Buy a Custom Faithful Chinese or Japanese Calligraphy Wall Scroll

We have many options to create artwork with the Chinese characters / Asian symbols / Japanese Kanji for Faithful on a wall scroll or portrait.
If you want to create a cool Faithful wall scroll, this is the place. Below you will find a few Asian symbols that express the idea of Faithful.


  1. Confidence / Faithful Heart

  2. Extreme Faithfulness

  3. Devout / Godly / Faithful

  4. Faithful / Honorable / Trustworthy / Fidelity / Loyalty

  5. Integrity: Sincere Honest and Faithful

  6. Loyalty / Faithful / Devoted

  7. Semper Fidelis / Always Faithful

  8. Sincerity and Faithfulness

  9. Faithfulness

10. Believe / Faith / Trust

11. Religious Devotion / Faith in God / Religious Faith

12. Faith / Trusting in the Unseen

13. Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark

14. Faith Hope Love

15. Faith Love Peace

16. Good Intentions / Good Will / Good Faith

17. Firm Belief / Strong Faith

18. Love Faith Strength

19. Trust / To Have Faith

20. Trust in God / Faith in God

21. Faith

22. Loyalty to Duty or Master

23. Loyalty

24. Loyalty / Devotion

25. Respect and Loyalty

26. Ultimate Loyalty to Your Country

27. Love Loyalty Respect

28. Passionate Love / Ardent Love and Devotion

29. Devotion / Dedication / Attentive / Focused

30. Devotion / Diligence / Vigorous / Energetic

31. Devotion / Enthusiasm

32. Devotion to your Profession / Career

33. Love and Devotion

34. Sacrifice / Devotion / Dedication

35. Sincerity and Devotion

36. Five Codes of Tang Soo Do

37. Believe

38. Believe in Yourself

39. Bushido / The Way of the Samurai

40. Chastity

41. Chastity / Pure Heart

42. Christian Friend

43. Christianity / Christian

44. The Five Tenets of Confucius

45. Dedication

46. Dependable

47. Determination

48. Dogen

49. Eishin-Ryu

50. Ethics / Ethical / Morality

51. Fidelity / Personal Integrity / Honor

52. Fidelity Honor Courage

53. Forgive

54. Fragrant / Good Smell

55. Giri

56. Guan Yu

57. Industrious / Hard Working

58. Honesty

59. Honesty / Fidelity

60. Honor and Integrity

61. Hope

62. John 3:16

63. Joshua 24:15

64. Justice / Rectitude / Right Decision

65. Karma

66. Karma - Cause and Effect

67. Love and Affection

68. Hoes Before Bros

69. Modesty

70. Moral and Virtuous

71. Namo Shakyamuni Buddha

72. Namu Myoho Renge Kyo / Homage to Lotus Sutra

73. There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger

74. Passion for a Cause

75. Enthusiasm / Passion for a Cause

76. Perseverance

77. Personal Integrity

78. Pillars of Marriage

79. Prudence / Considerate

80. Pure Heart

81. Pure Land / Jodo

82. Purity

83. Sangha

84. Self-Confidence

85. Seven Heavenly Virtues

86. Spiritual Peace / Enlightened Peace

87. Daoism / Taoism

88. Tenacious / Tenacity

89. True Heart

90. Trust in God

91. Trust No One / Trust No Man

92. Trust in God / In God We Trust

93. Trust in God / Belief in God

94. Dog

95. The Principles of Buddhism

96. Galatians 5:22-23

97. There is one single thread binding my Way together

98. Ten Commandments

99. Xin Xin Ming / Shinjinmei

100. Kyojitsu: Falsehood and Truth


Confidence / Faithful Heart

 xìn xīn
 shin jin
Confidence / Faithful Heart Scroll

信心 is a Chinese, Japanese, and Korean word that means confidence, faith, or belief in somebody or something.

The first character means faith, and the second can mean heart or soul. Therefore, you could say this means “faithful heart” or “faithful soul.”

In Korean especially, this word has a religious connotation.

In the old Japanese Buddhist context, this was a word for citta-prasāda (clear or pure heart-mind).
In modern Japan (when read by non-Buddhists), this word is usually understood as “faith,” “belief,” or “devotion.”


See Also:  Self-Confidence

Extreme Faithfulness

 tei retsu
Extreme Faithfulness Scroll

貞烈 is the Japanese Kanji for “Extreme Faithfulness.”

The first Kanji means “firm adherence to one's principles,” chastity (of a woman), chaste, etc.

The second Kanji means ardent, intense, fierce, stern, upright, to give one's life for a noble cause, exploits, achievements, virtuous, and in some contexts, heroic.

Now you get the idea why this refers to someone who is extremely faithful (to a cause, themselves, their religious beliefs, or their philosophy.

Devout / Godly / Faithful

 shinjinbukai
Devout / Godly / Faithful Scroll

信心深い is a Japanese word that means deeply religious, devout, godly, and/or faithful.

Faithful / Honorable / Trustworthy / Fidelity / Loyalty

 xìn yì
 shingi
Faithful / Honorable / Trustworthy / Fidelity / Loyalty Scroll

信義 is a word often used to describe a person with an honest and loyal reputation.

Simply put, this applies to somebody you can trust (with your life).

In Chinese, this is often defined as good faith, honor, trust, and justice.
In Korean, this word means fidelity, truthfulness, or faithfulness.
In Japanese: faith, fidelity, and loyalty. It's also a Japanese male given name when pronounced “Nobuyoshi.”

Integrity: Sincere Honest and Faithful

 sei jitsu
Integrity: Sincere Honest and Faithful Scroll

誠実 is the Japanese version of integrity which can also be defined as a combination of “sincere, honest, and faithful.”

Some may also define this as “loyal” or “loyalty.” In some contexts, it can mean “genuine.” Yes, all of this meaning in just one Japanese word!

Loyalty / Faithful / Devoted

 chuujitsu / chuugi
Loyalty / Faithful / Devoted Scroll

忠実 is a Japanese way to write “Loyalty” - it also contains the ideas of being faithful, devoted, true, and obedient.

