Many custom options...

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


And formats...

Love Vertical Portrait
Love Horizontal Wall Scroll
Love Vertical Portrait

The name Three in Chinese / Japanese...

Buy a Three calligraphy wall scroll here!

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


  1. American Football

  2. Great Expectations

  3. Bellflower

  4. Better to be Happy than Rich

  5. Body

  6. The Brave Have No Fears

  7. You May Learn from Victory, You Will Learn from Failure

  8. Choose Life

  9. Christian / Disciple of Christ

10. Disciple of Christianity

11. Clarity

12. Curious / Inquisitive

13. Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Excerpt

14. Day

15. Death Before Dishonor

16. Drink Up! / Cheers!

17. Fidelity Honor Courage

18. Five Elements Tai Chi Fist

19. Flying Tigers AVG

20. Forest

21. Goshin-Do

22. Guan / Kwan / Seki

23. Guandi: God of War

24. Guan Yu

25. Happy Birthday

26. Happy Family

27. Words Have Enormous Weight: One Word Worth Nine Caldrons

28. Immovable Mind

29. Inner Beauty / Beauty of Spirit

30. Islam

31. Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine

32. Joshua 24:15

33. A Journey of 1000 Miles Begins with a Single Step

34. Kirin / Giraffe / Mythical Creature

35. Life Energy / Spiritual Energy

36. Live Love Die

37. Mermaid / Merman

38. Mind Body Spirit

39. Moonlight

40. Nature in Balance / Balanced Nature

41. New Beginning

42. Nichiren

43. Non-Violence

44. One

45. Orion’s Belt

46. Pillars of Marriage

47. Profound / Powerful Words

48. Protector

49. Romance of the Three Kingdoms

50. San-Dan

51. Sangha

52. Scholar / Confucian

53. Self-Respect / Self-Esteem

54. Semper Fidelis / Always Faithful

55. Shaina

56. Shingitai / Shin Gi Tai

57. Shit / Defecate / Excrement / Feces / Poop

58. Shorinji Kempo / Kenpo

59. A sly rabbit has three openings to its den

60. Strong Woman

61. Tea

62. The Holy Trinity

63. Three

64. When Three People Gather, One Becomes a Teacher

65. When Three People Gather, Wisdom is Multiplied

66. Three Kingdoms

67. Three Souls

68. Three Treasures of Buddhism

69. Tiger Rumor

70. Together Forever

71. The Three Truths

72. Trust in God / Faith in God

73. Warriors: Quality Over Quantity

74. The Value of Warriors Lies in Their Quality

75. You Only Live Once

76. Zen / Chan / Meditation

77. Zhang Fei

78. Zhuge Liang

79. Buddha Dharma Sangha

80. Betelgeuse

81. Dana: Almsgiving and Generosity

82. Sanchin

83. Lucky Star

84. Take Refuge in the Three Treasures

85. Fu Lu Shou

86. Shuhari

87. Namu Dai Bosa

88. Sandaiyu

89. The Book of Five Rings

90. Sandaiyu - Three Generation Soup

91. Reiki Precepts by Usui Mikao

92. Hua Tuo

93. McGinily

94. Sanbo


American Football

 měi shì gǎn lǎn qiú
American Football Scroll

美式橄欖球 is the Chinese title for “American football” (not to be confused with international football known as soccer in the USA).

If you are a player or fan of American football, this will make a great wall scroll for your home.

The first two characters mean “American style.”
The last three characters mean football or rugby (a game involving an oblong or ovoid ball).
The “American” adjective is needed in this title to differentiate between Canadian football, Australian rules football, and rugby.


See Also:  Soccer

Great Expectations

 wàng
 bou / nozomi
 
Great Expectations Scroll

望 holds the ideas of ambition, hope, desire, aspiring to, expectations, looking towards, to gaze (into the distance), and in some contexts, full moon rising.

望 is one of those single characters that is vague but in that vagueness, it also means many things.

望 is a whole word in Chinese and old Korean but is seldom seen alone in Japanese. Still, it holds the meanings noted above in all three languages.

 jié gěng huā
 ki kyou bana
Bellflower Scroll

桔梗花 means “Chinese bellflower” in Japanese.

Wikipedia Chinese Bellflower In Chinese, it refersto the “Platycodon grandiflorus” (Platycodon grandiflorum), “balloon flower,” or “bellflower.”

桔梗花 is the three-character version of this title, which suggests that you are talking about the flower and not the medicinal herb derived from this kind of plant.

Better to be Happy than Rich

 ān pín lè dào
Better to be Happy than Rich Scroll

安貧樂道 means “It's better to be happy than rich” in Chinese.

Even if you are poor, you should still feel satisfied in your life...

...Satisfaction, happiness and the meaning of your life come from within yourself and not from money or riches of the world.

In Chinese, there are a lot of four-character proverbs which express some very old philosophies.
Though there are only four characters on this scroll, in Chinese, the meanings often surpass the dictionary definition of each character.

In this case, you should not set your expectations too high for the money or riches you wish to have. One who sets their expectations too high is almost always disappointed. Instead, you should cherish what you have, seek to improve yourself from within, and not measure your worth by the size of your bank account.

 shēn
 mi
 
Body Scroll

身 is how to write “body” as in your human body, in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja.

Depending on the context and certain language issues, this character can also mean: main part, hull, oneself, somebody, person, I, me, sword, lifetime, one's station in life, etc.

While this written word is universal in three languages, it still makes a rather odd selection for a wall scroll. Also, they tend to use 体 (karada) in Japanese for the body (depending on context).


See Also:  Karada

The Brave Have No Fears

 yǒng zhě bú jù
 yuu sha fu ku
The Brave Have No Fears Scroll

This proverb means “Brave people [are] without fear,” or “The brave are without fear.”

勇者不懼 is a proverb credited to Confucius. It's one of three phrases in a set of things he said.

This phrase is originally Chinese but has penetrated Japanese culture as well (many Confucian phrases have) back when Japan borrowed Chinese characters into their language.


This phrase has also been converted into modern Japanese grammar when written as 勇者は懼れず. If you want this version just click on those characters.


See Also:  No Fear

You May Learn from Victory, You Will Learn from Failure

 bǎi shèng nán lǜ dí sān zhé nǎi liáng yī
You May Learn from Victory, You Will Learn from Failure Scroll

百胜难虑敌三折乃良医 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: [Even a general who has won a] hundred victories [may be] hard put to see through the enemy's [strategy], [but one who has] broken [his] arm three [times] [will] be a good doctor.

Figuratively, this means: One cannot always depend on past successes to guarantee future success but one can always learn from lessons drawn from failure.


See Also:  Failure - Mother of Success | Experience - Mother of Success | Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8 | Hard Knocks

 xuǎn zé shēng huó
Choose Life Scroll

選擇生活 can mean to choose life instead of death (or suicide) or to choose to live life to the fullest.

I think of it as the key phrase used by Renton (Ewan McGregor) in the movie Trainspotting. While Chinese people will not think of Trainspotting when they see this phrase, for me, it will always be what comes near the end of this colorful rant:

Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin can openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on-hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked-up brats you have spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life.

Christian / Disciple of Christ

 jī dū tú
 kirisuto
Christian / Disciple of Christ Scroll

基督徒 is a very strong and direct word in Chinese for “Christian.”

The literal translation of the first two characters is “Christ.”

The last character means apprentice, follower, or disciple.

Altogether these three characters mean “Christ's Disciple” or “Christ's Apprentice.” 基督徒 is a pretty cool title to hang on your wall if you are a devout Christian.

Also used by Japanese Christians (but may be unfamiliar to non-Christian Japanese people).


See Also:  Jesus Christ | God of Abraham

Disciple of Christianity

 jī dū jiào tú
 kirisutokyouto
Disciple of Christianity Scroll

基督教徒 is the most verbose (longest) word for “Christian” in the Chinese and Japanese languages.

The literal translation of the first two characters is Christ.
The third Character means “Religion” or “Teaching.”
The last character means “apprentice” or “disciple.”

Altogether these three characters mean “Christ's Teaching Disciple” or “Christ's Religion Apprentice.”

Note: The last two characters are sometimes translated together as “follower (of a religion),” so you could also say it means “Follower of Christ.”

This four-character title makes it very clear what you are talking about in Chinese.


See Also:  Jesus Christ | God of Abraham

 qīng
 sei
 
Clarity Scroll

清 is a word that means clarity or clear in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

Looking at the parts of this character, you have three splashes of water on the left, “life” on the top right, and the moon on the lower right.

Because of something Confucius said about 2500 years ago, you can imagine that this character means “live life with clarity like bright moonlight piercing pure water.” The Confucian idea is something like “Keep clear what is pure in yourself, and let your pure nature show through.” Kind of like saying, “Don't pollute your mind or body, so that they remain clear.”

This might be stretching the definition of this single Chinese character but the elements are there, and “clarity” is a powerful idea.


Korean note: Korean pronunciation is given above but this character is written with a slight difference in the "moon radical" in Korean. However, anyone who can read Korean Hanja, will understand this character with no problem (this is considered an alternate form in Korean). If you want the more standard Korean Hanja form (which is an alternate form in Chinese), just let me know.

