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悟 means enlightenment but can also mean to perceive, discern, realize, understand or comprehend.
悟 has the same meaning in Chinese, Japanese and Korean, though used most often with deep significance in Japanese culture and language. 悟 is often seen in Japan along with a secondary Hiragana character. We also offer that option but this is the more universal single-character entry.
悟性 means the power of understanding and insight in Chinese.
It is often associated with Neo-Confucianism. In that regard, it means to realize, perceive, or have the perception of man's true nature. It can also mean finding your soul, the soul of others, or the soul of the world. Some will translate this simply as the state of being “savvy.”
In Japanese, this is often translated as wisdom and understanding.
悟り is the Japanese term for enlightenment which can also mean to perceive, discern, realize, understand, or comprehend.
The first character has the same meaning in Chinese and Korean but has deeper significance in Japanese culture and language. This version of Satori incorporates the Japanese secondary character (Hiragana, not Kanji) that adds the “ri” to Satori. It's unnecessary to have the second character, as it does not add to the meaning as much as clarity for the context in which you are using this term.
Monkey King
悟空 is the short name or given name of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, from the ancient Chinese novel Journey to the West.
This title is also known as the given name of the Monkey King in Japanese. This can also be Goku, short for Son Goku, a fictional character of the Dragon Ball Japanese manga series (also based loosely on the Monkey King).
Monkey King
孫悟空 is the name Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. He is the main character with supernatural powers in the ancient Chinese novel Journey to the West.
This title is also known as the real name of the Monkey King in Japanese. This can also be the Son Goku, better known as simply Goku, a fictional character of the Dragon Ball Japanese manga series.
醒悟 is a Chinese word that expresses the idea of reality or coming to understand what is true and real.
The first character means to wake up, awaken, comprehend, introspect, or visit.
The second character means to comprehend or understand (be enlightened).
The meanings of Chinese words are not necessarily the sum of their parts. In this case, at best, you can derive that the characters express “understanding what is real” or “knowing what is real.” Any Chinese person will perceive this word in a similar way to how we use “reality” in English.
Note: The first character can also be written in a different form as shown to the right. Same meaning in Chinese, either way it’s written.
Before enlightenment or after, chores remain.
頓悟之前砍柴挑水; 頓悟之後砍柴挑水 means “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water; After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
This is a Chinese proverb that is attributed to 吴力 (Wú Lì) who lived between 1632 and 1718 - living part of his life as a devout Buddhist, and many years as a Catholic Jesuit Priest in China - what an interesting life!
This has been explained many times in many ways. I am a Buddhist, and here is my brief take on this proverb...
Before enlightenment, one may find daily chores mundane, tedious, and boring. However, upon reaching enlightenment one is not relieved of the details of daily life. An enlightened person will, however, see such chores as a joy, and do them mindfully.
There is another version floating around, which is 在你領悟之前砍柴、運水。在你領悟之後,砍柴、運水。
If you want this other version, just contact me. The meaning is the same, just different phrasing.
This is a poem, including a title, that celebrates the tactics and virtues of the Shaolin Kung Fu Monks for future generations.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your 悟 search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
悟 see styles |
wù wu4 wu satoru さとる |
More info & calligraphy: Satori / Enlightenment(given name) Satoru Awaken to, apprehend, perceive, become aware; similar to 覺, hence 覺悟. |
參悟 参悟 see styles |
cān wù can1 wu4 ts`an wu tsan wu |
More info & calligraphy: Truth Flashed Through The Mind |
悟り see styles |
satori さとり |
More info & calligraphy: Satori / Enlightenment |
悟性 see styles |
wù xìng wu4 xing4 wu hsing gosei / gose ごせい |
More info & calligraphy: Power of Understanding and Wisdomwisdom; understanding |
悟空 see styles |
wù kōng wu4 kong1 wu k`ung wu kung gokuu / goku ごくう |
More info & calligraphy: Wukong / Goku(surname, given name) Gokuu |
省悟 see styles |
xǐng wù xing3 wu4 hsing wu seigo / sego せいご |
More info & calligraphy: Wake Up to Reality(given name) Seigo to reflect and become aware |