The second character is a modified form only used in the Japanese lexicon; however, Chinese speakers can easily guess the meaning.


This is also a virtue of the Samurai Warrior
See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here

Semper Fidelis / Always Faithful

U.S. Marines Slogan

 yǒng yuǎn zhōng chéng
Semper Fidelis / Always Faithful Scroll

永遠忠誠 is the clearest and most natural way to translate “Semper Fidelis” or “Always Faithful” into Mandarin Chinese. 永遠忠誠 is meant explicitly for U.S. Marines who often use the shortened term “Semper Fi.”

The first two characters are a word that always means, forever, and/or eternally.
The last two characters are a word that means fidelity, loyal, and/or devotion.

I spent 10 years in the Marines, so it was a no-brainer to add this to our calligraphy database.

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.

Semper Fidelis / Always Faithful

 tsune ni chuu jitsu na
Semper Fidelis / Always Faithful Scroll

常に忠実な is an alternate way to write “Semper Fidelis” or “Always Faithful” in Japanese.


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

Sincerity and Faithfulness

 dǔ shí
Sincerity and Faithfulness Scroll

篤實 means sincere, solid, and faithful.

Faithfulness

 xìn shí
 nobuzane
Faithfulness Scroll

信實 means trustworthy, reliable, to believe something, to be true, and/or to be faithful.

Believe / Faith / Trust

śraddhā

 xìn
 shin
 
Believe / Faith / Trust Scroll

信 can mean to believe, truth, faith, fidelity, sincerity, trust, and confidence in Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji.

This single character is often part of other words with similar meanings.

It is one of the five basic tenets of Confucius.

In Chinese, it sometimes has the secondary meaning of a letter (as in the mail) depending on context but it will not be read that way when seen on a wall scroll.

In the Buddhist context, this is śraddhā (faith through hearing or being taught).


See Also:  Trust | Confucius

Religious Devotion / Faith in God / Religious Faith

 xìn yǎng
 shin kou
Religious Devotion / Faith in God / Religious Faith Scroll

信仰 means firm belief, faith, persuasion, conviction, and sometimes religion or creed in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

This clearly fits the religious connotation of the English word “devotion.”

This is often used to refer to a person of faith or a religious person.

This can be directly translated as “firm belief,” “creed,” “conviction,” or simply as “religious,” depending on context.

Some will also use this to mean “trust in God” in Japanese (though the term for God is not actually in this title).

It should be noted that this word is a little strange alone on a wall scroll.


While this can be pronounced in Japanese, it’s not a great selection for a wall scroll if your audience is Japanese.


See Also:  Trust | Devotion | Trust | Trust in God

Faith / Trusting in the Unseen

 xìn niàn
 shinnen
Faith / Trusting in the Unseen Scroll

信念 expresses the idea of “having a belief” or “trusting in the unseen.”

信念 could also be translated as beliefs or convictions.


Note: Also considered to be one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.


See Also:  Devotion | Dedication | Trust

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark

 xìn niǎn shì zài lí míng qián de hēi àn zhōng néng gǎn dào guāng míng de niǎo
Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark Scroll

信唸是在黎明前的黑闇中能感到光明的鳥 is a philosophical poem/quote from Indian Poet and Philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore.

Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore, 1915

This quote is not sourced, and therefore several variations exist in English. Some suggest the original was in the Bengali language.

This, of course, is the Chinese translation that has the meaning of, “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”

More about Rabindranath Tagore

Faith Hope Love

 xìn wàng ài
Faith Hope Love Scroll

信望愛 is a Chinese list of words meaning faith, hope, and love.

This is not a typical phrase in Chinese but rather just random words strung together. There's no bad meaning, it's just not typical Chinese grammar.

Faith Hope Love

 shinkou to kibou to ai
Faith Hope Love Scroll

信仰と希望と愛 is a Japanese list of words (not really a phrase) meaning faith, hope, and love.

Some have associated this word list with Corinthians 13:13, though there are no specific religious connotations in this word list, and it's not directly from that Japanese Bible verse.


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

Faith Love Peace

 xìn ài hé
 shin ai wa
Faith Love Peace Scroll

信愛和 is a word list that reads, “Faith Love Peace.”

This is not a natural phrase in Chinese or Japanese, as it lacks a subject, verb, or object. But if this is what you want, here it is.

Good Intentions / Good Will / Good Faith

 shàn yì
 zen i
Good Intentions / Good Will / Good Faith Scroll

善意 is a word that means good intentions, goodwill, or to things done in good faith in Chinese, Japanese, and old Korean Hanja.

It's the reason you do good deeds or the desire you have inside yourself to do the right thing.

This can also be translated as benevolence, kindness, virtuous mind, positive mindset, or favorable sense.

善意 is also used in the legal context for things done in good faith (regardless of outcome).

In Japanese, this can be the personal name Yoshi or Yoshii.

Firm Belief / Strong Faith

 jiān xìn
 ken shin
Firm Belief / Strong Faith Scroll

堅信 means to believe firmly, with firm faith, or without any doubt.

Japanese Christians sometimes use this term to mean the rite of confirmation.

This can also be the Japanese given name Kenshin.

Love Faith Strength

 ài xìn qiáng
Love Faith Strength Scroll

愛信強 is the shortest way to write the word list, “love faith strength.”

The first character is love, the second is faith or believe, and the third means strong or strength.


It should be noted that word lists like this are not as natural sounding in Chinese as word lists can be in English. it’s more common to have a full phrase (with subject, verb, and object) or single words on calligraphy wall scrolls in Asia.

Love Faith Strength

 bó ài xìn niàn lì liàng
Love Faith Strength Scroll

博愛信念力量 is the verbose way to write the word list, “love faith strength.”


It should be noted that word lists like this are not as natural sounding in Chinese as word lists can be in English. it’s more common to have a full phrase (with subject, verb, and object) or single words on calligraphy wall scrolls in Asia.

Trust / To Have Faith

 xìn lài
 shinrai
Trust / To Have Faith Scroll

信賴 can also be translated as confidence, reliance, or dependence; thus, it can also mean “to rely on” or “to depend on.”