Japanese note: When reading in Japanese, this Kanji has additional meanings of pure, purify, or cleanse (sometimes to remove demons or "exorcise"). Used more in compound words in Japanese than as a stand-alone Kanji.

Curious / Inquisitive

 hào qí
 kouki
Curious / Inquisitive Scroll

好奇 means curiosity or inquisitive in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

It is a rather positive word in all three languages - though not as commonly used in Japanese.

Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter 67

 yī yuē cí èr yuē jiǎn sān yuē bù gǎn wéi tiān xià xiān
Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Excerpt Scroll

一曰慈二曰儉三曰不敢為天下先 is an excerpt from the 67th Chapter of Lao Tzu's (Lao Zi's) Te-Tao Ching (Dao De Jing).

This is the part where the three treasures are discussed. In English, we'd say these three treasures are compassion, frugality, and humility. Some may translate these as love, moderation, and lack of arrogance. I have also seen them translated as benevolence, modesty, and “Not presuming to be at the forefront in the world.” You can mix them up the way you want, as translation is not really a science but rather an art.

I should also explain that the first two treasures are single-character ideas, yet the third treasure was written out in six characters (there are also some auxiliary characters to number the treasures).

If Lao Tzu's words are important to you, then a wall scroll with this passage might make a great addition to your home.

 rì
 hi / nichi
 
Day Scroll

This is how to write “day” in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Hanja.

This can also mean “Sun,” the star in the middle of the Solar system in which we live. In Japanese, it can also mean “sunshine” or even “Sunday.”

When writing the date in modern Chinese and Japanese, putting a number in front of this character indicates the day of the month. Of course, you need to indicate the month too... The month is expressed with a number followed by the character for the moon. So “three moons ten suns” would be “March 10th” or “3/10.”

Note: This is also the first character for the proper name of Japan. Remember that Japan is “The land of the rising sun”? Well, the first character for Japan means “sun” and the second means “origin” so you get the real meaning now. Sometimes, in China, this sun character can be a short name for Japan or a suffix for something of or from Japan.

Death Before Dishonor

 fu mei yo yo ri shi
Death Before Dishonor Scroll

不名誉より死 is the Japanese version of “Death Before Dishonor.”

Japanese grammar is a bit different than English, so this really means something like “Rather die than to be dishonored.” However, “dishonor” is the first three Kanji, and death is the last Kanji. There are two Hiragana (より) which indicate the preference is death when comparing dishonor to death.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Drink Up! / Cheers!

 gān bēi
 kan pai
Drink Up! / Cheers! Scroll

乾杯 is the common way to say “cheers” or give a toast in Chinese, Japanese and old Korean (written the same in all three languages, though pronounced differently).

乾杯 is an appropriate wall scroll for a bar, pub, or another drinking area.

The first character literally means “dry” or “parched.”
The second character means “cup” or “glass.”

Together the meaning is to drink up (empty your glass).

Fidelity Honor Courage

 xìn yì zūn yán yǒng qì
Fidelity Honor Courage Scroll

信義尊嚴勇氣 means fidelity, honor, and courage in Chinese.

This is a word list that was requested by a customer. Word lists are not common in Chinese, but we've put this one in the best order/context to make it as natural as possible.

We used the “honor” that leans toward the definition of “dignity” since that seemed the best match for the other two words.

Please note: These are three two-character words. You should choose the single-column format when you get to the options when you order this selection. The two-column option would split one word or be arranged with four characters on one side and two on the other.

Five Elements Tai Chi Fist

 wǔ xíng tài jí quán
 go gyou tai kyoku ken
Five Elements Tai Chi Fist Scroll

五行太極拳 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 the 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.

Flying Tigers AVG

 fēi hǔ duì
Flying Tigers AVG Scroll

飛虎隊 is the full Chinese title of the “Flying Tigers Group.”

These were the American pilots that volunteered to go to China and fight the Japanese before the entry of the USA into World War Two. These fighter pilots were so esteemed in China that fallen American pilots could always find refuge in villages and safe passage and escape to areas of China that were not occupied by Japan at that time. Chinese villagers helped such fallen pilots with full knowledge that when the Japanese occupation forces found out, all the men, women, and children in the village would be massacred by Japanese troops (there are more than a few known cases of such massacres).

The Flying Tigers successfully kept supply lines to the Chinese resistance open and divided Japanese forces at a crucial time while America prepared to join WWII officially.

A wall scroll like this honors the men who risked or gave their lives as noble volunteers and is a reminder of the best moment in the history of Sino-American relations.

These three characters literally mean “flying tiger(s) group/team/squad.”


Note: Hanging these characters on your wall will not make you any friends with Japanese people who are aware or this history (most Japanese have no idea, as Japan’s involvement in WWII has all but been erased from school textbooks in Japan).

Forest

Wooded Area

 sēn lín
 shinrin
Forest Scroll

森林 is how to generically write “forest” or “woods” in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

If you look at the first character, you will see that it is made up of three trees. The second is actually two trees. 森林 is one of those words that really visually expresses the meaning.

If your name is Forest, I suggest this title to represent your name.

 hù shēn dào
 gou shin dou
Goshin-Do Scroll

護身道 is the title for the school of martial arts known as Goshin-Do.

The literal translation of these three characters is something like “self-protection way” or “protection of the body way.”

To put this in context, the term 護身 is often used for charms or amulets that are meant to protect the wearer from harm.


Note: This phrase is pronounceable in Chinese, but it not commonly known in China.

Guan / Kwan / Seki

Surname

 guān
 seki
 
Guan / Kwan / Seki Scroll

關 is a surname in three languages.
In Chinese, it romanizes as Guan.
In Korean, it's Kwan (or Gwan).
In Japanese it's Seki.

The meaning of the character is mountain pass; to close; to shut; to turn off; barrier; frontier.

Guandi: God of War

 Guān dì
 kan tei
Guandi: God of War Scroll

關帝 is the title, Guandi, the God of War, a deified hero of the Three Kingdoms, and a protector of Buddhism.

 guān yǔ
Guan Yu Scroll

關羽 is the name Guan Yu, Army General for the Kingdom of Shu.

He is also known as Guan Gong (like saying Duke Guan or Sir Guan)

He was immortalized in the novel, “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”

He was a fearsome fighter, also famous for his virtue and loyalty. He is worshiped by some modern-day soldiers and has the title “Warrior Saint” in China. Some believe he offers safety and protection for military servicemen.

Guan Yu lived until 219 A.D.

Happy Birthday

 shuku tan jou bi
Happy Birthday Scroll

祝誕生日 is the shortest way to write “Happy Birthday” in Japanese.

The first Kanji means “wish” or “express good wishes,” and the last three characters mean “birthday.”

Because a birthday only lasts one day per year, we strongly suggest that you find an appropriate and personal calligraphy gift that can be hung in the recipient's home year-round.

Happy Family

 nago ya ka na ka tei
Happy Family Scroll

和やかな家庭 means “happy family” or “harmonious family” in Japanese.

The first three Kanji create a word that means mild, calm, gentle, quiet, or harmonious. After that is a connecting article. The last two Kanji mean family, home, or household.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Words Have Enormous Weight: One Word Worth Nine Caldrons

 yī yán jiǔ dǐng
Words Have Enormous Weight: One Word Worth Nine Caldrons Scroll

一言九鼎 is an ancient Chinese proverb used in modern times to talk of profound or powerful words.

Highly-Valued Bronze Tripod Caldron The literal meaning is “one word [worth] nine [sacred] tripods.” The tripod is a highly-prized three-legged (sometimes four-legged) metal pot or kettle of ancient China. They are often made of bronze, and the Emperor would have large ones gilded in gold. See the image to the right for an example.

Immovable Mind

fudoshin

 fu dou shin
Immovable Mind Scroll

不動心 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: An unshakable mind and an immovable spirit is the state of fudoshin. It is courage and stability displayed both mentally and physically. Rather than indicating rigidity and inflexibility, fudoshin describes a condition that is not easily upset by internal thoughts or external forces. It is capable of receiving a strong attack while retaining composure and balance. It receives and yields lightly, grounds to the earth, and reflects aggression back to the source.

Other translations of this title include imperturbability, steadfastness, keeping a cool head in an emergency, or keeping one's calm (during a fight).

The first two Kanji alone mean immobility, firmness, fixed, steadfastness, motionless, and idle.

The last Kanji means heart, mind, soul, or essence.

Together, these three Kanji create a title defined as “immovable mind” within the context of Japanese martial arts. However, in Chinese, it would mean “motionless heart,” and in Korean Hanja, “wafting heart” or “floating heart.”

Inner Beauty / Beauty of Spirit

 nai men bi
Inner Beauty / Beauty of Spirit Scroll

内面美 is a three-character title that speaks of beauty on the inside.

It's not about outward or physical beauty but rather the inner beauty possessed by someone. This can also be translated as “beauty of spirit.”

Islam

(phonetic version)

 yī sī lán jiào
Islam Scroll

伊斯蘭教 both means and sounds like “Islam” in Mandarin Chinese.

The first three characters sound like the word “Islam,” and the last character means “religion” or “teaching.” It's the most general term for “Islam” in China. The highest concentration of Muslims in China is Xinjiang (the vast region in northwest China that was called The East Turkistan Republic until 1949 and is sometimes called Chinese Turkistan, Uyghuristan). Here you will find Uygurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and others that are descendants of Turkmen (possibly mixed with Persians and Arabs). Many of their ancestors were traders who traveled the silk road to buy and sell spices and silk and exchange other goods from the Orient and the Middle East.