醒悟 see styles |
xǐng wù xing3 wu4 hsing wu |
More info & calligraphy: Reality |
孫悟空 孙悟空 see styles |
sūn wù kōng sun1 wu4 kong1 sun wu k`ung sun wu kung songokuu / songoku そんごくう |
More info & calligraphy: Sun Wukong / Son Goku(1) (char) Sun Wukong (character in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West); Monkey King; (2) (char) Son Goku (Dragon Ball); (ch) Sun Wukong (character in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West); Monkey King; (ch) Son Goku (Dragon Ball) |
一悟 see styles |
ichigo いちご |
(given name) Ichigo |
不悟 see styles |
bù wù bu4 wu4 pu wu fugo |
does not understand |
世悟 see styles |
seigo / sego せいご |
(personal name) Seigo |
了悟 see styles |
liǎo wù liao3 wu4 liao wu ryougo / ryogo りょうご |
(given name) Ryōgo Complete enlightenment, or clear apprehension. |
二悟 see styles |
èr wù er4 wu4 erh wu ni go |
The two awakenings, or kinds of entry into bodhisattvahood, i.e. 頓悟 immediate and 漸悟 gradual. |
亮悟 see styles |
ryougo / ryogo りょうご |
(given name) Ryōgo |
仁悟 see styles |
jingo じんご |
(personal name) Jingo |
他悟 see styles |
tā wù ta1 wu4 t`a wu ta wu tago |
be awakened by someone else |
代悟 see styles |
daigo だいご |
(male given name) Daigo |
伸悟 see styles |
naganori ながのり |
(personal name) Naganori |
佑悟 see styles |
yuugo / yugo ゆうご |
(given name) Yūgo |
余悟 see styles |
yogo よご |
(surname) Yogo |
俊悟 see styles |
toshisato としさと |
(personal name) Toshisato |
信悟 see styles |
shingo しんご |
(given name) Shingo |
修悟 see styles |
shuugo / shugo しゅうご |
(given name) Shuugo |
健悟 see styles |
kengo けんご |
(given name) Kengo |
優悟 see styles |
yuugo / yugo ゆうご |
(personal name) Yūgo |
兄悟 see styles |
keigo / kego けいご |
(given name) Keigo |
光悟 see styles |
kougo / kogo こうご |
(given name) Kōgo |
克悟 see styles |
katsunori かつのり |
(personal name) Katsunori |
兼悟 see styles |
kengo けんご |
(given name) Kengo |
円悟 see styles |
engo えんご |
(surname) Engo |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Satori Enlightenment | 悟 | sato / go | wù / wu4 / wu | |
Power of Understanding and Wisdom | 悟性 | gosei | wù xìng / wu4 xing4 / wu xing / wuxing | wu hsing / wuhsing |
Satori Enlightenment | 悟り | satori | ||
Truth Flashed Through The Mind | 參悟 参悟 | cān wù / can1 wu4 / can wu / canwu | ts`an wu / tsanwu / tsan wu | |
Wake Up to Reality | 省悟 | shō go / shōgo | xǐng wù / xing3 wu4 / xing wu / xingwu | hsing wu / hsingwu |
Wukong Goku | 悟空 | go kuu / gokuu / go ku | wù kōng / wu4 kong1 / wu kong / wukong | wu k`ung / wukung / wu kung |
Sun Wukong Son Goku | 孫悟空 孙悟空 | son go kuu / songokuu / son go ku | sūn wù kōng sun1 wu4 kong1 sun wu kong sunwukong | sun wu k`ung sunwukung sun wu kung |
Reality | 醒悟 / 省悟 醒悟 | xǐng wù / xing3 wu4 / xing wu / xingwu | hsing wu / hsingwu | |
Chop Wood, Carry Water | 頓悟之前砍柴挑水頓悟之后砍柴挑水 顿悟之前砍柴挑水顿悟之后砍柴挑水 | dùn wù zhī qián kǎn chái tiāo shuǐ dùn wù zhī hòu kǎn chái tiāo shuǐ dun4 wu4 zhi1 qian2 kan3 chai2 tiao1 shui3 dun4 wu4 zhi1 hou4 kan3 chai2 tiao1 shui3 dun wu zhi qian kan chai tiao shui dun wu zhi hou kan chai tiao shui | tun wu chih ch`ien k`an ch`ai t`iao shui tun wu chih hou k`an ch`ai t`iao shui tun wu chih chien kan chai tiao shui tun wu chih hou kan chai tiao shui |
|
Shaolin Generational Poem | 嵩山少林寺曹洞正宗傳續七十字輩訣福慧智子覺了本圓可悟周洪普廣宗道慶同玄祖清靜真如海湛寂淳貞素德行永延恆妙體常堅固心朗照幽深性明鑒崇祚忠正善禧祥謹志原濟度雪庭為導師引汝歸鉉路 嵩山少林寺曹洞正宗传续七十字辈诀福慧智子觉了本圆可悟周洪普广宗道庆同玄祖清静真如海湛寂淳贞素德行永延恒妙体常坚固心朗照幽深性明鉴崇祚忠正善禧祥谨志原济度雪庭为导师引汝归铉路 | sōng shān shào lín sì cáo dòng zhèng zōng chuán xù qī shí zì bèi jué fú huì zhì zǐ jiào le běn yuán kě wù zhōu hóng pǔ guǎng zōng dào qìng tóng xuán zǔ qīng jìng zhēn rú hǎi zhàn jì chún zhēn sù dé xíng yong song1 shan1 shao4 lin2 si4 cao2 dong4 zheng4 zong1 chuan2 xu4 qi1 shi2 zi4 bei4 jue2 fu2 hui4 zhi4 zi3 jiao4 le5 ben3 yuan2 ke3 wu4 zhou1 hong2 pu3 guang3 zong1 dao4 qing4 tong2 xuan2 zu3 qing1 jing4 zhen1 ru2 hai3 zhan4 ji4 chun2 zhen1 su4 de2 xing2 yong song shan shao lin si cao dong zheng zong chuan xu qi shi zi bei jue fu hui zhi zi jiao le ben yuan ke wu zhou hong pu guang zong dao qing tong xuan zu qing jing zhen ru hai zhan ji chun zhen su de xing yong | sung shan shao lin ssu ts`ao tung cheng tsung ch`uan hsü ch`i shih tzu pei chüeh fu hui chih tzu chiao le pen yüan k`o wu chou hung p`u kuang tsung tao ch`ing t`ung hsüan tsu ch`ing ching chen ju hai chan chi ch`un chen su te hsing yung sung shan shao lin ssu tsao tung cheng tsung chuan hsü chi shih tzu pei chüeh fu hui chih tzu chiao le pen yüan ko wu chou hung pu kuang tsung tao ching tung hsüan tsu ching ching chen ju hai chan chi chun chen su te hsing yung |
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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. |
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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.