Trust is having faith in someone or something. It is a positive attitude about life. You are confident that the right thing will happen without trying to control or make it happen. Even when difficult things happen, trust helps us to find the gift or lesson in it.


頼There is a slight deviation in the Japanese Kanji form of the second character. If you want the modern Japanese version, please click on the special Kanji shown to the right instead of the button above. Note that the traditional Chinese form is still readable and understood by Japanese people.


See Also:  Confidence | Truth | Honor

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.

 xìn dé
 shin toku
Faith Scroll

信德 is a term used often in Buddhism to express faith.

信德 is sometimes translated as the merit of the believing heart, faith of virtue, the power of faith, or virtuous faith.

In this context:
信 = Faith
德 = Virtue

Loyalty to Duty or Master

 zhōng
 chuu
 
Loyalty to Duty or Master Scroll

忠 is the simplest way to write the word loyalty in Chinese and Japanese.

A single character like this leaves the meaning open. But alone, a Chinese or Japanese person would think of loyalty to duty or loyalty to one's master (in ancient times). I suppose that it could be loyalty to your boss or company in this day in age.

忠 can also mean fidelity or faithfulness.

This can also be romanized as “chung.”

 zhōng chéng
 chuu sei
Loyalty Scroll

忠誠 is the written form of loyalty that is universal in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

Loyalty is staying true to someone. It is standing up for something you believe in without wavering. It is being faithful to your family, country, school, friends, or ideals when the going gets tough and when things are good. With loyalty, you build relationships that last forever.

Notes:

1. There is also a Japanese version that is part of the Bushido Code which may be more desirable depending on whether your intended audience is Japanese or Chinese.

2. This version of loyalty is sometimes translated as devotion, sincerity, fidelity, or allegiance.


See Also:  Honor | Trust | Integrity | Sincerity

Loyalty / Devotion

 zhōng yì
 chuu gi
Loyalty / Devotion Scroll

忠義 is another form of loyalty or devotion.

In Chinese, this is more specifically about being loyal and devoted to your friends.

In Japanese, this is more often used to mean loyalty to your country or nation.

Except for the slight difference noted above between Japanese and Chinese, this word is understood universally in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja. It can also be used to describe devotion or fidelity.

It should be noted that this Kanji combination is being used less and less in modern Japan (this is a better choice if your audience is Chinese, though any Japanese person will clearly understand it).

Respect and Loyalty

 zūn jìng zhōng chéng
 son kei chu sei
Respect and Loyalty Scroll

尊敬忠誠 means respect and loyalty in Chinese.

This is a word list (not a normal Chinese or Japanese phrase).

Word lists like this are not very common or natural in Chinese, so try to look for a better phrase to match your idea before you settle on this.

Ultimate Loyalty to Your Country

The most famous tattoo in Chinese history

 jìn zhōng bào guó
Ultimate Loyalty to Your Country Scroll

盡忠報國 is a proverb that is the tattoo worn on the back of Yue Fei, a famous Chinese warrior who lived until 1142 A.D.

The tattoo can be translated as “Serve the country with the utmost loyalty.” More literally, it means “[The] Ultimate Loyalty [is too] Duty [of] Country.”

Legend has it that this tattoo once saved his life when he was accused of treason.

The first two characters have come to create a word that means “serve the country faithfully” or “die for the country.” Note: It's more a willingness to die for one's country than the actual act of dying.

The last two characters have come to mean “Dedicate oneself to the service of one's country.”

Both of these words are probably only in the Chinese lexicon because of this famous tattoo.

If you break it down, character-by-character, here is what you get:
1. To the utmost, to the limit of something, the ultimate.
2. Loyalty or duty (a sense of duty to one's master, lord, country, or job).
3. Report, recompense, give back to (in this case, you are giving yourself to your country as payback).
4. Country, state, nation, kingdom.


More about the famous warrior and army general, Yue Fei

Love Loyalty Respect

 zhēn ài zhōng chéng zū jìng
Love Loyalty Respect Scroll

真愛忠誠尊敬 is a Chinese word list that means love, loyalty, and respect.

Love Loyalty Respect

 ài zhōng jìng
Love Loyalty Respect Scroll

愛忠敬 is a Chinese word list that means love, loyalty, and respect.

愛忠敬 is the shortest way to express these words/ideas. Word lists are not as natural in Chinese as they are in English - phrases or proverbs are more common.

Passionate Love / Ardent Love and Devotion

 rè ài
 netsu ai
Passionate Love / Ardent Love and Devotion Scroll

熱愛 means love passionately, ardent love, devotion, adoration.

The literal meaning is “hot love,” as the first character means heat, fervent, hot, and warm. Sometimes it can mean fever, restlessness, or zeal. The second character is, of course, love. If you adore and are devoted to someone with all your love, this is the title for you.

Devotion / Dedication / Attentive / Focused

 zhuān xīn
 sen shin
Devotion / Dedication / Attentive / Focused Scroll

專心 makes a word that means “paying attention with your heart.”

It's often translated as “dedication,” as in “be absorbed in” or “concentrate one's efforts.” It's also used to mean “with the single mind,” “whole-heartedly,” “paying attention,” “undivided attention,” “concentration (-ed),” “engrossed,” “devotionally (listening/watching),” and/or “attentive.”

The first character means “for a particular person, occasion, or purpose,” “focused on one single thing,” “concentrated,” and sometimes, “special.”

The second character means “heart” or “mind” by itself.

My favorite translation, which comes from the Oxford Advanced Chinese/English Dictionary, is, “wholehearted devotion.”

If it seems like the meaning of this word is quite open, you are correct. The context in which the word is used matters a lot. It can mean different things depending on how you use it. This makes it kind of nice as you can decide what this means to you (within some limits). This is always positive in meaning, so even if a Chinese person reads it differently than you, it will still have a good meaning.


専In Japanese, they tend to use a variation of the second character which has one less stroke. If you want your calligraphy written this Japanese form, please click on the Kanji shown to the right instead of the button above. Note: Japanese and Chinese people will recognize either form.


