 (knowing what’s enough) means always to know and be
satisfied with one’s lot.
Human pain and suffering are born of greed, and that greed arises because we do not know what’s enough.
The Chinese philosopher, Menzi (372-289 BCE) said, “to nourish the mind, there is nothing better than to make the desires few.”
This relays the idea that the best method to cultivate the mind is to have little desire.
Only by experiencing hardship will allow you understand the plight of others
不當和尚不知齋戒苦 literally translates as:
[One who has] not been a monk [does not] know the suffering of [being on a] vegetarian diet.
This is a bit like the “walk a mile in another man's shoes” saying. Basically, it's about you cannot fully understand the plight of others until you experience it yourself.
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.
愛別離苦 is a Buddhist term that refers to “the pain of separation from loved ones,” or “the suffering of being separated from those whom one loves.”
If you translate each character separately, you get, “love(s) separated [and] departed [yields] pain.”
The pain character can also be defined as anguish; suffering; distress; anxiety; worry; trouble; difficulty; hardship; bitterness; to suffer; anguish; distress; anxiety; worry; trouble; difficulty; bitterness; unhappiness; or misery.
鳳凰涅磐 is a proverb that suggests “Legendary Phoenix rises from the ashes.” It means “Legendary Phoenix [reaches] Nirvana.”
There is a legend in China of a great bird reborn once every 500 years. This bird gathers all the ill will, suffering, desire, and other negative things of the world. The bird then plunges into the fire to burn away all negative things, sacrificing itself in the process (achieving Nirvana, or perhaps allowing others the opportunity to reach Nirvana).
500 years later, the phoenix is reborn from the ashes again, and the cycle repeats.
放 means to release, to free, to let go, to let out, to set off (fireworks).
In Japanese, this can also be a place called Hanashi
放 is also used in the context of Buddhism.
In Buddhism, this can represent the release of desire, materialism, suffering, or mortality.
自愛 means self-love, self-regard, regard for oneself, cherishing one's good name, taking care of oneself, or love myself.
In the Buddhist context, this is the cause of all pursuit or seeking, which in turn causes all suffering. All Buddhas discharge themselves from self-love and all pursuits of personal gratification. Such elimination of self-love is a step towards nirvāṇa.
This title can be taken as positive or negative, depending on how you read it. Some will see it as arrogant, and others will read it as a token of self-respect. Because of this ambiguity, I do not recommend this title for a wall scroll.
四無量心 is the cattāri brahmavihārā or catvāri apramāṇāni.
The four immeasurables, or infinite Buddha-states of mind. These four dhyānas include:
1. 慈無量心 boundless kindness, maitrī, or bestowing of joy or happiness.
2. 悲無量心 boundless pity, karuṇā, to save from suffering.
3. 喜無量心 boundless joy, muditā, on seeing others rescued from suffering.
4. 捨無量心 limitless indifference, upekṣā, i.e., rising above these emotions or giving up all things.
Born to Suffer
生老病死 means “to be born, to grow old, to get sick and to die” or “birth, aging, sickness, and death.”
This is an old somewhat-morbid Chinese proverb that is also used in Korean and Japanese. It figuratively means the fate of humankind (i.e. mortality) or suggests that we are all born to suffer.
In the Buddhist context, there are the “four inevitables in human life” or “four afflictions that are the lot of every human” known as “四苦” (literally “four afflictions”). Sometimes this proverb is written with that affliction character, 苦, at the end like 生老病死苦.
