Infinite / Endless / Boundless

wqing

Mandarin:
Korean:

This means infinate or endless. Literally, this means "without (ever becoming) poor",
and in that context, can mean "inexhautable", but this is usually read as "without
end".
Score: 100/100

Infinity
Japanese = Infinity / Chinese = No limits

wxin
Japanese: mugen
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is the Chinese and Japanese word meaning infinity, unlimited or unbounded.
The first character means "never" or "not" or like a prefix "un-". The second means
"limited", "restricted", or "bound".
Please note that the Japanese definition leans more toward "infinity" and the
Chinese is more about being "boundless" or "without limits".
In Korean, this means infinity, infinitude, or boundlessness. But in Korean, this term
has many interpretations or contexts, so your intended meaning might come out a
little vague or ambiguous.
Score: 68/100

Infinity
(Chinese / Korean)

wqing
mukyu
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is the Chinese and Korean word meaning "infinity", "eternity", "infinitude", or
simply "endless". In some contexts it can mean "immortality".
The first character means "never" or "not". The second means "exhausted",
"finished", or "ending".
Note: This is a Japanese word, but rarely used in modern Japan.
Score: 66/100

Eternal / Eternity
Mandarin:

y?nghng

This is the Chinese word for eternity.

The first character means always, forever and perpetual. The second character holds
the meaning of permanent. Together, they create a word that means eternal, eternally
or infinite time.
Score: 20/100

Enso (Japanese Zen Circle)

Japanese:

ensou

This is Enso, which is really NOT a regular Japanese Kanji character. It falls more
into the category of a symbol. In this case, it can be considered a religious symbol,
as it is strongly-associated with Japanese Zen Buddhism.
By the way, when "Enso" is written in Kanji, it looks like this:
Some call this "The Circle of Enlightenment". Others call it the "Infinity Circle". If you
actually took the meanings of the two Kanji that make up the word "Enso", you could
read it as "Mutual Circle" or "Circle of Togetherness". I think the Enso symbol can
simply mean different things to different people. Therefore, you should let it have the
meaning that you perceive.
Please note when you start making your customizations for an Enso wall scroll, you
will see some possible ways it might be written, listed under the different calligraphy
styles that we normally offer. However, Enso does not really conform to normal
Asian calligraphy styles. Therefore, do not expect that you can make a style
selection and expect the actual result to be identical. The appearance of your Enso
will be determined by the artist's personal style, feeling, mood, etc. You cannot
control or constrain that, to do so, would remove the art from the symbol.
Note: Our calligraphy selection process does not take this into account, as it was
designed for Chinese characters and Japanese Kanji selection.

Please ignore the part where you are invited to pick a calligraphy style in the
following pages.
Both our Japanese and Chinese master calligraphers are Buddhist (not as devout as
monks, but Buddhist none the less). Therefore you can be assured that your Enso
symbol will be written with the utmost effort and feeling.
Score: 14/100

Unlimited / Unbounded
wxin
Japanese: mugen
Korean:
Mandarin:

This means unlimited or unbounded. Literally, this means "without limits" or

"without (being) bound".

Wisdom
(All-Knowing)

zhhu
Japanese: chie
Korean:
Mandarin:

The first character means, "wise" or "smart" and the second character means
"intelligence".
I have also seen these two characters translated together as knowledge, sagacity,
sense, and intelligence.
Note: This word 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

Wisdom (Japanese)

zhhu
chie
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

The first Kanji represents "to know" or "to realize". Combined, these two Kanji mean
"learn, know, and understand completely". Another way to translate this is "to know
all things in their entirety".
Note: While vaguely understood in Chinese, this is only a real word in Japanese.

Ancient Japanese/Korean version: This is also a word in old Korean Hanja,

with a slight difference in the last character - if you want that version (which is also
the ancient Japanese version) please click on the character to the right, instead of
the button above.

Each Time You Stumble & Fall,

You Gain Experience & Wisdom
Mandarin:

chyqin,zhngyzh
Korean:

This Chinese proverb means:

"Fall into a moat and you will gain wisdom from the experience"
It really suggests that the failures, troubles, and setbacks that you encounter in your
life are actually helping you to find wisdom. Some would also translate this proverb
as:
"Learn from your mistakes" or "Learn from your experience".
If you are studying Chinese, you will recognize the first character as "eat", but in this
case, it means to "experience" (as used in this proverb, it is suggesting that you

have fallen into a moat and/or had a hard time crossing it).
Literally translated character by character, this whole proverb is:
"Experience one moat, gain one wisdom/knowledge".
Note: This can be pronounced in Korean, but it's not a commonly-used phrase.