See Also:  Devotion

Devotion / Diligence / Vigorous / Energetic

vīrya

 jīng jìn
 shoujin
Devotion / Diligence / Vigorous / Energetic Scroll

精進 is a wide-ranging word that is used in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

It can mean devotion, diligence, concentration, aggressive, enterprising, vigorous, energetic, purification, pushing, asceticism, assiduity, or virility. 精進 is deep, and these two characters can express ideas that take a full English phrase to describe, such as “concentration of mind,” “to forge ahead vigorously,” or “to dedicate oneself to progress.”

Used in the context of Buddhism, it means “making earnest efforts to cultivate virtue and get rid of evil” or “zeal in one's quest for enlightenment.”

Devotion / Enthusiasm

 rè chéng
 nessei
Devotion / Enthusiasm Scroll

熱誠 is universal in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

It can mean earnestness, enthusiasm, ardor, zeal, devotion, spirit, or fervor.

Devotion to your Profession / Career

 cóng shì
 jyuu ji
Devotion to your Profession / Career Scroll

從事/従事 is often used to describe the devotion someone has to their profession - However, it can just mean career, depending on context.

We don't highly recommend this selection for a wall scroll.

In more simple terms, this word also means undertake / to deal with / to handle / to do. It does not have to refer to a career issue, as it could be used to encourage someone that is beginning their university studies etc.

This kind of makes sense in Japanese, however, there is a slight deviation in the way they write the first Kanji in Japanese.


Japanese for Devotion to ProfessionPlease note that Japanese use an alternate version of the first character. Click on the character to the right if you want the Japanese version of this two-character Devotion-to-your-Profession calligraphy.

Love and Devotion

 cí ài
 jiai
Love and Devotion Scroll

慈愛 refers to the kind of love and devotion you might have to your children or any loved one.

This especially applied to your children but could also be any member of your family - spouse, etc.

This can also be translated as affection, kindness, love, to love affectionately.

慈愛 is also used in a Buddhist context with the same meaning.

In Japanese, this can also be a female given name romanized as Yasue.

Sacrifice / Devotion / Dedication

(complete bodily devotion)

 xiàn shēn
 ken shin
Sacrifice / Devotion / Dedication Scroll

獻身 is used to describe being so devoted to something that you will make sacrifices for that goal/thing/person.

You can also translate this word as any of the following:

Give one's life for...
Sacrifice one's life for...
To dedicate oneself to...
Self-devotion
Dedication
Commit one's energy to...
Devote to...
Self-sacrifice
Giving your whole body to...

This can be a dedication to or for someone but is often used as a dedication or making sacrifices for your country, public service, or a cause. For instance, an Olympic athlete makes great sacrifices to train in his/her sport for their country and compatriots.


献
身
While the form shown to the upper-left is considered an ancient Japanese version, in modern Japan, they use the simplified version of the first Kanji (shown to the right). Click on the Kanji at the right instead of the button above if you want this modern Japanese version.

If you are looking for a more religious meaning of devotion, see Faith.


See Also:  Confidence | Dedication

Sincerity and Devotion

 zhì chéng
 shisei
Sincerity and Devotion Scroll

至誠 is the idea that you enter into something with the utmost sincerity and fidelity. Ideas such as devotion, honesty, and “one's true heart” are also contained in this word.

至誠 is a universal word as the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja are all identical.

Five Codes of Tang Soo Do

 guó jiā zhōng chéng fù mǔ xiào dào péng yǒu yǒu xìn shā shēng yǒu zé lín zhàn wú tuì
Five Codes of Tang Soo Do Scroll

国家忠诚父母孝道朋友有信杀生有择临战无退 are the five codes of Tang Soo Do.

I suggest you have this arranged in five columns when you get to the options page for your custom calligraphy wall scroll.

Here are my translations of each of the five codes:
國家忠誠 Be loyal to your country.
父母孝道 In regards to parents, behave in a filial way.
朋友有信 Be faithful in friendship.
殺生有擇 When fighting for life and death, make noble choices.
臨戰無退 No retreat in battle.

Note: “Tang Soo Do” is a romanization of 唐手道. It's 당수도 in Korean Hangul. It can also be romanized as “Tangsudo” or “Dangsudo.”

 xiāng xìn
Believe Scroll

相信 is the Chinese way to say believe.

This specifically means to be convinced that something is true or to accept something as true or real.

This can also be translated as “convinced of,” “have trust in,” or “have faith in.”

Believe in Yourself

 jibun o shinjiru
Believe in Yourself Scroll

自分を信じる means “believe in yourself,” “have faith in yourself,” or “believe in myself” (can be myself or yourself depending on if you're saying it to yourself or someone else).


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

Bushido / The Way of the Samurai

 wǔ shì dào
 bu shi do
Bushido / The Way of the Samurai Scroll

武士道 is the title for “The Code of the Samurai.”

Sometimes called “The Seven Virtues of the Samurai,” “The Bushido Code,” or “The Samurai Code of Chivalry.”

This would be read in Chinese characters, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja as “The Way of the Warrior,” “The Warrior's Way,” or “The Warrior's Code.”

It's a set of virtues that the Samurai of Japan and ancient warriors of China and Korea had to live and die by. However, while known throughout Asia, this title is mostly used in Japan and thought of as being of Japanese origin.

The seven commonly-accepted tenets or virtues of Bushido are Rectitude 義, Courage 勇, Benevolence 仁, Respect 礼(禮), Honour 名誉, Honesty 誠, and Loyalty 忠実. These tenets were part of oral history for generations, thus, you will see variations in the list of Bushido tenets depending on who you talk to.


See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here


See Also:  Samurai | Warrior

 zhēn jié
 teisetsu
Chastity Scroll

In Chinese, 貞節 would be defined as “The state of being sexually pure” or “chaste.”

Culturally, this especially applies to young women. 貞節 is not actually far off from our western view on this subject. In Japanese and Korean, this could also be used to express virtue, faithfulness, and fidelity.


See Also:  Modesty

 shā shǐ tí dí
Chastity Scroll

沙史提迪 is a common transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the name Chastity.

