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Personalize your custom “光” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “光” title below...
3. Divine Light
4. Halo
5. Korin
6. Light / Bright and Promising Future
7. Merciful Heart / The Light from a Buddha Mind
8. Moonlight
9. Radiance
12. Sunshine
14. Time
15. Toko
16. Hakko-Ryu
17. Kodokan
19. Happy Buddha
21. Intuitive Wisdom / Inner Light
23. A Traditional Warm Welcome
24. Time and Tide Wait for No Man
25. Life is Short
28. Kodokan Aikido
29. Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark
光 is the simplest way to express “light” in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
It can also mean ray or bright. Chinese tend to use a two-character word for light/bright, so this character is probably best if your audience is Japanese. Also, when pronounced Rei, this can be a Japanese female given name.
In the Zen Buddhist context, this is the pure light that everyone possesses at their origin.
圓光 is one of many ways to express “halo” in Chinese.
圓光 means radiance emanating from the head.
This can refer to the halo surrounding the head of a Buddha.
This is occasionally used to mean “halo” in Japanese, but it is more commonly the surname Enkō in Japan.
You may want to check our dictionary for many more versions of halo.
光明 is a nice way to say “light” in Chinese and old Korean Hanja.
This is because the word also suggests a bright future or refers to someone who is very promising (great future potential).
The first character means light or bright.
The second character means bright and clear (in this context).
This word appears in most Japanese dictionaries, but it is not the most common Japanese Kanji word for light (more commonly used for the name Mitsuharu).
In old Korean Hanja, this can also mean brightness or brilliance.
In the context of Buddhism, this means “Light emanating from a Buddha or Bodhisattva, symbolizing their wisdom and compassion.”
心光 can mean the light from a Buddha's mind or “merciful heart.”
This would especially be the light emanating from Amitābha.
Note that the character 心 can mean mind or heart. 光 means light or brightness - but in this context can suggest a glow of mercy or compassion.
This can also be a Japanese surname that is romanized as Shinkou or Shinko.
月光 is the Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji title for moonlight.
This can also be used to describe a moonbeam and can be a given name in all three languages (pronounced as Rumi when used as a female given name in Japanese).
光彩 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja for radiance.
Other meanings include luster, splendor/splendour, and brilliance.
光彩 is the radiance you see when a person's arrival brings happiness and joy to the room. Or the radiance on the face of a new bride etc.
If you delve into the dictionary, other forms of radiance will refer to isotopes emitting radiation. 光彩 is not related to radiation and is not the kind that causes cancer.
In Japanese, this can be several female given names such as Misa, Hikari, Hiiro, Teresa, or Arisa. And a more unisex given name of Kousai or Kosai.
光芒 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja for radiance meaning rays of light, brilliant rays, beams of light, etc.
光芒 is the radiance you feel when the sun hits your face in the morning, bringing you warmth while kickstarting your vitamin D production.
陽光 is the Chinese word for sunshine.
陽光 is a more emotional word compared to another Asian word that means “sunlight.” If you were going to sing a song or write a poem, this is the word you would use.
Note: This is a rarely-used word in Korean or Japanese.
日光 is the Japanese Kanji word for sunshine or sunlight.
This can also be the Japanese female given name Himi.
八光流 (Hakkō-Ryū) is a style of jujutsu associated with Daito-Ryu.
The title Hakko-Ryu comes from the Japanese phrase which translates as “The Style of the Eighth Light,” or more literally, “Eighth Light Style.”
The 光 character is associated with brightness or brilliance. It can be used to describe someone of great talent or potential. So the meaning goes far beyond just light.
光道館 is Kodokan.
This is the title of an Aikido dojo, studio, or hall.
Be careful in selecting the correct Kodokan, as there are a few different titles that romanize as Kodokan.
Here's how the characters break down in meaning for this one:
1. Light / Bright
2. Way / Path (the Tao/Dao as in Taoism/Daoism)
3. Schoolroom / Building / Establishment / Mansion / Hall (of learning)
Altogether, you get something like “The Path of Light Establishment.”
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).
Buddha of Joyful Light
Drill a hole in the wall to get light to read by.
鑿壁偷光 is a Chinese proverb that means “Bore a hole in the wall to make use of the neighbor's light to study.”
This is a nice gift for a very studious person.