Experience is the
Mother of Wisdom
Mandarin:

jngynshzhhuzhm

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

It's been said that wisdom comes from good judgment, and good judgment comes
from experience, while experience comes from a series of times when you used bad
judgment.
This Chinese proverb makes the simplest connection between experience and
wisdom.
See Also... Failure Is The Mother Of Success | Learn From Wisdom

Wisdom / Intellect
Reason / Knowledge
(single character)

zh
Japanese: chi/akira
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is the simplest way to write wisdom in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Being a
single character, the meaning is open to interpretation, and can also mean intellect
or reason.
This character is also one of the five tenets of Confucius.
This character is sometimes included in the Bushido code, but usually not
considered part of the seven key concepts of the code.
See Also... Learn From Wisdom | Confucius

Power of Understanding and Wisdom

wxng
gosei
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This means the power of understanding and insight in Chinese. It is often associated
with Neo-Confucianism. In that regard, it means to realize man's true nature or to
find your soul, the soul of others, or the soul of the world.
In Japanese, this is often translated as wisdom and understanding.
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Wisdom comes from Experience

bjngyshbzh?ngyzh

Mandarin:
Korean:

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

You can translate this a couple of ways. One is: You can't gain knowledge without
practice. The second, and perhaps more popular way is: Wisdom comes from
experience.
It literally means if you are inattentive to your affairs or situations you encounter,
you will not gain or grow any wisdom or intellect.

Wisdom / Intelligence
hu
e/kei
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This single character can be translated as wisdom, but it has more of an "intelligent"
flavor. This can also mean cleverness or wit.
Japanese note: This is understood in Japanese, but seldom seen as a lone Kanji.
See Also... Knowledge | Learning | Read

Wisdom / Brilliance
Mandarin:
Japanese:

cizh
saichi

In Chinese, this means "ability and wisdom" or "ability and intelligence".

It can also be defined as brilliance, or genius.
In Japanese, it takes on a meaning more of "wit and intelligence".

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.
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Learning is Eternal

xuwzhjng

Mandarin:
Korean:

This Chinese philosophy tells of how we continue to learn throughout our lives. It
can be translated in a few ways such as "Study Has No End" or "Knowledge is
Infinite".
The deeper meaning: Even when we finish school we are still students of the world
gaining more knowledge from our surroundings with each passing day.
See Also... An Open Book Benefits Your Mind | Learn From Wisdom

Knowledge
zhshi
Japanese: chishiki
Korean:
Mandarin:

The first character represents "to know" or "to realize". The second character alone
refers to the ability to "recognize", or "realize" and can also be used to mean

"knowing". Combined, these two characters have the very strong meaning of
"knowledge" and in some context, "learning".
See Also... Learn From Wisdom

Example is Better than Precept

Mandarin:

shnjioshngyynjio

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

Tell somebody how to do something and they might get it.

Show them how to do it and they will master it in no time.
This could also be translated as "Behavior teaches more than words".
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Failure is the
Mother of Success
Mandarin:

shbishchnggngzhm
Korean:

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

This means exactly what you think.

Every failure that you experience is a chance to learn from it and find success.
Knowing what does not work is just as important as finding out what does work.
See Also... Experience Is The Mother Of Wisdom

The Five Tenets of Confucius

Also known as the Five Cardinal Rules of Confucius
Mandarin:

rnylzhxn
Korean:

These are the core of Confucius philosophy. Simply stated they are:
benevolence / charity
justice / rectitude
politeness / tact
wisdom / knowledge
fidelity / trust
Many of these concepts can be found in various religious teachings. Though it

should be clearly understood that Confucianism is not a religion, but should instead
be considered a moral code for a proper and civilized society.
See Also... Confucius Teachings | Ethics

Intelligence / Intellect
zhnng
chinou
Korean:

Mandarin:

Japanese:

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, the compound word can mean "capacity for wisdom", "useful knowledge",
or even "mental power". Obviously this translates more clearly into English as
"intelligence".

Five Elements Tai Chi Fist

wxngtijqun
Japanese: gogyoutaikyokuken
Korean: ?
Mandarin:

This is a certain school or style of Tai Chi (Taiji). The characters literally mean "Five
Elements Tai Chi Fist".
Notes:
In Taiwan, it would be Romanized as "Wu Hsing Tai Chi Chuan" - see the standard
Mandarin method above in the gray box (used in mainland China and the official
Romanization used by the Library of Congress).

The last three characters are sometimes translated as "Grand Ultimate Fist", so the
whole thing can be "Five Elements Grand Ultimate Fist" if you wish.
I have not confirmed use of this title in Korean, but if it is used, it's probably only by
martial arts enthusiasts. The pronunciation is correct as shown above for Korean.
Score: 100/100

Iron Fist
Tie Quan / Tieh Chuan

tiqun
tekken
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is a common theme used by various schools of martial arts.