This sounds like Chastity but does not mean chastity. I suggest you choose a Chinese word that means chastity instead.

 chasutitii
Chastity Scroll

チャスチチー is the name Chastity in Japanese.

If your name is Chastity, I suggest using a word that means Chastity, rather than this transliteration of the name.


Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

 zhēn jié
 teiketsu / teketsu
Chastity Scroll

This Chinese and Japanese word is often used in variations of the Seven Heavenly Virtues to represent chastity.

Chastity / Pure Heart

Also: Clean / Innocent / Pure

 chún jié
 jun ketsu
Chastity / Pure Heart Scroll

純潔 is associated with “chastity” but with the direct meaning of clean, innocent, and pure.

If you were expressing the idea of a “pure heart” in Chinese, while not literal, this would be the word you would use.

In Japanese, this word is sometimes used to express purity.

In Korean, it describes purity, chastity, virginity, and innocence (basically the same as the Chinese definition).

Christian Friend

 jiào yǒu
Christian Friend Scroll

Depending on the context, 教友 can mean Christian or “friend of the same religion.”

While technically, it could be any religion, this is used mainly within the Christian faith. You can also translate this as “Christian friend” and, in some cases, “Church member.”

Christianity / Christian

 jī dū jiào
 kirisutokyou
Christianity / Christian Scroll

基督教 is the Chinese, Japanese and Korean word for “Christianity.”

Just as in English, this word is often used to mean “Protestant” but includes Catholics in the true definition.

It is the word used to refer to the whole “Christian religion” or “Christian Faith,” and therefore, it can be translated as “Christianity.” However, used as an adjective in regard to a person, it would translate as “Christian.” But more like saying, “His religion is Christianity,” rather than a noun form.

If you break it apart, the characters mean Base/Foundation Leading/Supervising Religion/Teaching. It makes more sense in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. The first two characters together are translated as “Christ.” So you can also say this means “Christ's Religion” or “Christ's Teachings” when directly translated, or in reverse, “The Religion of Christ” or “The Teaching of Christ.”

Notes: The last character has a slight difference in one stroke - however, in calligraphic form, this will not be apparent. This entry can easily be read by any Korean person who knows Hanja characters (Chinese characters used in Korean).


See Also:  Jesus Christ | God of Abraham

The Five Tenets of Confucius

The Five Cardinal Rules / Virtues of Confucius

 rén yì lǐ zhì xìn
 jin gi rei tomo nobu
The Five Tenets of Confucius Scroll

仁義禮智信 are the core of Confucius's philosophy.

Simply stated:
仁 = Benevolence / Charity
義 = Justice / Rectitude
禮 = Courtesy / Politeness / Tact
智 = Wisdom / Knowledge
信 = Fidelity / Trust / Sincerity

Many of these concepts can be found in various religious teachings. 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.

This title is also labeled “5 Confucian virtues.”


礼 If you order this from the Japanese calligrapher, expect the middle Kanji to be written in a more simple form (as seen to the right). This can also be romanized as "jin gi rei satoshi shin" in Japanese. Not all Japanese will recognize this as Confucian tenets but they will know all the meanings of the characters.


See Also:  Confucius Teachings | Ethics

Dedication

Dedicated to One Thing

 zhuān yòng
Dedication Scroll

專用 is the dedication you might have to your job or a person.

Trivia: It is the same word used as an adjective in front of the word for “network” to say “dedicated network” in Chinese.

Please note: While this is a word in Korean, the meaning is private or “exclusive use.” So this is best if your audience is Chinese.


See Also:  Devotion | Passion | Tenacious | Commitment

 sennen
Dedication Scroll

専念 is the Japanese word for dedication.

It means “give undivided attention” or “devote oneself to (something).”

Note: This can be pronounced in Korean, but it's not a commonly used term.


See Also:  Devotion | Passion | Tenacious | Commitment

 jiān yì kě kào
Dependable Scroll

The first two characters mean resolute with firm determination.
The second two characters mean reliable.

Together, this creates a 4-character expression that means dependable.

Determination

 jué xīn
 kesshin
Determination Scroll

決心 is a Chinese, Japanese, and Korean word that holds the dictionary definition of determination but literally means determined heart.

The first character means to determine or determined.

The second character means heart, mind, or soul, so you can imagine that this form of determination partially means putting your heart into something. It can also be translated as resolve, resolution, or decision (as in a decision made and followed).


See Also:  Devotion | Tenacious | Passion | Dedication | Will-Power

 dào yuán
 dou gen
Dogen Scroll

Usually, when people are looking for 道元 or “Dogen,” they are referring to the Japanese Zen monk by this name.

He lived from 1200-1253. This Dogen name or title literally means “The Way Origin” or “Beginning of the Path.” It is understood to mean “beginning of right doctrine or faith” in the context of his name and work to establish the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan.

To accomplish that task, this humble monk traveled from Japan and across China to find the more original or pure forms of Buddhism.

 ei shin ryuu
Eishin-Ryu Scroll

英信流 is the Japanese martial arts term, Eishin-ryu.

This can also be pronounced Hidenobu-ryu. The direct meaning is something like, hero faith school (or school of heroic faith).

Ethics / Ethical / Morality

 dào dé
 dou toku
Ethics / Ethical / Morality Scroll

道德 is a Chinese, Japanese, and old Korean word that can also be defined as “moral principles,” morality, ethics, ethical, morals, or virtue.

The first character is the same that is associated with Daoism / Taoism. This word is also used to express morality, virtue, or simply morals.


徳There is a slight deviation in the Japanese Kanji form. If you want the modern Japanese version, please click on the special Kanji shown to the right instead of the button above. Note that the traditional Chinese form is still readable and understood by Japanese people.


See Also:  Chastity | Prudence

Fidelity / Personal Integrity / Honor

 cāo shǒu
 soushu
Fidelity / Personal Integrity / Honor Scroll

操守 is the Chinese and Japanese Kanji for personal integrity, constancy, fidelity, and honor/honour.

The original meaning of the first character is chastity, fidelity, honor, and/or faith.

The second character means to defend, guard, keep watch, and be observant.

So, this is about being observant of and guarding your integrity and honor.