I spent some time in Xinjiang and got to know this community. They are strong people who can endure much. They are friendly and love to have a good time. I was a stranger but was treated by villagers (near China's border with Afghanistan) as if I was a good friend.
However, I have heard that it's best not to cross them, as in this land, the law is the blade, and everything is “eye for an eye.” The Chinese government has little control in Xinjiang, with almost no police officers except in the capital of Urumqi (so it's a 60-hour roundtrip train ride to seek the aid of law enforcement in most cases).

While few seem devout, there are at least small mosques in every village. And you will never see a man or woman outside without a head covering.

It should be noted that these people are all citizens of China, but they are officially of the Caucasian race. A visit to Xinjiang will change your idea of what it means to be Chinese.

Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine

 jīng qì shén
Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine Scroll

精, 氣, 神 are the characters jing, qi, and shen.

As a set, these three characters are known in English as the treasures of traditional Chinese medicine, the treasures of Qi Gong, or the three treasures of Taoism / Daoism.

Sometimes this set is titled 三寶 (sānbǎo) or “three treasures,” but here, we're writing each treasure out.

Here's how these characters are perceived in this context...
Jing: nutritive essence; refined; perfected; pure
Qi: vitality; energy; force; breath; vigor
Shen: spirit; soul; mind; being

To keep it simple, you can use “essence, vitality, and spirit” to define these.

Joshua 24:15

This House Serves the LORD

 zhì yú wǒ hé wǒ jiā wǒ men bì dìng shì fèng yē hé huá
Joshua 24:15 Scroll

至於我和我家我們必定事奉耶和華 is the last sentence of Joshua 24:15 in Chinese.

Joshua 24:15 in Chinese

What your
calligraphy
might look like
from our
Chinese Master
Calligrapher

Joshua 24:15 (KJV) ...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15 (NIV) ...as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

We used the only official Christian Chinese Bible that I know of so that the translation would be as accurate and standard as possible. Any Chinese Christian worth their salt will easily be able to identify this verse from the Chinese words on this scroll.

I think it is a bit like having a secret code on your wall that quietly expresses to whom you are faithful.

A great gift for your devout Christian or Jewish friend if they happen to be fond of Asian art.

Or perhaps a wonderful “conversation starter” for your own home.

Note: If you are curious, the last three characters represent the way “LORD” is used in most English Bibles. In Chinese, this is actually the phonetic name from Mandarin Chinese for “Jehovah.”

A Journey of 1000 Miles Begins with a Single Step

senri no michi mo ippo kara

 sen ri no michi mo i-ppo ka ra
A Journey of 1000 Miles Begins with a Single Step Scroll

千里の道も一歩から is the Japanese version of an ancient Chinese proverb that means “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Some will also translate this as a 1000-mile road starts with one brick (a small amount).

In this case, the real measurement is an ancient Chinese “li” or 里, which is romanized as “ri” in Japanese. It's about half a kilometer, so three 里 would be a western mile. A journey of 333 miles begins with a single step, just doesn't sound as natural.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Kirin / Giraffe / Mythical Creature

 qí lǐn
 keilun
 kirin
Kirin / Giraffe / Mythical Creature Scroll

麒麟 is the title of a mythical beast of Asia.

The animal is thought to be related to the giraffe, and in some ways, it is a giraffe. However, it is often depicted with the horns of a dragon or deer and sometimes with the body like a horse, but many variations exist.

In Japanese, it is pronounced “Kirin” as in “Kirin Ichiban” beer.

Kirin - Mythical Beast and Great Japanese Beer!
Notes:

1. This is sometimes spelled as “kylin.”

2. In Japanese, this is the only Kanji word for giraffe. Therefore in Japan, this word needs context to know whether you are talking about the mythical creature or the long-necked giraffe of Africa.

3. Apparently, this was the first word used for regular giraffes in China (some were brought from Africa to China during the Ming Dynasty - probably around the year 1400). Though the mythical creature may have existed before, the name “qilin” was given to the “new giraffe.” This is because, more than 600 years ago, giraffes somewhat matched the mythical creature's description when Chinese people saw them for the first time. Later, to avoid such an ambiguous title, a three-character word was devised to mean a “giraffe of Africa.” The characters for “qilin” shown here are only for the mythological version in modern Chinese.

4. More information about the qilin / kirin from Wikipedia.

5. This creature is sometimes translated as the “Chinese Unicorn,” although it is generally portrayed with two horns. I think this is done more for the fantasy aspect of the unicorn and because most westerners don't know what a qilin or kirin is (this avoids a long explanation by the translator).

6. In Korean, this can mean kirin or simply giraffe (usually, the mythological creature is what they would think of when seeing these characters alone on a wall scroll).

Life Energy / Spiritual Energy

Chi Energy: Essence of Life / Energy Flow

 qì
 ki
 
Life Energy / Spiritual Energy Scroll

This 氣 energy flow is a fundamental concept of traditional Asian culture.

氣 is romanized as “Qi” or “Chi” in Chinese, “Gi” in Korean, and “Ki” in Japanese.
Chi is believed to be part of everything that exists, as in “life force” or “spiritual energy.” It is most often translated as “energy flow” or literally as “air” or “breath.” Some people will simply translate this as “spirit,” but you must consider the kind of spirit we're talking about. I think this is weighted more toward energy than spirit.

The character itself is a representation of steam (or breath) rising from rice. To clarify, the character for rice looks like this: 米
Steam was apparently seen as visual evidence of the release of “life energy” when this concept was first developed. The Qi / Chi / Ki character is still used in compound words to mean steam or vapor.
The etymology of this character is a bit complicated. It's suggested that the first form of this character from bronze script (about 2500 years ago) looked like these samples: 氣氣
However, it was easy to confuse this with the character for the number three. So the rice radical was added by 221 B.C. (the exact time of this change is debated). This first version with the rice radical looks like this: 氣
The idea of Qi / Chi / Ki is really a philosophical concept. It's often used to refer to the “flow” of metaphysical energy that sustains living beings. Yet there is much debate that has continued for thousands of years as to whether Qi / Chi / Ki is pure energy or consists partially or fully of matter.

You can also see the character for Qi / Chi / Ki in common compound words such as Tai Chi / Tai Qi, Aikido, Reiki, and Qi Gong / Chi Kung.

In the modern Japanese Kanji, the rice radical has been changed into two strokes that form an X.

気 The original and traditional Chinese form is still understood in Japanese, but we can also offer that modern Kanji form in our custom calligraphy. If you want this Japanese Kanji, please click on the character to the right instead of the “Select and Customize” button above.


More language notes: This is pronounced like “chee” in Mandarin Chinese, and like “key” in Japanese.
This is also the same way to write this in Korean Hanja where it is Romanized as “gi” and pronounced like “gee” but with a real G-sound, not a J-sound.
Though Vietnamese no longer use Chinese characters in their daily language, this character is still widely known in Vietnam.


See Also:  Energy | Life Force | Vitality | Life | Birth | Soul

Live Love Die

 shēng ài sǐ
 sei ai shi
Live Love Die Scroll

This came from a customer's request, but it's not too bad.

These three simple characters suggest that you are born, you learn to love, and then exit the world.

Mermaid / Merman

(Unisex)

 rén yú
 nin gyo
Mermaid / Merman Scroll

人魚 is the Japanese Kanji, Korean Hanja, and Chinese word for “merman” or “mermaid.”

It literally means “human fish.”

人魚 is a non-gender-specific or unisex word in all three languages.

Mind Body Spirit

 shēn xīn líng
 mi shin rei
Mind Body Spirit Scroll

身心靈 is probably the best way to express the idea of “Body, Mind, and Spirit” in Chinese and old Korean Hanja. We are actually using the word “heart” here because, for thousands of years, the heart was thought to be the place where your thoughts, feelings, and emotions came from. We do something similar in the west when we say “warm-hearted” or “I love you with all of my heart.” In this context, heart = mind in Asian language and culture.

The very literal translation of these three characters is “body, heart & spirit,” which could also be interpreted as “body, mind & soul.”

We have arranged these characters in this order because it simply “feels” like the proper order in the Chinese language. Word lists like this are not so common for calligraphy artwork, so we must be careful to put them in the most natural order. It should be noted that this is not a common title in Asia, nor is it considered an actual phrase (as it lacks a clear subject, verb, and object).


霊In Japanese Kanji, they use an alternate form of the character for soul or spirit. If you want this using the Japanese alternate, please click on the Kanji shown to the right instead of the button above.

Japanese disclaimer: This is not a natural phrase/list in Japanese. While not totally-natural in Chinese, this word list is best if your audience is Chinese.

 yuè guāng
 gekkou
Moonlight Scroll

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).

Nature in Balance / Balanced Nature

 shizenkai no kinkou
Nature in Balance / Balanced Nature Scroll

自然界の均衡 is a verbose way to say “nature in balance” in Japanese.

The first three Kanji have the meaning of “the natural world” or “the natural kingdom” (kind of like the animal kingdom but including plants and all things biological).
The third character is a Hiragana that acts to connect the two ideas here.
The last two Kanji mean equilibrium or balance.