The first character means "iron", but in some cases, can mean "indisputable".
The second character is fist.
Some schools use the older/Taiwanese way to Romanize the iron fist, so you may
have seen it spelled "Tieh Chuan" instead of "Tie Quan". Neither way is technically
incorrect.
Note that in Mandarin, the first part of the first character actually sounds like the
English word "tea" blending into a soft "-eh" sound. The second character sounds a
lot like "chew on", but as if it is one syllable.

After WWII in Japan, the Kanji for iron was simplified. This new Kanji form is
shown to the right. If you want this modern Japanese version, please click on the
Kanji to the right, instead of the button above. The characters shown to the left
would still be considered the old or ancient Japanese version of this title.
Score: 100/100

Wing Chun Fist

Mandarin:

yngchnqun

This is the title for the "Wing Chun" school of martial arts, but with the addition of
the character for "fist" on the end. So this is "Wing Chun Fist".
Score: 100/100

Five Ancestors Fist

Mandarin:

wzqun

This is a martial arts concept (some would say "school") known as Five Ancestors'
Fist.
The first character means five.
The second means ancestor, forefather, or grandparents.
The third means fist.
The ancestors referred to by this title and whose attributes contribute to this style
are as follows:
1. Grace of the White Crane.
2. Agility of the Monkey.
3. Precision and skill of Emperor Taizu (mythical great ancestor).
4. Power of Luohan (Buddist arhat).
5. Breath of Damo (founder of Buddhism, or the first Buddha).
Score: 100/100

Law of the Fist Karate / Kempo Karate

qunf?tngsh?u
Japanese: kenpoukarate
Mandarin:

The first two characters mean "fist law" which is Romanized from Japanese as
"Kenpo" or "Kempo".
The last two are a secondary way to express "karate".

Notes:
The more common way to express "karate" is literally "empty hand" (meaning
"without weapons in your hand"). This version would be translated literally as "Tang
hand" (as in the Tang Dynasty) or "China hand" (sometimes "Tang" means "China"
in Japanese). Even though the character for "Tang" is used instead of "empty", it's
still pronounced "kara-te" in Japanese.
This is not commonly used in China - so please consider it to be a Japanese-only
title.
Many Japanese people will say the last two Kanji are the old and antiquated way to
say Karate. This fact does not stop this title from existing, as these four characters
are often seen in Kenpo / Kempo Dojos around the western world.
Score: 100/100

Drunken Fist
(A legitimate style of Kung Fu)

zuqun
Japanese: suiken
Korean:
Mandarin:

Drunken Fist is a traditional Chinese martial art / technique of Kung Fu. It is a

northern style of martial art that imitates a drunk person in its movements. Many
staggering movements serve to deceive the opponent and keep them off-balance.
Some consider it to be among the harder styles of martial arts due to the need for
powerful joints and fingers.
Score: 100/100

Monkey Fist
huqun
Korean:
Mandarin:

This literally means what you think, it's the "Monkey Fist" school of Kung Fu. A style
that mimics the punches and movements of monkeys and apes.
Becoming popular during the Qing Dynasty, this style can trace its origins back to as
early as the Song Dynasty. Some of the romance and popularity of this style comes
from the novel "Journey to the West" which features the Monkey King and his
fighting skills.
This novel and martial arts style has spawned a stream of Hong Kong movies

featuring the Monkey King, and other Kung Fu style variations such as "Drunken
Monkey" and "Monkey Stealing Peaches" (a technique of disabling your opponent by
grabbing and yanking on his testicles).
Note: This kind of makes sense in Korean Hanja and Japanese Kanji, but probably
unknown by all Koreans and Japanese except those who have an interest in this
form of Kung Fu.
Score: 100/100
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Kenpo / Kempo / Quan Fa / Chuan Fa

qunf?
kenpou
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This form of martial arts can be translated in several ways. Some will call it "fist
principles" or "the way of the fist", or even "law of the fist". The first character
literally means fist. The second can mean law, method, way, principle or Buddhist
teaching.
Kempo is really a pot luck of martial arts. Often a combination of Chinese martial
arts such as Shaolin Kung Fu with Japanese martial arts such as Karate, Jujutsu
(Jujitsu), Aikido, and others. You may see the term "Kempo Karate" which basically
means Karate with other disciplines added. In this way, Kempo becomes an adjective
rather than a title or school of martial arts.
These facts will long be argued by various masters and students of Kempo. Even the
argument as to whether it should be spelled "kenpo" or "Kempo" ensues at dojos
around the world (the correct Romaji should actually be "kenpou" if you precisely
follow the rules).
The benefit of Kempo is that the techniques are easier to learn and master compared
to pure Kung Fu (wu shu). Students are often taught basic Karate moves, kicks, and
punches before augmenting the basic skills with complex Kung Fu techniques. This
allows students of Kempo achieve a level where they can defend themselves or fight
in a relatively short amount of time (a few years rather than a decade or more).
Because the definition of this word is so fluid, I should make some notes here:
1. Purists in Okinawa will claim that "Okinawa Kenpo" or "Ryukyu Hon Kenpo" is the
original and true version of this martial art from the old kingdom. There is actually
little or no connection between Okinawa Kenpo and the way the word is used
elsewhere.
2. In Chinese, where these characters are pronounced "quan fa" (sometimes
Romanized as "chuan fa" because the Chinese-pinyin "q" actually sounds like an
English "ch" sound), these characters do not hold the connotation of being a mixed
martial art. It is simply defined as "the law of the fist".