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.

 liàng
 
Forgive Scroll

This single character means “forgive” in Chinese.

In Korean, this kind of means forgive but also has slightly different definitions of considering, excuse, faithful or believe.

Fragrant / Good Smell

 xiāng
 ka / kou
 
Fragrant / Good Smell Scroll

香 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja that means: fragrant; sweet smelling; aromatic; savory; appetizing; perfume; incense; aroma; fragrance; scent; good smell.

Fragrance or incense is known to be one of the Buddha's messengers to stimulate faith and devotion.

Giri

(obligation or duty in Japanese)

 yì lǐ
 giri
Giri Scroll

This term means an obligation or a sense of duty that one may have to their employer, country or culture.

義理 is a specifically Japanese term, as in Chinese, these two characters form a word that means “religious doctrine” or refers to the argument presented in an essay.

This term has a similar meaning in Korean, where it can be translated as justice, sense of duty, loyalty, integrity, or obligation.

義理 is kind of a weird selection for a wall scroll. So this entry is intended more for educational purposes.


More information about Giri

 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.

Industrious / Hard Working

 ài gǎng jìng yè
Industrious / Hard Working Scroll

愛崗敬業 is used to refer to someone who puts forth maximum effort and achieves much.

We might call this kind of person a “go-getter” in English.


See Also:  Dedication | Tenacious | Devotion

 chéng
 makoto
 
Honesty Scroll

誠 means truth, faith, fidelity, sincerity, trust, and/or confidence.

As a single-character wall scroll, this suggests that you believe “honesty is the best policy,” as your personal philosophy.


This is also a virtue of the Samurai Warrior
See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here


See Also:  Sincerity | Sincere

Honesty / Fidelity

 xìn
 shin
 
Honesty / Fidelity Scroll

信 is another character that expresses the idea of honesty.

It can also mean truth, faith, belief in, fidelity, sincerity, trust, and/or confidence.

Some have included this in the list for the Bushido, although “makoto” is probably more common/popular.

Note: In some contexts, this character can mean a letter (mail), news, or envoy. However, alone, it will generally be read with the honesty-meaning.


See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here


See Also:  Loyalty Trustworthiness Trustworthy

Honor and Integrity

 jié cāo
 sessou
Honor and Integrity Scroll

節操 means honorable, integrity of principle, constancy, honor, and in a certain context, chastity.

Please note that there are a few ways to relay the idea of integrity in Asian languages and more than one way to define honor in English. 節操 is far from the only way to express “honor and integrity.”

 xī wàng
 ki bou
Hope Scroll

Besides “to hope” this also means “to wish for” or “to desire.”

It can also mean expectation or aspiration depending on context.


Note: Also considered to be one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.


See Also:  Desire

 shén ài shì rén shèn zhì jiāng tā de dú shēng zǐ cì gè tā mén jiào yí qiè xìn tā de bú zhì miè wáng fǎn dé yǒng shēng
John 3:16 Scroll

神愛世人甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們叫一切信他的不至滅亡反得永生 is the full translation of John 3:16 into Chinese.

This is from the Chinese Union Bible which comes from a revised version of the King James. This Chinese Bible was originally translated and printed in 1919 (several revisions since then).

Because of the origin being the KJV, I'll say that in English, this would be, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

As with any translation, there are interesting cultural and linguistic issues. For instance, the word used for “world” in Chinese can also mean “common people.” So you could say that it means “For God so loved the common people...”
This does not take away from the text, as it will be understood with the same meaning and connotation.

There is no direct Greek-to-Chinese translation in print (that I know of), so this is the best available. Of course, you can ask any Greek person of faith, and they will claim that a bit is lost from the original Greek of the New Testament to any of the English versions of the Bible in print.

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.”

Joshua 24:15

This House Serves the LORD

 Watashi to watashinoie to wa omo ni tsukaeru
Joshua 24:15 Scroll

私と私の家とは、主に仕える is the last bit of Joshua 24:15 in Japanese.

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.



This came from the Shinkaiyaku Japanese Bible. This is the most commonly-used Bible translation in Japan for both Protestants and Catholic Japanese folks.

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

This will be a nice gift for a friend or a wonderful expression of faith for your own home.


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

Justice / Rectitude / Right Decision

Also means: honor loyalty morality righteousness

 yì
 gi
 
Justice / Rectitude / Right Decision Scroll

義 is about doing the right thing or making the right decision, not because it's easy but because it's ethically and morally correct.

No matter the outcome or result, one does not lose face if tempering proper justice.

義 can also be defined as righteousness, justice, morality, honor, or “right conduct.” In a more expanded definition, it can mean loyalty to friends, loyalty to the public good, or patriotism. This idea of loyalty and friendship comes from the fact that you will treat those you are loyal to with morality and justice.

義 is also one of the five tenets of Confucius's doctrine.

儀 There's also an alternate version of this character sometimes seen in Bushido or Korean Taekwondo tenets. It's just the addition of a radical on the left side of the character. If you want this version, click on the image to the right instead of the button above.


This is also a virtue of the Samurai Warrior
See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here


See Also:  Judgment | Impartial | Confucius Tenets

Karma (of your past lives)

 sù yè
 shukugou
Karma (of your past lives) Scroll

宿業 is the Buddhist concept of Past Karma. Simply put, it's the sum of all the good and bad from all previous lives (perhaps earlier in your current life). This term is not commonly used outside of the Buddhist faith (you'll have a tough time finding a non-Buddhist Asian person that knows this word).

Other ways to translate this are “The karma of previous existence,” “The karma remaining from prior existences,” or simply “Former karma.”


See Also:  Buddhism

Karma - Cause and Effect

 yīn guǒ
 inga
Karma - Cause and Effect Scroll

因果 is a label that is used inside and outside of the Buddhist faith to speak of Karma.

Along with the meaning of Karma, this word can be translated as “retribution” or “chain of cause and effect.”


See Also:  Buddhism

Love and Affection

 ài qíng
 aijou
Love and Affection Scroll

愛情 is a universal word in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese which means love and affection.

Some may translate this as “love between a man and a woman.”

Depending on the context, it can mean utter devotion or favorite.