New Beginning

 atarashii hajime
New Beginning Scroll

新しい始め is a verbose Japanese phrase that means “new beginning.”

The first three characters mean new, novel, fresh, recent, latest, up-to-date, or modern.

The last two characters mean beginning, start outset, opening, or origin.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

 rì lián
 nichi ren
Nichiren Scroll

日蓮 is the title Nichiren.

This title refers to a Buddhist priest who lived from 1222 to 1282. He is the founder of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism.
According to historical documents, the Nichiren sect was established in 1252. Adding the character 宗 for sect, this would be 日蓮宗 (Nichiren sect), which is also known as the 法華宗 or Lotus sect.

According to Soothill-Hodous...
Nichiren's chief tenets are the three great mysteries 三大祕法, representing the trikāya:
1. 本尊 or chief object of worship, being the great maṇḍala of the worlds of the ten directions, or universe, i.e., the body or nirmāṇakāya of Buddha.
2. 題目 the title of the Lotus Sutra 妙法蓮華經 Myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo, preceded by Namo, or “Adoration to the scripture of the lotus of the wonderful law,” for it is Buddha's spiritual body.
3. 戒壇 the altar of the law, which is also the title of the Lotus as above; the believer, wherever he is, dwells in the Pure-land of calm light 寂光淨土, the saṃbhogakāya.

Non-Violence

 fēi bào lì
 hibouryoku
Non-Violence Scroll

非暴力 is fairly self-explanatory.

The first character means “not,” “non-,” or “un-”
The middle and last character together mean “violence,” “use of force,” or simply “violent.”

Together, these three characters would normally be translated as “nonviolence.” A great gift for your favorite peace-lover.


See Also:  Peace

One

The number one

 yī
 ichi
 
One Scroll

一 is “one” or “1” in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

People keep searching for “one” but I'm not sure what you want. This would be a strange selection for a wall scroll, so please don't order it. Post a request on our forum if you want a phrase with “one” in it that you can't find on our site.

The “one” character is really simple, it's just one stroke. Two is two strokes and three is three strokes, from four and above, the characters get more complicated.

In some ways, the “one” character is too simple, it could be a stray mark, or added to a banking document. Therefore, the following banking anti-fraud character for “one” has developed over the last 1500 years in China and Japan:
壱 壹 弌

Orion’s Belt

 liè hù zuò
Orion’s Belt Scroll

獵戶座 means Orion's Belt, or more literally Orion's Constellation or the “Constellation of the Hunter.”

This title refers not just to the three stars that make up the belt but to the whole constellation known as Orion (or the Hunter).

Pillars of Marriage

Respect / Loyalty / Honesty

 zūn zhòng zhōng chéng chéng shí
Pillars of Marriage Scroll

尊重忠誠誠實 is a “word list” consisting of “Respect/Loyalty/Honesty.”

Word lists are not as common in Chinese as they are in English but leaving that concern behind, this has a good meaning.

If you want to customize it more, add an inscription with your wedding date or names (just a small extra fee for translation).

Note: Because these are three separate words, the calligrapher may be inclined to leave a small space between each two-character word. Let us know if you have any preference when you place your order.

Profound / Powerful Words

 rù mù sān fēn
Profound / Powerful Words Scroll

入木三分 is a four-character Chinese proverb that translates in English to a strong form of “profound” or “written with a forceful hand.”

But there is much more to the story...

The deep meaning behind this proverb comes from a man named Wan Xizhi, who lived in the third century.

He was a great writer and calligrapher whose writing style influenced generations of other writers and calligraphers.

He once wrote words on a piece of wood to be taken to an engraver.
When the engraver began to carve the characters into the wood, he found that Wang Xizhi's writing had penetrated the wood about 3/8 of an inch.

Thus people believed that his words were so powerful and profound that they caused the ink from his brush to penetrate the wood deeply.

The proverb literally means “penetrated wood three fen” (A fen is an ancient Chinese measurement of a little over 1/8 of an inch or almost 4mm).

 bǎo hù zhě
 hogosha
Protector Scroll

保護者 is the universal word for protector in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

The first character means to defend, to protect, to insure or guarantee, to maintain, hold or keep, or to guard.

The second character means to protect.

Together the first and second characters create a word that means to defend, protect, or safeguard.

The last character means person.

Add all three characters together, and you have a word that means “protector,” one who will protect, guard, and keep you safe.

Some will also translate this word as guardian or patron.


Note: Not a common selection for a wall scroll in Asia.


See Also:  Guardian Angel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Novel Title

 sān guó yǎn yì
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Scroll

三國演義 is the Chinese title for The Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong.

This is one of the most famous novels of Chinese literature.

 san dan
San-Dan Scroll

三段 is a Japanese Kanji word that literally means “third degree.”

三段 is the third black belt rank in Japanese martial arts.

The first Kanji means three or third in Japanese.

The second Kanji means step, grade, rank, or level.

 sēng qié
 sougya
Sangha Scroll

In Buddhism, 僧伽 refers to a community of monks and/or nuns (one of the “Three Jewels”). In general terms, it can simply mean “all followers of the Buddha.”

Notes: Though there are not vast numbers of Chinese Hindus, in the Hindu faith, this term means “community together.”
The original Sanskrit word is also Romanized as samgha.
The first character means “monk.” The second character means Buddha or Shakyamuni.
僧伽 is a transliteration of the original Sanskrit, but it uses two very profound Chinese characters related to Buddhism.

Some may pronounce this as “seng qie” or “seng jia” in Mandarin (two possible pronunciations for the second character). Note that “qie” sounds like “chee-ah” using typical English pronunciation. Chinese Romanization is not actually designed to match English sounds.


僧僧Note that when writing this as Kanji, Japanese will tend to write the first character in the form shown to the right. If you select our Japanese master calligrapher, please expect this special Kanji form. However, it should also be noted that this is not a common term in Japanese (except by certain sects of Buddhism or perhaps devout Buddhists in Japan).

Scholar / Confucian

 rú
 ju
 
Scholar / Confucian Scroll

儒 is a unique single character that means scholar or Confucian and leaves a favorable impression when read in Chinese.

Specifically, in Japanese Kanji, this means Confucianism, Confucianist or Chinese scholar.

In old Korean Hanja, this means scholar, Confucian scholar, Confucianist, or learned (one who has learned and knows much).

Basically, it's the same in all three languages.

Self-Respect / Self-Esteem

 zì zūn
 jison
Self-Respect / Self-Esteem Scroll

自尊 means self-respect or self-esteem in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. It can also mean “pride in oneself.”

Note: Japanese sometimes put the character for the heart after these two. However, this two-character word is universal between all three languages (which is often better since more than a third of the world's population can read this version as a native word).

Semper Fidelis / Always Faithful

 tsune ni chuu sei wo
Semper Fidelis / Always Faithful Scroll

常に忠誠を is “Semper Fidelis” or “Always Faithful” in Japanese. This is specifically meant for U.S. Marines who often use the shortened term “Semper Fi.”

The first two Kanji mean “always” or “constantly.” The last three Kanji mean “faithful,” “loyal,” “devoted,” and/or “diligent.” It's most often read as “faithful.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

 shā ěr nà
Shaina Scroll

莎爾娜 is a three-character transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the name Shaina.

Both versions are close to the correct pronunciation for this name. It is just common for books and other publications to use either of these two versions.

Shingitai / Shin Gi Tai

 xīn jì tǐ
 shin gi tai
Shingitai / Shin Gi Tai Scroll

心技体 is the Japanese title “shin gi tai” or “shingitai.”

This can refer to the three elements of Sumo wrestlers or martial artists, “heart-technique-physique.”

Here is what each character represents:

心 (shin) mind, heart, and spirit.

技 (gi) skill, knowledge, and experience.

体 (tai) body and physical effort.

心技体 have the same meanings in Chinese, though this title is used much more often in Japanese.

Shit / Defecate / Excrement / Feces / Poop

NOT APPROPRIATE FOR
CUSTOM CALLIGRAPHY

 dà biàn
 dai ben
Shit / Defecate / Excrement / Feces / Poop Scroll

Seems a lot of you want to know how to write “shit” in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja. Well, here it is.

Do not, under any circumstances, try to order this selection for a wall scroll. None of the calligraphers that I work with would dare to lower themselves to such a level and actually write “shit” for you. 大便 is only here for reference. 大便 is not appropriate for custom calligraphy!

大便 is thousands of years old and was absorbed into both Japanese and Korean (if you note, the pronunciation is very similar in all three languages).

This version is sometimes used as a verb (when used with some other words).

Shorinji Kempo / Kenpo

 shào lín sì quán fǎ
 shourinji kenpou
Shorinji Kempo / Kenpo Scroll

少林寺拳法 is a specific type of martial art 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. The reason is, 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.

A sly rabbit has three openings to its den

-or- The crafty rabbit has three different entrances to its lair

 jiǎo tù sān kū
A sly rabbit has three openings to its den Scroll

狡兔三窟 speaks to the cunning character of a sly rabbit. Such a rabbit will not have just one hole but rather a few entrances and exits from his liar.