Kuang Heng was born during the Western Han period. He has been very fond of reading ever since he was young. However, he could not attend school since his family was poor, and he had to borrow books from people to learn.
To borrow these books, he normally did chores for people who had them. When he became older, he had to work in the field from sunrise to sunset since his family's financial situation did not improve. Thus, he tried to study at night, but he had no lamp.
One day, he noticed the light from the neighbor's house coming through a crack in the wall. This made him very happy, so he dug a larger hole from the crack and read in the light that shone through. This diligent study eventually made him an accomplished person.
光の戦士 is the Japanese title for Warrior(s) of Light.
This usually refers to the Four Warriors of Light theme from the Final Fantasy series.
Also called Light Warriors, Warriors of the Light, Knights of Light, or Heroes of Light, depending on who is translating.
There are no direct plural forms in Japanese, so warrior or warriors is the same word, 戦士 (which can also be soldier, fighter, combatant, etc.).
歡迎光臨 would be the ultimate Chinese “welcome mat.” Except it will be on your wall, and people will not step on it.
In a somewhat literal translation, you could say it means “I feel happy as I welcome you, as you have brought a shining light to this place with your arrival,” or more simply, “I am happy you've come as your presents brightens up the place.”
It has become common for this greeting to be announced by the staff upon the arrival of any customer into a fancy store in China. You will also see these characters on the “welcome mats” in front of 4 and 5-star hotels in China.
Having this on a wall scroll is an extra nice touch. I have seen a few horizontal scrolls with this phrase on the wall behind the reception desk of better hotels or near the front door of fine shops. At the fanciest department stores and restaurants in China, several greeters (almost always young women) will stand by the front door, all wearing sashes with this phrase embroidered. As you walk in, they will bow and say “huan ying guang lin” to welcome you to the establishment.
Note: The first two and last two characters do make words in Korean Hanja but are seldom used as a sentence like this in Korean.
光陰矢の如し is a Japanese proverb that means “time flies like an arrow.” It's very similar to the English idiom, “time and tide wait for no man,” or “life is short.”
The Kanji breakdown:
光陰 = Time (the cycle of light and dark).
[and an]
矢 = Arrow
の = are
如し = Alike
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
A 100-year-old is but a traveler passing through this life
四拳波羅蜜大光明 is “shiken haramitsu daikōmyō,” a famous Japanese Buddhist mantra.
四拳 = shi-ken = four fists (many translate this as “four hearts”).
波羅蜜 = ha-ra-mitsu = A loanword representing pāramitā, or entrance into Nirvana. Awkwardly, it also means jackfruit.
大光明 = dai-kou-myo = big/great light bright (great bright light).
Shiken represents four hearts:
1. The Merciful Heart - Love and caring for all living things.
2. The Sincere Heart - Pursues righteousness, or the right path - sincerely trying to do what is right.
3. The Attuned Heart - Knows that nature and fate have their ways, and thus stay in tune with the universe.
4. The Dedicated Heart - Steadfast on the chosen path to the end.
詞韻波羅蜜大光明 are the Japanese Kanji characters that romanize as “Shikin Haramitsu Daikōmyō.”
This is a complicated proverb. I'm actually going to forgo writing any translation information here. You can figure it out via Google search and at sites like Paramita and the Perfection of Wisdom or
Fecastel.Wordpress.com::Shikin Haramitsu Daikōmyō
信唸是在黎明前的黑闇中能感到光明的鳥 is a philosophical poem/quote from Indian Poet and Philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore.
Rabindranath Tagore, 1915
This quote is not sourced, and therefore several variations exist in English. Some suggest the original was in the Bengali language.
This, of course, is the Chinese translation that has the meaning of, “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”
More about Rabindranath Tagore
爾昌友延嗣捷開文裔光宗傳世澤遠晉本立道隆積善家國重學業廣成芳 is the Tom Clan Generational Poem.