Hoes Before Bros

 jiàn sè wàng yì
Hoes Before Bros Scroll

見色忘義 is a modern Chinese idiom that means to put love before loyalty or to forget loyalty when in love.

This would be roughly equivalent to the English, “Hoes before bros.”

 qiān xùn
 kenson
Modesty Scroll

Depending on the context, 謙遜 can be translated as modesty, humbleness, or humility.

The first character means modesty, while the second means yielding. Together, it could be stated as “yielding modesty.”


See Also:  Chastity | Prudence | Moderation

Moral and Virtuous

 dé
 toku
 
Moral and Virtuous Scroll

德 is the simple way to express the ideas of having virtue, morals, kindness, benevolence, goodness, etc.

德 also happens to be the first character of the Chinese word for Germany.


徳There is a slight deviation in the Japanese Kanji form. If you want the modern Japanese version, please click on the special Kanji shown to the right instead of the button above. Note that the traditional Chinese form is still readable and understood by Japanese people.


See Also:  Ethics | Chastity | Prudence | Benevolence | Morality

Namo Shakyamuni Buddha

 nán wú shì jiā móu ní fó
 namu shakamuni butsu
Namo Shakyamuni Buddha Scroll

南無釋迦牟尼佛 is a Buddhist chant or prayer of respect to the Shakyamuni Buddha.

Some will translate this as the Buddhist vow.

The first two characters, 南無, are sometimes translated as “amen”; others will translate it as “belief in” or “homage to.”
To expand on this, 南無 can also mean “taking of refuge in” while representing devotion or conviction. 南無 as with most religious concepts or words, different people or denominations will have varying definitions.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo / Homage to Lotus Sutra

 nán wú miào fǎ lián huá jīng
 na mu myou hou ren ge kyou
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo / Homage to Lotus Sutra Scroll

南無妙法蓮華經 is sometimes translated as the “Devotion to the Law of the Lotus Flower Scripture.”

This is a meditation chant and homage to the Lotus Sutra, used by Nichiren Buddhists in Japan.
This is also a chant used in China by certain sects of Buddhism that celebrate the deity Guanyin.

Also romanized as “Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō” or without accents as “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.”


經
Original
Traditional
Version

The last character was originally written as seen on the left. Sometimes, you will see it written in the Japanese variant form as shown on the right. If you want this Japanese variant, click on the "Modern Japanese Variant" text instead of the button up by the main title of this entry.

There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger

 wú yī shì zhǔ wéi yǒu ān lā mù hǎn mò dé shì ān lā de chāi shǐ
There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger Scroll

無一是主惟有安拉穆罕默德是安拉的差使 is one of the key creeds of Islam.

While perhaps more often seen in Arabic as
There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger
there are many native Chinese Muslims (especially the Hui ethnicity) that do not speak Arabic.

Instead, they use this Chinese phrase to express this idea or statement of faith.

Passion for a Cause

 rè qíng
 netsujou
Passion for a Cause Scroll

Depending on the context, 熱情 can mean “cordial,” “enthusiastic,” “passionate,” or “passionately.”

This version is sometimes used in Japanese, but the character order is more common in Chinese and Korean Hanja. The meaning in Japanese for this Kanji order is ardor/ardour or zeal but rarely used in modern Japan. I suggest you choose a different version of “passion” if your audience is Japanese.


See Also:  Persistence | Devotion | Tenacity | Commitment | Motivation

Enthusiasm / Passion for a Cause

 qíng rè
 jou netsu
Enthusiasm / Passion for a Cause Scroll

情熱 is the Japanese word that means enthusiasm or “passion for a cause.”

In some contexts, this could mean being extremely fond of something or having a fondness for a cause or person.

Can also be translated as passion, zeal, ardor/ardour, or fervor.

Note: This word (or character order) is not natural in Chinese. However, a typical Chinese person can guess this is a Japanese or Korean word and understand the intended meaning. This selection is best if your audience is Japanese or old-school Korean.


See Also:  Persistence | Devotion | Tenacity | Commitment | Motivation

Perseverance

 jiān rèn bù bá
Perseverance Scroll

堅韌不拔 is about perseverance, being steadfast and persistent.

堅韌不拔 is a great phrase for you if you commit to your goals and overcome obstacles, no matter how long it takes.

The translation of this proverb literally means “something so persistent or steadfast, that it is not uprootable, movable, or surpassable.”

Other translations include being firm and indomitable or tenacious and unyielding.


See Also:  Tenacious | Devotion | Persistence | Indomitable

Personal Integrity

 zhì cāo
 shi sou
Personal Integrity Scroll

志操 is personal integrity - basically, holding yourself to a higher standard of honesty and reliability. These two characters also contain the ideas of constancy, principles, and faithfulness.

Note: In Japanese, this just means “principle.”

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.

Prudence / Considerate

 shèn zhòng
 shin chou
Prudence / Considerate Scroll

慎重 conveys the idea of being considerate, having prudence, and being thoughtful when taking action.

慎重 can also mean cautious, careful, discreet, deliberate, or taking all things into consideration.

The general meaning is shared across languages. However, in Chinese, this is more about prudence, while in Japanese, this is more about being considerate.

Chinese Catholics use this word to represent “prudence” in the list of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.


慎慎 Note: Depending on your choice of Chinese or Japanese calligraphers, the first Kanji will vary slightly. It is technically the same character. Japanese tend to leave a space between the upper and lower portions of this particular Kanji. See sample images to the right.


See Also:  Moderation | Modesty | Chastity

Pure Heart

Pure and Innocent

 chún qíng
 jun jou
Pure Heart Scroll

純情 means “Pure Heart” in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

It's used to reflect the ideas of being “pure and innocent.”

Depending on the context in which this title is used, it can relay “self-sacrificing devotion” or, in some cases, “naïveté.”
This would be in the same way we might refer to a young girl giving her lunch money to a beggar on the street. She has a pure and precious heart but perhaps is also a bit naive.

Pure Land / Jodo

Also a sect of Buddhism

 jìng tǔ
 jou do
Pure Land / Jodo Scroll

淨土 literally means “pure land” or “clean earth.”