About 2,250 years ago, a rich man told his assistant to go and buy something wonderful that he did not yet possess. He was a man that already had everything, so the assistant went to a local village that owed a great deal of money to the rich man. The assistant told the village elders that all debts were forgiven. All the villagers rejoiced and praised the rich man's name. The assistant returned to the rich man and told him he had purchased “benevolence” for him. The rich man was mildly amused but perhaps slightly confused by the action.

Sometime later, the rich man fell from the favor of the Emperor and was wiped out without a penny to his name. One day he was walking aimlessly and stumbled into the village where the debts had been forgiven. The villagers recognized the man and welcomed him with open arms, clothed, fed him, and gave him a place to live.

Without trying, the man had become like the sly and cunning rabbit. When his exit was blocked, he had another hole to emerge from - and was reborn. This story and idiom come from a book titled “The Amendment” - it's unclear whether this man actually existed or not. But the book did propel this idiom into common use in China.

Still today, this idiom about the rabbit is used in China when suggesting “backup plans,” alternate methods, and anyone with a good escape plan.

Strong Woman

 nǚ qiáng rén
Strong Woman Scroll

女強人 is the best way to say “strong woman” or “strong and independent woman” in Chinese.

Grammar in China is a bit different, so these three characters literally read as “female strength person” or “woman strong person.” This might sound funny in English, but this is a natural-sounding title in Chinese.

 chá
 cha
 
Tea Scroll

茶 means tea. It can refer to prepared tea (ready-to-drink) or dry tea leaves.

The origin of tea is China but the same character is used in Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja with the exact same meaning. Japanese and Korean even borrowed the pronunciation from Chinese (pronounced “cha” in all three languages).

It's said that an early doctor (or herbologist) in ancient China kept poisoning himself as he tried different new herb concoctions. He invented tea as a means to detoxify himself as he recovered from 1 of the 76 times he nearly poisoned himself to death. Tea is seen not just as a drink but as a form of medicine used to remove impurities from the body.

The word “chai” (used in many languages to refer to various teas) is derived from this Chinese word.

茶 also means camellia, as Asian teas are often based on the leaves of camellia plant varieties.

The Holy Trinity

 sān wèi yì tǐ
The Holy Trinity Scroll

三位一體 is the Chinese and old Korean way to write Holy Trinity.

This would be understood in Japanese as well, but they tend to write it with the last character simplified like 三位一体 in modern Japan.

This can be translated literally as “Three Thrones, One Body.”
Asian Christians will understand this as the Trinity, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Three

The number three

 sān
 san
 
Three Scroll

三 is the number three in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

This is a strange selection for a wall scroll, so it's here mostly for reference. I guess it's OK if the number three is important to you.


參参 Because this character is rather simple (just three lines), there is an anti-fraud way to write three on bank documents. These variants are shown to the right.

When Three People Gather, One Becomes a Teacher

 sān rén xíng bì yǒu wǒ shī
When Three People Gather, One Becomes a Teacher Scroll

三人行必有我师 means “when three people meet, one becomes the teacher.”

This famous Chinese philosophy suggests that when people come together, they can always learn from each other.

One person must be the teacher and others learn. And in turn, the others become the teachers of the knowledge they possess.

It is important to remember that we all have something to teach, and we all have something to learn as well.

When Three People Gather, Wisdom is Multiplied

 san nin yore ba monju no chie
When Three People Gather, Wisdom is Multiplied Scroll

三人寄れば文殊の知恵 literally means “when three people meet, wisdom is exchanged.”

Some will suggest this means when three people come together, their wisdom is multiplied.

That wisdom part can also be translated as wit, sagacity, intelligence, or Buddhist Prajna (insight leading to enlightenment).

In the middle of this proverb is “monju,” suggesting “transcendent wisdom.” This is where the multiplication of wisdom ideas comes from.


Note: This is very similar to the Chinese proverb, "When 3 people meet, one becomes a teacher."


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Three Kingdoms

 sān guó
 mitsu kuni
Three Kingdoms Scroll

三國 is the title for the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 A.D.) in Chinese history.

In Korean Hanja, this can also refer to one of several Three Kingdoms periods in Korean history.

In Japanese, this could refer to the Chinese Three Kingdoms period or be the surname Mitsukuni.

 sān hún
 san tamashi
Three Souls Scroll

三魂 is a Daoist / Taoist term, “three immortal souls.”

Three Treasures of Buddhism

The Triple Gem

 sān bǎo
 san bou
Three Treasures of Buddhism Scroll

三寶 is the title for “Three Precious Treasures of Buddhism” or “The Triple Gem.”

These three treasures are the Buddha 佛, the Dharma 法 (teachings or the law of the Buddha), and the Sangha 僧 (the community of monks or followers).

This term is used by most (perhaps not all) Buddhists in China, Japan, and South Korea (written the same in the original form but pronounced differently in each language). Non-Buddhists may just read this as “Three Treasures” without the religious context. For instance, there is also a “Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine” that is sometimes titled the same way.


In modern Japanese and Simplified Chinese, this is written 三宝 instead of 三寶.

 sān rén chéng hǔ
Tiger Rumor Scroll

These four characters together relay the meaning that can be expressed in English as “When three people say there's a tiger running in the street, you believe it.”

Of course, there is an ancient story behind this idiom...

三人成虎 is actually a proverb that resulted from a conversation that occurred around 300 B.C.

The conversation was between the king of the Wei kingdom and one of the king's ministers named Pang Cong.

It was near the end of one of many wars, this time with the Zhao kingdom. Pang Cong was to be sent by the king to the Zhao kingdom with the king's son, who was to be held hostage. It was common at the time for a king to make his son a hostage to secure stable peace between warring kingdoms.

Before minister Pang Cong departed, he asked his king, “If one person told you a tiger was running in the street, would you believe it?.”

“No,” the king said.

The minister continued, “What if two people told you?”

The king replied, “Well, I would have my doubts but I might believe it.”

The minister continued, “So, what if three people told you that a tiger is running in the streets?”

The king replied, “Yes, I would believe it. It must be true if three people say it.”

The minister then reminded the king, “Your son and I are now traveling far away to live in the distant Zhao kingdom - much farther from your palace than the street. Rumors may fly about me in my absence, so I hope your majesty will weight such rumors appropriately.”

The king replied, “I have every trust in you, do not worry”

While the minister was gone, the king's enemies gossiped about minister Pang Cong on many occasions. At first, the king thought nothing of these comments and rumors. But slowly, as the rumors mounted, the king began to suspect ill of his minister.

Sometime later, when peace was well-established, the minister and prince were freed and returned to the kingdom of Wei. The king received his son BUT DID NOT EVEN SUMMON MINISTER PANG CONG TO THE PALACE!

Hopefully, this story will help you see how dangerous words can be when used to promote rumors or create ill will. And perhaps will inspire you not to believe everything you hear.

There is also a secondary suggestion in this idiom that gossip is as ferocious as a tiger. Some Chinese people who don't know the ancient story above may believe that this scroll means that rumors are as vicious as three tigers.

Note: This proverb appears in my Korean dictionary but is not well-known in Korea.

Together Forever

 zutto issho
Together Forever Scroll

ずっと一緒 is “together forever” in Japanese.

The first three characters mean “continuously,” “throughout,” “all along,” “the whole time,” or “all the way.”

The last two Kanji mean “together.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Together Forever

 eien ni issho ni
Together Forever Scroll

永遠に一緒に is a Japanese phrase that means “together forever,” or in the actual character order it's actually “forever together” (more natural word order in Japanese).

The first two characters mean forever, eternally, or always. After a particle of speech, the last three characters mean together, or “with at the same time.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

The Three Truths

 sān dì
 san dai / san tai
The Three Truths Scroll

三諦 is a Buddhist term that means “threefold truth” or “three dogmas.”

The three truths are:
1. All things are void (卽空).
2. All things are temporary (卽假).
3. All things are in the middle state between these two (卽中).

Trust in God / Faith in God

 kami wo shin ze yo
Trust in God / Faith in God Scroll

神を信ぜよ is a way to express “Trust in God” in Japanese.

The first character is “God.”

The second character is a particle that links the ideas here.

The last three characters are a word that means “to believe,” “to believe in,” “to place trust in,” “to confide in,” and “to have faith in.”

Basically, this is the Japanese phrase for “Have faith in God,” “Belief in God,” or “Trust in God.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Warriors: Quality Over Quantity

 bīng zài jīng ér bú zài duō
Warriors: Quality Over Quantity Scroll

兵在精而不在多 is a Chinese proverb that means: [The value of] soldiers/warriors lies in [their] quality, not [just] in [their] quantity.

In simple terms, this says that regarding warriors, quality is better than quantity.

Most tacticians will agree that this can aid in the factor known as “force multiplication.” Having good troops of high morale, excellent training, and good discipline is like having a force that is three times larger.


See Also:  兵在精

The Value of Warriors Lies in Their Quality

 bīng zài jīng
The Value of Warriors Lies in Their Quality Scroll

This literally means: [The value of] soldiers/warriors lies in [their] quality.
兵在精 is part of a longer phrase that ends with “not [just] in [their] quantity.”

兵在精 is a well-known phrase in military circles, so the second part is suggested when one hears or reads these three characters.


See Also:  兵在精而不在多

You Only Live Once

 ichi do da ke i ki ru
You Only Live Once Scroll

一度だけ生きる is the simplest Japanese phrase that means “[you] only live once” or “only one [life] to live.”