3. In my Japanese dictionary, it oddly defines Kenpo as "Chinese art of selfdefense". I personally don't feel this is the most common way that people perceive
the word, but just something you should know.
Score: 100/100

Push or Knock
To weigh one's words

fnftuqio

Mandarin:
Korean:

During the Tang Dynasty, a man named Jia Dao (born in the year 779), a well studied
scholar and poet, went to the capital to take the imperial examination.
One day as he rides a donkey through the city streets, a poem begins to form in his
mind. A portion of the poem comes into his head like this:
"The bird sits on the tree branch near a pond,
A monk approaches and knocks at the gate..."

At the same time, he wondered if the word "push" would be better than "knock" in
his poem.
As he rides down the street, he imagines the monk pushing or knocking. Soon he
finds himself making motions of pushing, and shaking a fist in a knocking motion as
he debates which word to use. He is quite a sight as he makes his way down the
street on his donkey with hands and fists flying about as the internal debate
continues.
As he amuses people along the street, he becomes completely lost in his thoughts
and does not see the mayor's procession coming in the opposite direction. Jia Bao
is blocking the way for the procession to continue down the road, and the mayor's
guards immediately decide to remove Jia Bao by force. Jia Bao, not realizing that he
was in the way, apologizes, explains his poetic dilemma, and awaits his punishment
for blocking the mayor's way.
The mayor, Han Yu, a scholar and author of prose himself, finds himself intrigued by
Jia Dao's poem and problem. Han Yu gets off his horse, and addresses Jia Bao,
stating, "I think knock is better". The relieved Jia Bao raises his head, and is invited
by the mayor to join the procession, and are seen riding off together down the street
exchanging their ideas and love of poetry.

In modern Chinese, this idiom is used when someone is trying to decide which word
to use in their writing or when struggling to decide between two things when neither
seems to have a downside.
Score: 39/100

Shorinji Kempo / Kenpo

sholnsqunf?
Japanese: shourinjikenpou
Mandarin:

This is a specific type of martial arts in Japan that claims origins in the Kung Fu
practiced in the original Shaolin Monastery of China.
The first three characters mean "Shaolin Monastery" and you might notice the
Japanese is pronounced in a very similar way. This is because many words were
"borrowed" from the original Chinese when Japan did not have a written language
and simply absorbed Chinese characters into their language around the 5th century.
When a Japanese word did not exist, the Chinese pronunciation was often absorbed
as well as the written form.
The last two characters mean "fist law" or "method of the fist". It has long been
argued as to whether the Japanese for these characters should be Romanized as
"kempo" or "kenpo". The official method should be "kenpou" but it's common to
drop the "u" that comes after the "o".
I imagine if you are looking for this title, you already know what it means, so the
above is simply extra information that a student of Shorinji Kempo might want to
know.
Score: 30/100
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Boxing (Japanese)
Japanese:

kentou

This is the term used in Japanese Kanji to refer to the original Olympic sport of
combat and fighting. This can also be translated as "prize fighting".
The first Kanji means fist. The second means fight. So when literally translated, this
means "fist fight" (though understood in Japanese as a more refined sport, versus
street fighting).
Note: A completely different second character is used in the Chinese word for
boxing, but a Chinese person would still be able to guess the meaning of these
Kanji.
Score: 30/100

Taekwondo
tiqundo
tekondo
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is one of the most widespread types of martial arts in the world as well as being
an Olympic sport. Taekwondo was born in Korea with influences of Chinese and
Japanese styles, combined with traditional Korean combat skills. Some will define it
as the "Korean art of empty-handed self-defense".
In the simplest translation, the first character means "kick", the second character
can mean either "fist" or "punching" the third means "way" or "method". Altogether,
you could say this is "Kick Punch Method". When heard or read in various Asian
languages, all will automatically think of this famous Korean martial art. It is written
the same in Japanese Kanji, Chinese, and Korean Hanja characters - so the
appearance of the characters are rather universal. However, you should note that
there is another way to write this in modern Korean Hangul characters which looks
like the image to the right.
We suggest the original Chinese characters for a wall scroll, but if
you really need the Hangul version, just let me know and I will use my contacts on
the North Korean border to have a calligraphy scroll made for you - post your
request on our Asian calligraphy forum for this service.
Note: Taekwondo is sometimes Romanized as Tae-Kwondo, Tae Kwon Do, Taekwon-do, Taegwondo,
Tai Kwon Do, Taikwondo, Taekwando, Tae Kwan Do and in Chinese Taiquandao, Tai Quan Dao,
Taichuando, or Tai Chuan Tao.
Score: 16/100