If you are interested in this poem, you probably already know the meaning, so for now we'll forgo including a translation.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your 光 search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
光 see styles |
guāng guang1 kuang hikari ひかり |
More info & calligraphy: Light / Bright / Shine(1) light; (2) illumination; ray; beam; gleam; glow; (3) happiness; hope; (4) influence; power; (5) vision; eyesight; (6) (abbreviation) (See 光回線) optical fiber; optical fibre; (female given name) Rei 光明 prabha, light, brightness, splendour, to illuminate. |
世光 see styles |
shì guāng shi4 guang1 shih kuang toshimitsu としみつ |
More info & calligraphy: Light of the Worldlight of the world |
佛光 see styles |
fó guāng fo2 guang1 fo kuang bukkō |
More info & calligraphy: The Aura of BuddhaThe light of Buddha, spiritual enlightenment; halo, glory. |
光彩 see styles |
guāng cǎi guang1 cai3 kuang ts`ai kuang tsai kousai / kosai こうさい |
More info & calligraphy: Radiancebrilliance; splendour; splendor; lustre; luster; (female given name) Misa |
光明 see styles |
guāng míng guang1 ming2 kuang ming koumyou(p); koumei / komyo(p); kome こうみょう(P); こうめい |
More info & calligraphy: Light / Bright and Promising Future(1) bright light; (2) hope; bright future; (3) {Buddh} light emanating from a buddha or bodhisattva, symbolizing their wisdom and compassion; (place-name) Gwangmyeong (South Korea) v. last entry. |
光林 see styles |
mitsubayashi みつばやし |
More info & calligraphy: Korin |
光芒 see styles |
guāng máng guang1 mang2 kuang mang koubou / kobo こうぼう |
More info & calligraphy: Radiance / Rays of Lightbeam of light |
圓光 圆光 see styles |
yuán guāng yuan2 guang1 yüan kuang enkou / enko えんこう |
More info & calligraphy: Halo(surname) Enkou The halo surrounding the head of a Buddha, etc. |
心光 see styles |
xīn guāng xin1 guang1 hsin kuang shinkou / shinko しんこう |
More info & calligraphy: Merciful Heart / The Light from a Buddha MindThe light from (a Buddha's) mind, or merciful heart, especially that of Amitābha. |
日光 see styles |
rì guāng ri4 guang1 jih kuang nikkou / nikko にっこう |
More info & calligraphy: Sunshine / Sunlight(1) sunlight; sunshine; sunbeams; (2) Nikkō (city in Tochigi); (female given name) Himi (日光菩薩); 蘇利也波羅皮遮那 Sūrya-prabhāsana. Sunlight, and 月光 (月光菩薩) Moonlight, name of two Bodhisattva assistants of 藥師 the Master of Healing; Sunlight is the ninth in the Dizang Court of the Garbhadhātu group. |
時光 时光 see styles |
shí guāng shi2 guang1 shih kuang tokimitsu ときみつ |
More info & calligraphy: Time(surname, given name) Tokimitsu |
月光 see styles |
yuè guāng yue4 guang1 yüeh kuang gekkou / gekko げっこう |
More info & calligraphy: Moonlightmoonlight; moonbeam; (female given name) Rumi Candraprabha, 戰達羅鉢刺婆 Moonlight. One of the three honoured ones in the Vajradhātu, and in the Mañjuśrī court of the Garbhadhātu, known also as 淸涼金剛. |
東光 东光 see styles |
dōng guāng dong1 guang1 tung kuang harumitsu はるみつ |
More info & calligraphy: Toko(given name) Harumitsu |
陽光 阳光 see styles |
yáng guāng yang2 guang1 yang kuang youkou / yoko ようこう |
More info & calligraphy: Sunshinesunshine; sunlight; (female given name) Yōkou The sun's light, also idem陽燄 sun flames, or heat, i.e. the mirage causing the illusion of lakes. |
靈光 灵光 see styles |
líng guāng ling2 guang1 ling kuang |
More info & calligraphy: Divine Light |
大光明 see styles |