The first four characters create a word that means “only once.”
The last three characters create a word that means “to live” or “to exist.”


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

Zen / Chan / Meditation

...as in Zen Buddhism

 chán
 zen
 
Zen / Chan / Meditation Scroll

First, let's correct something: The Japanese romanization for this character, “Zen” has penetrated the English language. In English, it's almost always incorrectly used for phrases like “That's so zen.” Nobody says, “That's so meditation” - right? As the title of a sect, this would be like saying, “That's so Baptist!"

禪 by itself just means “meditation.” In that context, it should not be confined to use by any one religion or sect.

Regardless of the dictionary definition, more often than not, this character is associated with Buddhism. And here is one of the main reasons:
Zen is used as the title of a branch of Mahayana Buddhism, which strongly emphasizes meditation practice.
However, it should be noted that Buddhism came from India, and “Chan Buddhism” evolved and developed in medieval China. The Chinese character “Chan” was eventually pronounced as “Zen” in Japanese. Chan Buddhists in China have much in common with Zen Buddhists in Japan.

More about the history of Zen Buddhism here.

Please also note that the Japanese Kanji character for Zen has evolved a little in Japan, and the two boxes (kou) that you see at the top of the right side of the character have been replaced by three dots with tails. Japanese Zen Kanji The original character would still be generally understood and recognized in Japanese (it's considered an ancient version in Japan) but if you want the specifically modern Japanese version, please click on the zen Kanji to the right. Technically, there is no difference between the Tensho and Reisho versions of Zen since they are ancient character styles that existed long before Japan had a written language.

Chinese Zen/Chan CharacterThere is also an alternate/shorthand/simplified Chinese version, which has two dots or tails above the right-side radical. This version is also popular for calligraphy in China. If you want this version, just click the character to the right.


Further notes: Zen is just one of seven sects of Buddhism practiced in Japan. The others are 律 Ritsu (or Risshū), 法相 Hossō, 論 Sanron 華嚴 Kegon, 天台 Tendai, and 眞言 Shingon.

 zhāng fēi
 chou hi
Zhang Fei Scroll

張飛 is the name of General Zhang Fei, of the Shu Kingdom. He was blood-brother of Liu Bei in the semi-historical novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” Zhang Fei is famous for his heroic and fearsome fighting and his love of wine.

In Japanese, this can be the name Chouhi.

 zhū gě liàng
Zhuge Liang Scroll

諸葛亮 is the name Zhuge Liang, written in Chinese.

Zhuge Liang lived from 181 to 234 A.D.
He was a military leader and prime minister of Shu Han (蜀漢) during the Three Kingdoms period.
He was the main hero of the fictional Romance of Three Kingdoms.
He is considered a famous sage, philosopher, and military genius.

Buddha Dharma Sangha

 fó fǎ sēng
 buppō sō
Buddha  Dharma  Sangha Scroll

佛法僧 is the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha.

These three characters are the “Triple Gem” of Buddhism or the Buddhist Trinity.

 sān sù sì
Betelgeuse Scroll

參宿四 is the title for Betelgeuse (star in the constellation Orion) in Chinese.

Also known as “α Orionis” (Alpha Orionis), Alpha Ori, or in Japan the Heike-boshi or Heike-star.

Note: 参宿 (Shēn Xiù) is the name given by ancient Chinese astronomers for a constellation of three stars (the three naked-eye visible belt stars of Orion). Therefore, 參宿四 means the Fourth Star of the constellation of Three Stars (which sounds like a joke). As telescopes got better, it should be noted that there are actually 10 stars in the constellation.

Dana: Almsgiving and Generosity

 bù shī
 fuse
Dana: Almsgiving and Generosity Scroll

布施 is the Buddhist practice of giving known as Dāna or दान from Pali and Sanskrit.

Depending on the context, this can be alms-giving, acts of charity, or offerings (usually money) to a priest for reading sutras or teachings.

Some will put Dāna in these two categories:
1. The pure or unsullied charity, which looks for no reward here but only in the hereafter.
2. The sullied almsgiving whose object is personal benefit.
The first kind is, of course, the kind that a liberated or enlightened person will pursue.

Others will put Dāna in these categories:
1. Worldly or material gifts.
2. Unworldly or spiritual gifts.

You can also separate Dāna into these three kinds:
1. 財布施 Goods such as money, food, or material items.
2. 法布施 Dharma, as an act to teach or bestow the Buddhist doctrine onto others.
3. 無畏布施 Courage, as an act of facing fear to save someone or when standing up for someone or standing up for righteousness.

The philosophies and categorization of Dāna will vary among various monks, temples, and sects of Buddhism.

Breaking down the characters separately:
(sometimes written ) means to spread out or announce, but also means cloth. In ancient times, cloth or robs were given to the Buddhist monks annually as a gift of alms - I need to do more research, but I believe there is a relationship here.
means to grant, to give, to bestow, to act, to carry out, and by itself can mean Dāna as a single character.

Dāna can also be expressed as 檀那 (pronounced “tán nà” in Mandarin and dan-na or だんな in Japanese). 檀那 is a transliteration of Dāna. However, it has colloquially come to mean some unsavory or unrelated things in Japanese. So, I think 布施 is better for calligraphy on your wall to remind you to practice Dāna daily (or whenever possible).

 sān zhàn
 san sen
Sanchin Scroll

三戦 is a title that literally means “three battles/conflicts/wars.”

三戦 is often figuratively used to relay the idea of a battle to unify the mind, body, and spirit.

Original usage likely comes from Fujian province in Southern China (just across from Taiwan).

This title is used in various schools such as Okinawan Karate, Uechi-Ryū, Gōjū-Ryū, Fujian White Crane, and Five Ancestors among others.

 fú xīng
 fukusei
Lucky Star Scroll

福星 is the lucky star, one of three Chinese deities (三星 or Three Stars) representing fortune/luck, prosperity, and longevity.

In Japanese, this can be the given name Fukusei - with the same “lucky star” or “star of good fortune” meaning.

Take Refuge in the Three Treasures

 nán mo sān bǎo
 na mu san bou
Take Refuge in the Three Treasures Scroll

南無三寶 means to take refuge in the three treasures (of Buddhism).

This starts with the phonetic “南無” or “Namo/Namu” trying to sound like the original Pali or Sanskrit, followed by “三寶” being more literally the three treasures.

Take Refuge in the Three Treasures

 guī yī sān bǎo
 ki e san bou
Take Refuge in the Three Treasures Scroll

歸依三寶 means to take refuge in the three treasures (of Buddhism).

This is the literal (there is also a partially-phonetic version) way to express taking refuge in the three treasures by the actual meaning of the characters.

 fú lù shòu
 fūk luhk sauh
Fu Lu Shou Scroll

These are the short titles for Sanxing or 三星 (Three Stars).

福祿壽 are the gods of Jupiter, Ursa Major, and Sirius. Fu, Lu, and Shou represent fortune (福), presiding over the planet Jupiter, prosperity (祿), presiding over Ursa Major, and longevity (壽), presiding over Sirius.

In old Chinese folk religion, they are often represented as three old bearded wise men.

 shu ha ri
Shuhari Scroll

Shuhari represents the three stages of mastery: Learning the fundamentals, breaking with tradition, and creating one's own techniques.

Namu Dai Bosa

 namu dai bosa
Namu Dai Bosa Scroll

南無大菩薩 means to submit to or pay homage to the great Bodhisattva.

The last three characters, 大菩薩, can mean bodhisattva-mahāsattva, refer to one who has reached enlightenment but vows to save all beings before becoming a buddha or a high and noble monk.

 sān dài yù
Sandaiyu Scroll

三代玉 is the name Sandaiyu in Chinese (Mandarin).

This is also the title for “three-generation jade.”

The Book of Five Rings

 go rin sho
The Book of Five Rings Scroll

五輪書 is the Japanese title for “The Book of Five Rings.”

五輪書 is a martial arts treatise by Miyamoto Musashi written around 1643.

Technically, these three characters are “Go Rin Sho” but an unwritten “の” or “no” which is a possessive article like the English “of” is verbally added by most Japanese. Therefore, many write this in Romaji as “Go Rin No Sho.”

Sandaiyu - Three Generation Soup

 sandaiyu
Sandaiyu - Three Generation Soup Scroll

This means “three-generation soup.”

Reiki Precepts by Usui Mikao (Alternate)

Alternate Version

 reiki ryouhou chouso usui mikao sensei ikun shoufuku no hihou yorozu byou no reiyaku kyou take ke wa oko ru na shinpai suna kansha shite gou o hagemu ge me hito ni shinsetsu ni
Reiki Precepts by Usui Mikao (Alternate) Scroll

靈氣療法肇祖臼井甕男先生遺訓招福の秘法萬病の霊薬今日丈けは心配すな感謝して業を励げめ人に親切に is an alternate version of the precepts or tenets of Reiki by Usui Mikao.

It is impossible to be sure which version or versions were actually written by Usui Mikao. This is the less common of the three versions that you might see in the wild.