Shaolin Chang Chuan

Mandarin:

sholnchngqun

This is a combination of two titles. The first two characters mean little forest, as in
the little forest of the Shaolin monks (shao lin = little forest). The second two
characters mean "long fist".
This title is specific to a certain technique - if you are studying Shaolin Chang
Chuan, then you are already aware of all the ramifications.
Score: 10/100
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Shaolin Chuan / Shao Lin Quan

sh?olnqun
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is the title of the martial art (style of Kung Fu) that is taught to the monks and
students in the Shaolin Buddhist Monastery. The addition of Chuan or Quan which
means fist is what signifies that you are talking about this school or form of martial
arts.
Score: 10/100

Tai Chi / Tai Ji

tij
Japanese: taikyoku?
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is the shortened title for Tai Chi Chuan or Tai Ji Quan that as sometimes used in
Western countries. Basically just removing the last character which means fist. I
don't recommend this two-character selection because it's not really a word without
the third character in Japanese and Chinese.
Score: 10/100

Northern Praying Mantis

tnglngqun
Korean:
Mandarin:

This can be translated literally as "Praying Mantis Fist". It is sometimes called

Shandong Praying Mantis after its place of origin. It was created by Wang Lang and
was named after the praying mantis, an insect, the aggressiveness of which inspired
the style. Shaolin records document that Wang Lang was one of the 18 masters
gathered by the Shaolin Abbot Fu Ju, which dates him and Northern Praying Mantis
style to the Song Dynasty (9601279). The fact that the word "Northern" is used in
the English title has more to do with were this style came from (Shandong is in
northern China), but this word is absent from the Chinese title.
Score: 10/100
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Tai Chi Chuan / Tai Ji Quan

tijqun
taikyokuken
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is the famous Taoist meditation and martial art exercise. The direct translation
of these characters would be something like "grand ultimate fist", but that does not
quite hit the mark for what this title really means.
An early-morning walk through any city in China near a park or open area will yield a
view of Chinese people practicing this ancient technique.
The typical scene is an old man of no less than 80 years on this earth, with a wispy
white beard and perhaps a sword in one hand. He makes slow moves that are
impossibly smooth. He is steady-footed, and always in balance. For him, time is

meaningless and proper form and technique is far more important than speed.
For the younger generation, faster moves may look impressive and seem smooth to
the casual observer. But far more discipline and mental strength is needed to create
perfectly smooth moves in virtual slow motion.
Note: There are two ways to Romanize these Chinese characters as seen in the title
above. The pronunciation and actual characters are the same in Chinese. If you
really used English sounds/words to pronounce this, it would be something like "tie
jee chew-on" just make the "chew-on" as one flowing syllable.
Score: 10/100

Boxing
qunj

Mandarin:
Korean:

This is the term used in Chinese to refer to the original Olympic sport of combat and
fighting. If you like to strap on your boxing gloves and go a few rounds, or are just a
fan of boxing, this could make a nice wall scroll for you.
Note that Japanese use the same first character (which means fist) but a different
Kanji for the second. Please see our Japanese boxing entry for that version.
Score: 10/100

fnzhn
Korean:

Antiwar / Anti-War

Mandarin:

This means just what the title suggests. This means antiwar, as in what a pacifist
believes in.
China doesn't tend to go to war vary often so it's rare to need this word. But it's the
kind of word that war protesters would write on their signs. If you add the word for
"protest" after this word in Chinese, you have the subject that get's a lot of press
lately in China:
Anti-War protests in America.
Score: 6/100
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Karate-do
kngsh?udo
karatedo
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

Credit is given that karate started in China, but migrated and became refined, and
vastly popular in Japan. The literal meaning of these characters is "empty hand
method". Karate is a martial art that uses no blades of weapons other than the
"natural weapons" that God gave to humans (fists and feet). The last character
somehow became optional, but the meaning of that character is "method" or "the
way" as in Taoism / Daoism.
Score: 6/100

Bloodless Victory
bngbxurn
Korean:
Mandarin:

Perhaps a pacifist view or perhaps the best kind of victory; these characters reflect
this idea:
The edges of the swords not being stained with blood.
You could also translate it as: Win victory without firing a shot.
The first character means army or force. The second character means without or
none. The last two characters mean bloodstained knives. So it represents a returning
victorious army without bloodstained knives. This is the very literal sense of this
word/phrase. The title definition is more accurate to the way this phrase is
understood.
Asking yourself why the direct or literal translation is different?
...Think of compound words in English such as "nevertheless" if we break it apart to
"never the less" we will have trouble getting the real definition of "in spite of that".
Similar things happen when multiple-characters are used to create a compounded
word in Chinese.