dà guāng míng da4 guang1 ming2 ta kuang ming oomiya おおみや |
More info & calligraphy: Reiki - Master Symbol |
一道神光 see styles |
yī dào shén guāng yi1 dao4 shen2 guang1 i tao shen kuang ichidō no shinkō |
More info & calligraphy: Intuitive Wisdom / Inner Light |
歡喜光佛 欢喜光佛 see styles |
huān xǐ guāng fó huan1 xi3 guang1 fo2 huan hsi kuang fo Kangi Kōbutsu |
More info & calligraphy: Happy Buddha |
歡迎光臨 欢迎光临 see styles |
huān yíng guāng lín huan1 ying2 guang1 lin2 huan ying kuang lin |
More info & calligraphy: A Traditional Warm Welcome |
鑿壁偷光 凿壁偷光 see styles |
záo bì tōu guāng zao2 bi4 tou1 guang1 tsao pi t`ou kuang tsao pi tou kuang |
More info & calligraphy: Diligent Study Proverb |
光陰矢の如し see styles |
kouinyanogotoshi / koinyanogotoshi こういんやのごとし |
More info & calligraphy: Time and Tide Wait for No Man |
X光 see styles |
x guāng x guang1 x kuang |
X-ray |
一光 see styles |
hitomi ひとみ |
(female given name) Hitomi |
七光 see styles |
nanami ななみ |
benefiting from the influence of a master or parent; (female given name) Nanami |
万光 see styles |
manmitsu まんみつ |
(surname) Manmitsu |
丈光 see styles |
joukou / joko じょうこう |
(surname) Jōkou |
三光 see styles |
sān guāng san1 guang1 san kuang sankou / sanko さんこう |
the sun, the moon, and the stars (1) (poetic term) the Sun, the Moon and the stars; (2) {hanaf} three 20-point cards (high-scoring meld); (personal name) Miteru (三光天) Sun, moon, and stars. Also, in the second dhyāna of the form-world there are the two deva regions 少光天, 無量光天, and 光音天q.v. Also 觀音 Avalokiteśvara is styled 日天子sun-prince, or divine son of the sun, 大勢至 Mahāsthāmaprapta is styled 月天子 divine son of the moon, and 虛空藏菩薩 the bodhisattva of the empyrean, is styled 明星天子 divine son of the bright stars. |
上光 see styles |
joukou / joko じょうこう |
(surname) Jōkou |
下光 see styles |
shimomitsu しもみつ |
(surname) Shimomitsu |
不光 see styles |
bù guāng bu4 guang1 pu kuang |
not the only one; not only |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Light Bright Shine | 光 | hikari | guāng / guang1 / guang | kuang |
The Aura of Buddha | 佛光 | bukkou / buko | fó guāng / fo2 guang1 / fo guang / foguang | fo kuang / fokuang |
Divine Light | 靈光 灵光 | líng guāng ling2 guang1 ling guang lingguang | ling kuang lingkuang |
|
Halo | 圓光 圆光 | Enkou / Enko | yuán guāng yuan2 guang1 yuan guang yuanguang | yüan kuang yüankuang |
Korin | 光林 | guāng lín guang1 lin2 guang lin guanglin | kuang lin kuanglin |
|
Light Bright and Promising Future | 光明 | kou mei / mitsu haru koumei / mitsuharu ko mei / mitsu haru | guāng míng guang1 ming2 guang ming guangming | kuang ming kuangming |
Merciful Heart The Light from a Buddha Mind | 心光 | shin kou / shinkou / shin ko | xīn guāng xin1 guang1 xin guang xinguang | hsin kuang hsinkuang |
Moonlight | 月光 | gekkou / geko | yuè guāng yue4 guang1 yue guang yueguang | yüeh kuang yüehkuang |
Radiance | 光彩 | kousai / kosai | guāng cǎi guang1 cai3 guang cai guangcai | kuang ts`ai kuangtsai kuang tsai |
Radiance Rays of Light | 光芒 | koubou / kobo | guāng máng guang1 mang2 guang mang guangmang | kuang mang kuangmang |
Light of the World | 世光 | toshimitsu | shì guāng shi4 guang1 shi guang shiguang | shih kuang shihkuang |
Sunshine | 陽光 阳光 | you kou / youkou / yo ko | yáng guāng yang2 guang1 yang guang yangguang | yang kuang yangkuang |
Sunshine Sunlight | 日光 | nikkou / niko | rì guāng / ri4 guang1 / ri guang / riguang | jih kuang / jihkuang |