Here is a breakdown of the characters and a rough translation:
靈氣 療法 肇祖 臼井甕男。
Reiki therapy founder Mikao Usui
先生 遺訓。
Teacher's testament 招福の秘法, 萬病の霊薬。
Invite blessings of [the] secret method, 10,000 illnesses of spiritual medicine.
今日丈けは: 怒るな, 心配すな, 感謝して, 業をはげめ, 人に親切に。
At least for today: Do not be angry, do not worry, be grateful, work with diligence, [and] be kind to people.


Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

 huá tuó
Hua Tuo Scroll

華佗 or Hua Tuo was a Chinese physician who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

The historical texts Records of the Three Kingdoms and Book of the Later Han record Hua Tuo as the first person in China to use anesthesia during surgery.

Hua Tuo used a general anesthetic combining wine with a herbal concoction called 麻沸散, literally, “cannabis boil powder.” This was in the second century AD, almost 1700 years before western medicine had any form of anesthesia (1846).

 mài jīn lì
McGinily Scroll

麥金利 is the name McGinily in Chinese (Mandarin).

In Mandarin, you cannot distinguish between McKinley, McGinley, and McGinily. All three are written as 麥金利.

 sanbou / sanpou / mitsukata
Sanbo Scroll

三方 is San Bo or Sanbo which literally means three sides but in Japanese, refers to a small offering stand.

It can also be the Japanese surname Mitsukata.




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

Title CharactersRomaji (Romanized Japanese)Various forms of Romanized Chinese
American Football美式橄欖球
美式橄榄球
měi shì gǎn lǎn qiú
mei3 shi4 gan3 lan3 qiu2
mei shi gan lan qiu
meishiganlanqiu
mei shih kan lan ch`iu
meishihkanlanchiu
mei shih kan lan chiu
Great Expectationsbou / nozomi
bo / nozomi
wàng / wang4 / wang
Bellflower桔梗花ki kyou bana
kikyoubana
ki kyo bana
jié gěng huā
jie2 geng3 hua1
jie geng hua
jiegenghua
chieh keng hua
chiehkenghua
Better to be Happy than Rich安貧樂道
安贫乐道
ān pín lè dào
an1 pin2 le4 dao4
an pin le dao
anpinledao
an p`in le tao
anpinletao
an pin le tao
Bodymishēn / shen1 / shen
The Brave Have No Fears勇者不懼
勇者不惧
yuu sha fu ku
yuushafuku
yu sha fu ku
yǒng zhě bú jù
yong3 zhe3 bu2 ju4
yong zhe bu ju
yongzhebuju
yung che pu chü
yungchepuchü
You May Learn from Victory, You Will Learn from Failure百勝難慮敵三折乃良醫
百胜难虑敌三折乃良医
bǎi shèng nán lǜ dí sān zhé nǎi liáng yī
bai3 sheng4 nan2 lv4 di2 san1 zhe2 nai3 liang2 yi1
bai sheng nan lv di san zhe nai liang yi
pai sheng nan lü ti san che nai liang i
Choose Life選擇生活
选择生活
xuǎn zé shēng huó
xuan3 ze2 sheng1 huo2
xuan ze sheng huo
xuanzeshenghuo
hsüan tse sheng huo
hsüantseshenghuo
Christian
Disciple of Christ
基督徒kirisutojī dū tú
ji1 du1 tu2
ji du tu
jidutu
chi tu t`u
chitutu
chi tu tu
Disciple of Christianity基督教徒kirisutokyouto
kirisutokyoto
jī dū jiào tú
ji1 du1 jiao4 tu2
ji du jiao tu
jidujiaotu
chi tu chiao t`u
chituchiaotu
chi tu chiao tu
Clarityseiqīng / qing1 / qingch`ing / ching
Curious
Inquisitive
好奇kouki / kokihào qí / hao4 qi2 / hao qi / haoqihao ch`i / haochi / hao chi
Daodejing
Tao Te Ching - Excerpt
一曰慈二曰儉三曰不敢為天下先
一曰慈二曰俭三曰不敢为天下先
yī yuē cí èr yuē jiǎn sān yuē bù gǎn wéi tiān xià xiān
yi1 yue1 ci2 er4 yue1 jian3 san1 yue1 bu4 gan3 wei2 tian1 xia4 xian1
yi yue ci er yue jian san yue bu gan wei tian xia xian
i yüeh tz`u erh yüeh chien san yüeh pu kan wei t`ien hsia hsien
i yüeh tzu erh yüeh chien san yüeh pu kan wei tien hsia hsien
Dayhi / nichirì / ri4 / rijih
Death Before Dishonor不名譽より死
不名誉より死
fu mei yo yo ri shi
fumeiyoyorishi
Drink Up!
Cheers!
乾杯kan pai / kanpaigān bēi / gan1 bei1 / gan bei / ganbeikan pei / kanpei
Fidelity Honor Courage信義尊嚴勇氣
信义尊严勇气
xìn yì zūn yán yǒng qì
xin4 yi4 zun1 yan2 yong3 qi4
xin yi zun yan yong qi
xinyizunyanyongqi
hsin i tsun yen yung ch`i
hsinitsunyenyungchi
hsin i tsun yen yung chi
Five Elements Tai Chi Fist五行太極拳
五行太极拳
go gyou tai kyoku ken
gogyoutaikyokuken
go gyo tai kyoku ken
wǔ xíng tài jí quán
wu3 xing2 tai4 ji2 quan2
wu xing tai ji quan
wuxingtaijiquan
wu hsing t`ai chi ch`üan
wuhsingtaichichüan
wu hsing tai chi chüan
Flying Tigers AVG飛虎隊
飞虎队
fēi hǔ duì
fei1 hu3 dui4
fei hu dui
feihudui
fei hu tui
feihutui
Forest森林shinrinsēn lín / sen1 lin2 / sen lin / senlin
Goshin-Do護身道
护身道
gou shin dou
goushindou
go shin do
hù shēn dào
hu4 shen1 dao4
hu shen dao
hushendao
hu shen tao
hushentao
Guan
Kwan
Seki

sekiguān / guan1 / guankuan
Guandi: God of War關帝
关帝
kan tei / kanteiGuān dì / Guan1 di4 / Guan di / GuandiKuan ti / Kuanti
Guan Yu關羽
关羽
guān yǔ / guan1 yu3 / guan yu / guanyukuan yü / kuanyü
Happy Birthday祝誕生日shuku tan jou bi
shukutanjoubi
shuku tan jo bi
Happy Family和やかな家庭nago ya ka na ka tei
nagoyakanakatei
Words Have Enormous Weight: One Word Worth Nine Caldrons一言九鼎yī yán jiǔ dǐng
yi1 yan2 jiu3 ding3
yi yan jiu ding
yiyanjiuding
i yen chiu ting
iyenchiuting
Immovable Mind不動心fu dou shin
fudoushin
fu do shin
Inner Beauty
Beauty of Spirit
内面美nai men bi / naimenbi
Islam伊斯蘭教
伊斯兰教
yī sī lán jiào
yi1 si1 lan2 jiao4
yi si lan jiao
yisilanjiao
i ssu lan chiao
issulanchiao
Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine精氣神
精气神
jīng qì shén
jing1 qi4 shen2
jing qi shen
jingqishen
ching ch`i shen
chingchishen
ching chi shen
Joshua 24:15至於我和我家我們必定事奉耶和華
至于我和我家我们必定事奉耶和华
zhì yú wǒ hé wǒ jiā wǒ men bì dìng shì fèng yē hé huá
zhi4 yu2 wo3 he2 wo3 jia1 wo3 men bi4 ding4 shi4 feng4 ye1 he2 hua2
zhi yu wo he wo jia wo men bi ding shi feng ye he hua
chih yü wo ho wo chia wo men pi ting shih feng yeh ho hua
A Journey of 1000 Miles Begins with a Single Step千里の道も一歩からsen ri no michi mo i-ppo ka ra
senrinomichimoi-ppokara
sen ri no michi mo i-po ka ra
Kirin
Giraffe
Mythical Creature
麒麟kirinqí lǐn / qi2 lin3 / qi lin / qilinch`i lin / chilin / chi lin
Life Energy
Spiritual Energy