Unity
Join Forces / Rally Together

tunji
Korean:
Mandarin:

There's not a perfect match to the English word "unity" in Chinese. But this word is
pretty close. It speaks to the idea of joining forces, and working as one. It could even
mean to rally together to achieve a goal, or defeat a common enemy.

Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Chapter 33

zhrnzhzhyzzhzhmngyshngrnzh
yulyzshngzhqingyzhzzhfyqingxng
zhyuzhybzhqsuzhjiysrbwngzh
shuy
Mandarin:

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

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:
Toknowothersiswisdom;
Toknowoneselfisacuity/intelligence.
Toconquerothersispower,
Toconqueroneselfisstrength.
Toknowcontentmentistohavewealth.

Toactresolutelyistohavepurpose.
Tostayone'sgroundistobeenduring.
Todieandyetnotbeforgottenistobelonglived.
Another translation:
Tounderstandothersistobeknowledgeable;
Tounderstandyourselfistobewise.
Toconquerothersistohavestrength;
Toconqueryourselfistobestrong.
Toknowwhenyouhaveenoughistoberich.
Togoforwardwithstrengthistohaveambition.
Tonotloseyourplaceistobelonglasting.
Todiebutnotbeforgottenthat'struelonglife.
A third translation of the second half:
Hewhoiscontentisrich;
Hewhoactswithpersistencehaswill;
Hewhodoesnotlosehisrootswillendure;
Hewhodiesphysically,butpreservestheDaowillenjoyalongafterlife.
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.

qmng
Japanese: keimou
Korean:

Enlightenment

Mandarin:

The first character means to open, to start, to begin, to commence or to explain. The
second character means deception or ignorance. Basically it suggests that
enlightenment is the opening or cutting through what deceives you in the world or
the ignorance of the world. This title can also mean "to educate".

The Japanese and Korean version of the first character of this title varies
slightly from the Chinese. Please click on the Kanji to the right, instead of the button
above, if you want the Japanese/Korean version.

Kensho - Initial Enlightenment

jinxng
Japanese: kenshou
Korean:
Mandarin:

Generally the same meaning as Satori, but referring to the initial state or initial
experience of enlightenment. This is a Zen Buddhist term that is not widely known
outside of the religion. Used more in Japan than China.
We are currently trying to resolve an issue where one of the Japanese translators (of
the two we've hired to review our entire Asian calligraphy database) has indicated
that this is not a proper or real word in Japanese. Only order this if you are more
sure than we are.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

Satori / Enlightenment
w
sato/go
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This character means enlightenment but can also mean to perceive, discern, realize,
understand or comprehend. This character has the same meaning in Chinese,
Japanese and Korean, though used most often with deep significance in Japanese
culture and language. This is often seen in Japan with a secondary Hiragana
character. We also offer that option, but this is the more universal single-character
entry.

Bodhi - Awakening Enlightenment

pt
bodai
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

The Bodhi is the moment of completion in Buddhism. It is when all things become
known, and you have completed your journey to enlightenment.
The reference is to the Bodhi tree where Siddhartha Gautama, the first Buddha,
achieved enlightenment. Sometimes this is referred to as "the tree of
enlightenment", but if you want the full version with the character for tree on the end,
please see our other entry.
See Also... Buddhism | Buddha | Nirvana

The Tree of Enlightenment

The Bodhi Tree
ptsh
bodaiju
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

These three characters are the full title of the Bodhi tree (a fig tree) under which
Siddhartha Gautama, the first Buddha, achieved enlightenment. Sometimes this is
referred to as "the tree of enlightenment". If you don't have a Bodhi tree to sit under,
maybe you can achieve your enlightenment under a wall scroll with this title.

Satori / Enlightenment
(Japanese Only)
Japanese:

satori

This 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
(which is Hiragana, not Kanji) that adds the "ri" to Satori. It's not totally necessary 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.