These search terms might be related to Suffer:
Bad Experience, Caution Lingers
Bear
Each Time You Stumble and Fall, You Gain Experience and Wisdom
Endure and Survive
Experience is the Mother of Wisdom
Knowledge From Experience
Panda Bear
Past Experience is the Teacher for the Future
Patience / Perseverance / to Endure / Tolerant
Polar Bear
Schooled by Experience and Hard Knocks
To Know Hardship, One Must Experience It
White Bear / Polar Bear
Wisdom Comes From Experience
You Must Endure a Harsh Winter to Appreciate the Warmth of Springtime
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
In the Abyss of Infinite Bitterness - Turn to the Shore | 苦海無邊回頭是岸 苦海无边回头是岸 | kǔ hǎi wú biān huí tóu shì àn ku3 hai3 wu2 bian1 hui2 tou2 shi4 an4 ku hai wu bian hui tou shi an kuhaiwubianhuitoushian | k`u hai wu pien hui t`ou shih an kuhaiwupienhuitoushihan ku hai wu pien hui tou shih an |
|
Blue Lotus | 靑蓮 靑莲 | seiren | qing lián / qing lian2 / qing lian / qinglian | ch`ing lien / chinglien / ching lien |
The one who retreats 50 paces mocks the one to retreats 100 | 五十步笑百步 | wù shí bù xiào bǎi bù wu4 shi2 bu4 xiao4 bai3 bu4 wu shi bu xiao bai bu wushibuxiaobaibu | wu shih pu hsiao pai pu wushihpuhsiaopaipu |
|
Perseverance Fortitude | 堅忍 坚忍 | ken nin / kennin | jiǎn rěn / jian3 ren3 / jian ren / jianren | chien jen / chienjen |
Four Noble Truths: Suffering | 苦諦 苦谛 | kutai | kǔ dì / ku3 di4 / ku di / kudi | k`u ti / kuti / ku ti |
Four Noble Truths: Desire and Attachment | 集諦 集谛 | jittai | jí dì / ji2 di4 / ji di / jidi | chi ti / chiti |
Four Noble Truths: Path Leading Away From Suffering | 道諦 道谛 | doutai / dotai | dào dì / dao4 di4 / dao di / daodi | tao ti / taoti |
Four Noble Truths (Buddhism) | 四諦 四谛 | shitai | sì dì / si4 di4 / si di / sidi | ssu ti / ssuti |
Four Noble Truths (Full List) | 苦諦集諦滅諦道諦 苦谛集谛灭谛道谛 | kutai jittai mettai doutai kutaijittaimettaidoutai kutai jittai mettai dotai | kǔ dì jí dì miè dì dào dì ku3 di4 ji2 di4 mie4 di4 dao4 di4 ku di ji di mie di dao di kudijidimiedidaodi | k`u ti chi ti mieh ti tao ti kutichitimiehtitaoti ku ti chi ti mieh ti tao ti |
Use Hard Work to Overcome Adversity | 刻苦耐勞 刻苦耐劳 | kè kǔ nài láo ke4 ku3 nai4 lao2 ke ku nai lao kekunailao | k`o k`u nai lao kokunailao ko ku nai lao |
|
Contentment | 知足 | chisoku | zhī zú / zhi1 zu2 / zhi zu / zhizu | chih tsu / chihtsu |
If you have not been a monk, how can you know what it is like to be a vegetarian? | 不當和尚不知齋戒苦 不当和尚不知斋戒苦 | bù dāng hé shang bù zhī zhāi jiè kǔ bu4 dang1 he2 shang bu4 zhi1 zhai1 jie4 ku3 bu dang he shang bu zhi zhai jie ku | pu tang ho shang pu chih chai chieh k`u pu tang ho shang pu chih chai chieh ku |
|
No Pain No Gain | 痛みなくして得るものなし | itami naku shite erumono wa nashi | ||
The Pain of Separation from Your Loves | 愛別離苦 爱别离苦 | ai betsu ri ku aibetsuriku | ài bié lí kǔ ai4 bie2 li2 ku3 ai bie li ku aibieliku | ai pieh li k`u aipiehliku ai pieh li ku |
Phoenix Rise from the Ashes | 鳳凰涅磐 凤凰涅磐 | fèng huáng niè pán feng4 huang2 nie4 pan2 feng huang nie pan fenghuangniepan | feng huang nieh p`an fenghuangniehpan feng huang nieh pan |
|
Release Let Go | 放 | hana / pang | fàng / fang4 / fang | |
Self-Love Love Yourself Love Oneself | 自愛 自爱 | ji ai / jiai | zì ài / zi4 ai4 / zi ai / ziai | tzu ai / tzuai |
Brahmavihara - The Four Immeasurables | 四無量心 四无量心 | shi mur you shin shimuryoushin shi mur yo shin | sì wú liàng xīn si4 wu2 liang4 xin1 si wu liang xin siwuliangxin | ssu wu liang hsin ssuwulianghsin |
Birth Old-Age Sickness Death | 生老病死 | shou rou byou shi shouroubyoushi sho ro byo shi | shēng lǎo bìng sǐ sheng1 lao3 bing4 si3 sheng lao bing si shenglaobingsi | sheng lao ping ssu shenglaopingssu |
Give Up Desire | 捨欲 舍欲 | shayoku | shě yù / she3 yu4 / she yu / sheyu | she yü / sheyü |
Samudaya | 三牟提耶 | sanmudaiya | sān móu tí yé san1 mou2 ti2 ye2 san mou ti ye sanmoutiye | san mou t`i yeh sanmoutiyeh san mou ti yeh |
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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