气 / 気
kiqì / qi4 / qich`i / chi
Live Love Die生愛死
生爱死
sei ai shi / seiaishishēng ài sǐ
sheng1 ai4 si3
sheng ai si
shengaisi
sheng ai ssu
shengaissu
Mermaid
Merman
人魚
人鱼
nin gyo / ningyorén yú / ren2 yu2 / ren yu / renyujen yü / jenyü
Mind Body Spirit身心靈 / 身心霊
身心灵
mi shin rei
mishinrei
shēn xīn líng
shen1 xin1 ling2
shen xin ling
shenxinling
shen hsin ling
shenhsinling
Moonlight月光gekkou / gekoyuè guāng
yue4 guang1
yue guang
yueguang
yüeh kuang
yüehkuang
Nature in Balance
Balanced Nature
自然界の均衡shizenkai no kinkou
shizenkainokinkou
shizenkai no kinko
New Beginning新しい始めatarashii hajime
atarashiihajime
atarashi hajime
Nichiren日蓮
日莲
nichi ren / nichirenrì lián / ri4 lian2 / ri lian / rilianjih lien / jihlien
Non-Violence非暴力hibouryoku / hiboryokufēi bào lì
fei1 bao4 li4
fei bao li
feibaoli
fei pao li
feipaoli
Oneichiyī / yi1 / yii
Orion’s Belt獵戶座
猎户座
liè hù zuò
lie4 hu4 zuo4
lie hu zuo
liehuzuo
lieh hu tso
liehhutso
Pillars of Marriage尊重忠誠誠實
尊重忠诚诚实
zūn zhòng zhōng chéng chéng shí
zun1 zhong4 zhong1 cheng2 cheng2 shi2
zun zhong zhong cheng cheng shi
tsun chung chung ch`eng ch`eng shih
tsun chung chung cheng cheng shih
Profound
Powerful Words
入木三分rù mù sān fēn
ru4 mu4 san1 fen1
ru mu san fen
rumusanfen
ju mu san fen
jumusanfen
Protector保護者
保护者
hogoshabǎo hù zhě
bao3 hu4 zhe3
bao hu zhe
baohuzhe
pao hu che
paohuche
Romance of the Three Kingdoms三國演義
三国演义
sān guó yǎn yì
san1 guo2 yan3 yi4
san guo yan yi
sanguoyanyi
san kuo yen i
sankuoyeni
San-Dan三段san dan / sandan
Sangha僧伽sougya / sogyasēng qié / seng1 qie2 / seng qie / sengqieseng ch`ieh / sengchieh / seng chieh
Scholar
Confucian
jurú / ru2 / ruju
Self-Respect
Self-Esteem
自尊jisonzì zūn / zi4 zun1 / zi zun / zizuntzu tsun / tzutsun
Semper Fidelis
Always Faithful
常に忠誠をtsune ni chuu sei wo
tsunenichuuseiwo
tsune ni chu sei wo
Shaina莎爾娜
莎尔娜
shā ěr nà
sha1 er3 na4
sha er na
shaerna
sha erh na
shaerhna
Shingitai
Shin Gi Tai
心技体shin gi tai
shingitai
xīn jì tǐ
xin1 ji4 ti3
xin ji ti
xinjiti
hsin chi t`i
hsinchiti
hsin chi ti
Shit
Defecate
Excrement
Feces
Poop
大便dai ben / daibendà biàn / da4 bian4 / da bian / dabianta pien / tapien
Shorinji Kempo
Kenpo
少林寺拳法shourinji kenpou
shourinjikenpou
shorinji kenpo
shào lín sì quán fǎ
shao4 lin2 si4 quan2 fa3
shao lin si quan fa
shaolinsiquanfa
shao lin ssu ch`üan fa
shaolinssuchüanfa
shao lin ssu chüan fa
A sly rabbit has three openings to its den狡兔三窟jiǎo tù sān kū
jiao3 tu4 san1 ku1
jiao tu san ku
jiaotusanku
chiao t`u san k`u
chiaotusanku
chiao tu san ku
Strong Woman女強人
女强人
nǚ qiáng rén
nv3 qiang2 ren2
nv qiang ren
nvqiangren
nü ch`iang jen
nüchiangjen
nü chiang jen
Teachachá / cha2 / chach`a / cha
The Holy Trinity三位一體
三位一体
sān wèi yì tǐ
san1 wei4 yi4 ti3
san wei yi ti
sanweiyiti
san wei i t`i
sanweiiti
san wei i ti
Three三 / 參
三 / 参
sansān / san1 / san
When Three People Gather, One Becomes a Teacher三人行必有我師
三人行必有我师
sān rén xíng bì yǒu wǒ shī
san1 ren2 xing2 bi4 you3 wo3 shi1
san ren xing bi you wo shi
sanrenxingbiyouwoshi
san jen hsing pi yu wo shih
sanjenhsingpiyuwoshih
When Three People Gather, Wisdom is Multiplied三人寄れば文殊の知恵san nin yore ba monju no chie
sanninyorebamonjunochie
Three Kingdoms三國
三国
mitsu kuni / mitsukunisān guó / san1 guo2 / san guo / sanguosan kuo / sankuo
Three Souls三魂san tamashi
santamashi
sān hún / san1 hun2 / san hun / sanhun
Three Treasures of Buddhism三寶
三宝
san bou / sanbou / san bosān bǎo / san1 bao3 / san bao / sanbaosan pao / sanpao
Tiger Rumor三人成虎sān rén chéng hǔ
san1 ren2 cheng2 hu3
san ren cheng hu
sanrenchenghu
san jen ch`eng hu
sanjenchenghu
san jen cheng hu
Together Foreverずっと一緒zutto issho
zuttoissho
zutto isho
Together Forever永遠に一緒にeien ni issho ni
eienniisshoni
eien ni isho ni
The Three Truths三諦
三谛
san dai / san tai
sandai / santai
sān dì / san1 di4 / san di / sandisan ti / santi
Trust in God
Faith in God
神を信ぜよkami wo shin ze yo
kamiwoshinzeyo
Warriors: Quality Over Quantity兵在精而不在多bīng zài jīng ér bú zài duō
bing1 zai4 jing1 er2 bu2 zai4 duo1
bing zai jing er bu zai duo
bingzaijingerbuzaiduo
ping tsai ching erh pu tsai to
pingtsaichingerhputsaito
The Value of Warriors Lies in Their Quality兵在精bīng zài jīng
bing1 zai4 jing1
bing zai jing
bingzaijing
ping tsai ching
pingtsaiching
You Only Live Once一度だけ生きるichi do da ke i ki ru
ichidodakeikiru
Zen
Chan
Meditation

zenchán / chan2 / chanch`an / chan
Zhang Fei張飛
张飞
chou hi / chouhi / cho hizhāng fēi
zhang1 fei1
zhang fei
zhangfei
chang fei
changfei
Zhuge Liang諸葛亮
诸葛亮
zhū gě liàng
zhu1 ge3 liang4
zhu ge liang
zhugeliang
chu ko liang
chukoliang
Buddha Dharma Sangha佛法僧buppō sō / buppōsō / bupō sōfó fǎ sēng
fo2 fa3 seng1
fo fa seng
fofaseng
Betelgeuse參宿四sān sù sì
san1 su4 si4
san su si
sansusi
san su ssu
sansussu
Dana: Almsgiving and Generosity布施fusebù shī / bu4 shi1 / bu shi / bushipu shih / pushih
Sanchin三戦san sen / sansensān zhàn / san1 zhan4 / san zhan / sanzhansan chan / sanchan
Lucky Star福星fukuseifú xīng / fu2 xing1 / fu xing / fuxingfu hsing / fuhsing
Take Refuge in the Three Treasures南無三寶
南无三宝
na mu san bou
namusanbou
na mu san bo
nán mo sān bǎo
nan2 mo san1 bao3
nan mo san bao
nanmosanbao
nan mo san pao
nanmosanpao
Take Refuge in the Three Treasures歸依三寶
归依三宝
ki e san bou
kiesanbou
ki e san bo
guī yī sān bǎo
gui1 yi1 san1 bao3
gui yi san bao
guiyisanbao
kuei i san pao
kueiisanpao
Fu Lu Shou福祿壽fú lù shòu
fu2 lu4 shou4
fu lu shou
fulushou
Shuhari守破離shu ha ri / shuhari
Namu Dai Bosa南無大菩薩
南无大菩萨
namu dai bosa
namudaibosa
Sandaiyu三代玉sān dài yù
san1 dai4 yu4
san dai yu
sandaiyu
san tai yü
santaiyü
The Book of Five Rings五輪書go rin sho / gorinsho
Sandaiyu - Three Generation Soup三代湯sandaiyu
Reiki Precepts by Usui Mikao (Alternate)靈氣療法肇祖臼井甕男先生遺訓招福の秘法萬病の霊薬今日丈けは怒るな心配すな感謝して業を励げめ人に親切にreiki ryouhou chouso usui mikao sensei ikun shoufuku no hihou yorozu byou no reiyaku kyou take ke wa oko ru na shinpai suna kansha shite gou o hagemu ge me hito ni shinsetsu ni
reiki ryoho choso usui mikao sensei ikun shofuku no hiho yorozu byo no reiyaku kyo take ke wa oko ru na shinpai suna kansha shite go o hagemu ge me hito ni shinsetsu ni
Hua Tuo華佗
华佗
huá tuó / hua2 tuo2 / hua tuo / huatuohua t`o / huato / hua to
McGinily麥金利
麦金利
mài jīn lì
mai4 jin1 li4
mai jin li
maijinli
mai chin li
maichinli
Sanbo三方sanbou / sanpou / mitsukata
sanbo / sanpo / mitsukata
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line.
In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese.


Dictionary

Lookup Three in my Japanese & Chinese Dictionary


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

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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.


A nice Chinese calligraphy wall scroll

The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.

A professional Chinese Calligrapher

Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.

There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form of art alive.

Trying to learn Chinese calligrapher - a futile effort

Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.

A high-ranked Chinese master calligrapher that I met in Zhongwei

The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.


Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.

Some people may refer to this entry as Three Kanji, Three Characters, Three in Mandarin Chinese, Three Characters, Three in Chinese Writing, Three in Japanese Writing, Three in Asian Writing, Three Ideograms, Chinese Three symbols, Three Hieroglyphics, Three Glyphs, Three in Chinese Letters, Three Hanzi, Three in Japanese Kanji, Three Pictograms, Three in the Chinese Written-Language, or Three in the Japanese Written-Language.

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