Buddhism / Buddha
(single character)

f
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is the essence of the Buddha or Buddhism. Depending on context, this word
and character can be used to refer to the religion and lifestyle of Buddhism, or in
some cases, the Buddha himself.
It is interesting to note that this word is separate from all others in the Chinese
language. The sound of "fo" has only this meaning. This is in contrast to many
sounds in the Chinese language which can have one of four tones, and more than 20
possible characters and meanings. This language anomaly shows just how
significant Buddhism has affected China since the ancient times.
More about Buddhism
This character is also used with the same meaning in Korean Hanja. It also acts as a
suffix or first syllable for many Buddhist-related words in Chinese and Korean.
See our Buddhism & Zen page
See Also... Bodhisattva
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Listen to Both Sides and be Enlightened,

Listen to One Side and be in the Dark
jintngzmng,pintngzn

Mandarin:
Korean:

A man named Wei Zheng lived between 580-643 AD. He was a noble and wise
historian and minister in the court of the early Tang Dynasty.
The emperor once asked him, "What should an emperor do to understand the realworld situation and what makes an emperor out-of-touch with reality?"
Wei Zheng replied, "Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened; listen to only
one side and you will be left in the dark."
Then Wei Zheng went on to site examples of leaders in history that were victorious
after heeding both sides of the story, and other leaders that met their doom because
they believed one-sided stories which often came from flattering lips.
Please note that there is an unwritten rule when the same character appears twice in the same
phrase, the calligrapher will alter the appearance so that no two characters are exactly alike in the
same piece. This calligraphy has two repeating characters that will be written differently than they
appear here.

Bodhisattva
A deity in Buddhism that exists to
help you reach enlightenment

ps
bosatsu
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

In Buddhist beliefs, a bodhisattva (bodhisatta) is a being who is dedicated to helping

us achieve enlightenment. Bodhisattva literally means enlightenment truth which is
bodhi sattva in Sanskrit.
I am not a Buddhist, so I am not sure if this is appropriate to hang on your wall. But a
lot of people have been searching our website for bodhisattva, so I figured it is time
to add it.
See Also... Buddha | Namo Amitabha

3. Right Speech / Right Talk

Samyag Vac / Samma Vaca

zhngy
shouku
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right Speech, along with
Right Action and Right Living constitute the path to Virtue.
Simply stated, Right Speech is abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive
speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter, or any form of
harmful or wrong speech.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

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1. Right View / Right Understanding

Right Perspective
Samyag Drsti / Samma Ditthi

zhngjin
Japanese: shouken
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right View, along with Right
Thought constitutes the path to Wisdom.
To get to the right view of the world, you must first understand and follow Four Noble
Truths.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

2. Right Resolve / Right Thought

Right Intention
Samyak Samkalpa / Samma Sankappa

zhngswi
shoushi
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right Thought, along with
Right View constitute the path to Wisdom.
In Buddhism, Right Thought in simple terms means to free yourself from having illwill towards anyone or anything. It also suggests that you remain harmless to other
living creatures.

There is an ancient/alternate version of the third character for this selection.

You can see that alternation third character to the right. If you want your selection to
use that older character, just click on the character to the right, instead of the button
above.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

4. Right Action
Samyak Karmanta / Samma Kammanta

zhngy
seigyou
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right Action, along with Right
Speech and Right Living constitute the path to Virtue.
The five precepts of Right Action are:
1. To refrain from destroying living beings (no murder, or any form of taking a life).
2. To refrain from stealing.
3. To refrain from sexual misconduct (adultery, rape, etc.).
4. To refrain from false speech (lying or trickery).
5. To refrain from intoxicants which lead to heedlessness (no drugs or alcohol).
Note: In Japanese, when read by a non-Buddhist, this will mean "the right
job/vocation".
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

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5. Right Living / Right Livelihood

Samyag Ajiva / Samma Ajiva

zhngmng
sei???
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right Living, along with Right
Speech and Right Action constitute the path to Virtue.
Right Living means that a Buddhist should only take a job or pursue a career in a
field that does no harm. Buddhists should not work in the arms trade, as pimps or in
the field of prostitution, as a butcher or in a shop that kills or sells meat, in a
laboratory that does animal research, or any other business that involves scheming
or unethical behavior.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

6. Right Effort / Right Endeavor

Samyag Vyayama / Samma Vayama

zhngjngjn
seishoujin
Korean:
Mandarin:
Japanese:

This is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right Effort, along with Right
Mindfulness and Right Concentration constitute the path to Concentration or Perfect
Thought.
Proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to
be aware and awake in each moment, the effort to overcome laziness and defilement,
the effort to make each activity of our day meditation. This concept is about
pursuing wholesome things that promote good karma.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