Time | 時光 时光 | tokimitsu | shí guāng shi2 guang1 shi guang shiguang | shih kuang shihkuang |
Toko | 東光 | tou kou / toukou / to ko | dōng guāng dong1 guang1 dong guang dongguang | tung kuang tungkuang |
Hakko-Ryu | 八光流 | hakkou ryuu hakkouryuu hako ryu | ||
Kodokan | 光道館 讲道馆 | kou dou kan koudoukan ko do kan | ||
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 |
Happy Buddha | 歡喜光佛 欢喜光佛 | kan gi kou butsu kangikoubutsu kan gi ko butsu | huān xǐ guāng fó huan1 xi3 guang1 fo2 huan xi guang fo huanxiguangfo | huan hsi kuang fo huanhsikuangfo |
Diligent Study Proverb | 鑿壁偷光 凿壁偷光 | záo bì tōu guāng zao2 bi4 tou1 guang1 zao bi tou guang zaobitouguang | tsao pi t`ou kuang tsaopitoukuang tsao pi tou kuang |
|
Intuitive Wisdom Inner Light | 一道神光 | ichidou no shinkou ichidounoshinkou ichido no shinko | yī dào shén guāng yi1 dao4 shen2 guang1 yi dao shen guang yidaoshenguang | i tao shen kuang itaoshenkuang |
Warriors of Light | 光の戦士 | hikari no senshi hikarinosenshi | ||
A Traditional Warm Welcome | 歡迎光臨 欢迎光临 | huān yíng guāng lín huan1 ying2 guang1 lin2 huan ying guang lin huanyingguanglin | huan ying kuang lin huanyingkuanglin |
|
Time and Tide Wait for No Man | 光陰矢の如し 光阴矢の如し | kouinya no goto shi kouinyanogotoshi koinya no goto shi | ||
Life is Short | 百歲光陰如過客 百岁光阴如过客 | bǎi suì guāng yīn rú guò kè bai3 sui4 guang1 yin1 ru2 guo4 ke4 bai sui guang yin ru guo ke baisuiguangyinruguoke | pai sui kuang yin ju kuo k`o paisuikuangyinjukuoko pai sui kuang yin ju kuo ko |
|
Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo | 四拳波羅蜜大光明 | shi ken ha ra mitsu dai kou myou shi ken ha ra mitsu dai ko myo | ||
Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo | 詞韻波羅蜜大光明 词韵波罗蜜大光明 | shi kin ha ra mitsu dai kou myo shikinharamitsudaikoumyo shi kin ha ra mitsu dai ko myo | ||
Kodokan Aikido | 光道館合気道 / 光道館合氣道 光道馆合气道 | kou dou kan ai ki dou koudoukanaikidou ko do kan ai ki do | ||
Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark | 信唸是在黎明前的黑闇中能感到光明的鳥 信念是在黎明前的黑暗中能感到光明的鸟 | xìn niǎn shì zài lí míng qián de hēi àn zhōng néng gǎn dào guāng míng de niǎo xin4 nian3 shi4 zai4 li2 ming2 qian2 de hei1 an4 zhong1 neng2 gan3 dao4 guang1 ming2 de niao3 xin nian shi zai li ming qian de hei an zhong neng gan dao guang ming de niao | hsin nien shih tsai li ming ch`ien te hei an chung neng kan tao kuang ming te niao hsin nien shih tsai li ming chien te hei an chung neng kan tao kuang ming te niao |
|
Tom Clan Generational Poem | 爾昌友延嗣捷開文裔光宗傳世澤遠晉本立道隆積善家國重學業廣成芳 尔昌友延嗣捷开文裔光宗传世泽远晋本立道隆积善家国重学业广成芳 | ěr chāng yǒu yán sì jié kāi wén yì guāng zōng chuán shì zé yuǎn jìn běn lì dào lóng jī shàn jiā guó zhòng xué yè guǎng chéng fāng er3 chang1 you3 yan2 si4 jie2 kai1 wen2 yi4 guang1 zong1 chuan2 shi4 ze2 yuan3 jin4 ben3 li4 dao4 long2 ji1 shan4 jia1 guo2 zhong4 xue2 ye4 guang3 cheng2 fang1 er chang you yan si jie kai wen yi guang zong chuan shi ze yuan jin ben li dao long ji shan jia guo zhong xue ye guang cheng fang | erh ch`ang yu yen ssu chieh k`ai wen i kuang tsung ch`uan shih tse yüan chin pen li tao lung chi shan chia kuo chung hsüeh yeh kuang ch`eng fang erh chang yu yen ssu chieh kai wen i kuang tsung chuan shih tse yüan chin pen li tao lung chi shan chia kuo chung hsüeh yeh kuang cheng fang |
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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.