7. Right Mindfulness / Right Memory

Samyak Smrti / Samma Sati

zhngnin
Japanese: sei???
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right Mindfulness, along with
Right Effort and Right Concentration constitute the path to Concentration or Perfect
Thought.
Right Mindfulness is about remaining focused on one's body, feelings, mind and
mental qualities. It's also about being ardent, aware, and mindful, and supposes that
you've already put aside worldly desire and aversion.
Monk Bhikkhu Bodhi described this as: The mind is deliberately kept at the level of
bare attention, a detached observation of what is happening within us and around us
in the present moment. In the practice of right mindfulness the mind is trained to
remain in the present, open, quiet, and alert, contemplating the present event.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

Back to the top of this page

8. Right Concentration
Samyak Samadhi / Samma Samadhi

zhngdng
Japanese: sei???
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right Concentration, along
with Right Effort and Right Mindfulness constitute the path to Concentration or
Perfect Thought.
Right Concentration has to do with leaving behind sensuality, unwholesome states,
as well as pleasure and pain. This is a complex idea, but once you have achieved the
shedding of worldly sensation, you can truly concentrate and find a higher level of
awareness.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

The Noble Eightfold Path

bzhngdo
Japanese: hasshoudou
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is a complex set of steps that Buddhists much take to cleanse karma, achieve
enlightenment, eventually cease the cycle of rebirth and live in a state of Nirvana.
If the idea of 8 separate wall scrolls plus this title is too much for you, we can
custom-arrange all eight of these concepts on a single wall scroll. Just post your
request on our Asian calligraphy forum, and we can discuss options.
Note: This is only well-known by Buddhists in Asia. Your non-Buddhist
Chinese/Japanese/Korean friends may not be familiar with this title.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

Four Noble Truths:

Suffering (Dukkha)
k?d
Japanese: kutai
Korean:
Mandarin:

Part of life in this universe is suffering. All living things experience some form of
suffering according to Buddhist teaching.
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

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Four Noble Truths:

Desire and Attachment (Samudaya)
jd
Japanese: jittai
Korean:
Mandarin:

At 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). This is a simplification of the second
noble truth which is really and 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

Four Noble Truths:

Elimination of Desire (Nirodha)
mid
Japanese: mettai
Korean:
Mandarin:

Once you eliminate desire or attachment to worldly things, only then can you
achieve enlightenment.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an
unknown concept to most Japanese, Korean, and Chinese people.

See Also... Buddhism

Four Noble Truths:

The Path Leading Away From Suffering
(Magga)
dod
Japanese: doutai
Korean:
Mandarin:

Once you have dealt with your desires, and left all desire and attachment behind,
only then are on you the path away from suffering (and on your way to
enlightenment). This 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

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Four Noble Truths (Buddhism)

sd
Japanese: shitai
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is the title of the Four Noble Truths as taught in virtually all sects of Buddhism.
They are suffering (dukkha), desire (samudaya), release from desire (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. The enlightened can release themselves from the bonds of
desire. 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

Namo Amitabha Buddha

nnwmtuf

Mandarin:
Korean:

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

This is how to express the compassionate Amitabha Buddha of the Pure Land
Buddhist Sect in Chinese characters and Korean Hanja.
See Also... Bodhisattva | Buddhism | Nirvana

Goddess of Mercy and Compassion

gunyn
Cantonese: kwunyum
Korean:
Mandarin:

This is the Buddhist deity known as the Goddess of Mercy or Bodhisattva of

Compassion. In Chinese, the proper name of this being is Guan Yin. There is some
debate as to whether Guan Yin is female. The argument comes from some scripture
that suggests Buddhist deities take on male form. Others say that Guan Yin has no
sex. And still others are okay with the female representation of Guan Yin.
This bodhisattva is also known or Romanized in the following ways:
Mandarin Chinese: Guan Yin, Kuan Yin, Kwan Yin.
Japanese: Kannon, Kwannon.
Sanskrit: Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
Korean: Gwan-eum.
Vietnamese: Quan m.
Thai: Kuan Eim.
English: Bodhisattva of Mercy and Salvation, Goddess of Compassion, Buddha of
Mercy, et al.
Note: The first character has a slight variation in Japanese. If your audience is
specifically Japanese, you may want to select that version.
See Also... Buddhism | Goddess | Namo Amitabha | Bodhisattva
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Purified Spirit / Enlightened Attitude

A Japanese martial arts title/concept
Japanese:

senshin

The first Kanji alone means before, ahead, previous, future, precedence.
The second Kanji means heart, mind, soul, or essence.
Together, these two Kanji create a word that is defined as "purified spirit" or
"enlightened attitude" within the context of Japanese martial arts.
This is one of the five spirits of the warrior (budo), and is often used as a Japanese
martial arts tenet. Under that context, places such as the Budo Dojo define it this
way: Senshin is a spirit that protects and harmonizes the universe. Senshin is a
spirit of compassion that embraces and serves all humanity and whose function is to
reconcile discord in the world. It holds all life to be sacred. It is the Buddha mind.