淨土 is also the abbreviated title of a Buddhist sect that involves faith in the rebirth of Buddha Amitabha (Amitābha) in the Western Heaven. Sometimes this sect is translated as “Paradise of the West.” Other titles of this school of Buddhism include Amidism or Elysium.


See Also:  Nirvana | Shin Buddhism

Purity

Clean and Pure

 jìng
 jou
 
Purity Scroll

淨 is the most simple way to express purity or cleanliness in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

As a single character, the concept is broad: This can be a verb (the act of cleaning, purifying, or cleansing) but it can also be the state of being clean, pure, and chaste. In some contexts, it can be a place to clean (like a bathing room for the soul in a Buddhist context). In Japanese, this can be a female given name “Jou” or “jō” (the Japanese equivalent of the English girl's name “Chastity”).

 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).

Self-Confidence

 zì xìn
 jishin
Self-Confidence Scroll

自信 is created by simply putting the character for “faith/believe/confidence” with the character for “oneself” in front of it.

The literal translation holds the same meaning in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

It's like a self-affirmation to say, “you can do it.”

Some may also use this to mean self-esteem or a sense of self-worth. 自信 is also how to say “believe in oneself.”


See Also:  Confidence

Seven Heavenly Virtues

 xìn yǎng xī wàng cí shàn jiān rěn zhèng yì shèn zhòng jié zhì
 shinkou kibou jizen kennin seigi shinchou sessei
Seven Heavenly Virtues Scroll

信仰希望慈善堅忍正義慎重節制 is a list in Chinese and Japanese Kanji of an interpretation of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.

1. Faith is belief in God, and the right virtues.
2. Hope is taking a positive future view that good will prevail.
3. Charity is a concern for, and active helping of, others.
4. Fortitude is never giving up.
5. Justice is being fair and equitable with others.
6. Prudence is care of and moderation with money.
7. Temperance is moderation of needed things and abstinence from things that are not needed.

The full list is here. 信仰希望慈善堅忍正義慎重節制 is a word list, not a common phrase. While all Chinese and Japanese people will recognize the words in the list, they may not understand what the list is about (unless they are familiar with the Seven Heavenly Virtues).


don’t get this as a tattoo or anything like that without first consulting a native translator in the target language. These are fine for a wall scroll but a long discussion is needed before you commit to this for a lifetime inking commitment.

Spiritual Peace / Enlightened Peace

 an jin ritsu myou
Spiritual Peace / Enlightened Peace Scroll

These Japanese Kanji, 安心立命, can be translated as “religious enlightenment” or “spiritual peace gained through faith.”

Other dictionaries define as “spiritual peace and enlightenment” or “keeping an unperturbed mind through faith.”

My Buddhist dictionary defines it as “spiritual peace and realization of enlightenment.”

In the Zen school, this is about settling one's body and life; attaining complete peace, and establishing one's course of life in accord with the ultimate reality.

Daoism / Taoism

 dào jiào
 doukyou
Daoism / Taoism Scroll

道教 is the title often used in both Chinese and Japanese to describe the beliefs or religion of Taoism / Daoism.

The first character is simply “dao” and the second character can be translated as “teachings,” “faith” or “doctrine.”

Tenacious / Tenacity

 wán qiáng
 gan kyou
Tenacious / Tenacity Scroll

頑強 means “Tenacious,” “Hard to Defeat,” or “Dogged.”

Alone, the first character means mischievous, obstinate, or stubborn. But it loses some of the mischievous meaning when the second character is added.

The second character means strength, force, power, or better.


See Also:  Determination | Dedication | Devotion | Never Give Up

 zhēn xīn
 mago koro
True Heart Scroll

While 真心 literally reads as “true heart” or “genuine heart,” the understood meaning is sincerity, devotion, sincere, or heartfelt. Some will extend the meaning to be like “true love.” It's the idea of doing something or treating someone with genuine feelings.

真心 is valid and has the same meaning in both Chinese characters and Japanese Kanji.

Note: While not too common, this can be the female given name “Mami” in Japanese.

Trust in God

 xìn kào shàng dì
Trust in God Scroll

信靠上帝 means “Trust in God,” “Faith in God,” “Rely upon God” and/or “Believe in God.”

Trust No One / Trust No Man

 dare mo shin ji ru na
Trust No One / Trust No Man Scroll

誰も信じるな is as close as you can get to the phrase “trust no man” in Japanese, though no gender is specified.

The first two characters mean everyone or anyone but change to “no one” with the addition of a negative verb.

The third through fifth characters express the idea of believing in, placing trust in, confiding in, or having faith in.

The last character makes the sentence negative (without the last character, this would mean “trust everyone,” with that last character, it's “trust no one”).


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

Trust in God / In God We Trust

 xiāng xìn shàng dì
Trust in God / In God We Trust Scroll

相信上帝 means exactly what the title suggests. The first two characters mean “trust” or “believe,” and the second two mean “God” (as in the God of Abraham and the God of Zion).

Thisis also how the American phrase “In God We Trust” as seen on U.S. Currency would be translated into Chinese. It would also be correct to say that this means “Believe in God,” though, in this arrangement/context, one would be more likely to interpret it as “trust.”

Trust in God / Belief in God

 kami no shin kou
Trust in God / Belief in God Scroll

神の信仰 is the simplest way to express “Trust in God” in Japanese.

The first character means God, deity, divinity, or spirit (in this case, it will be read as God).

The second character is a particle that links the ideas.

The last two characters mean faith, belief, or creed in a religious context.

Dog

Year of the Dog / Zodiac Sign

 gǒu
 inu / ku
 
Dog Scroll

狗 is the character for dog, canine, or hound in Chinese.

If you were born in the year of the dog, you . . .


Are strong-willed
Loyal to your friends and mate.
Never compromise when you think you are right.

Note: Can be pronounced, and means dog in Japanese but feels like a very old word (see our other dog if you need a Japanese dog).


See also our Chinese Zodiac page.

The Principles of Buddhism

 fó yì
 butsu gi
The Principles of Buddhism Scroll

In short, 佛義 is the Principles of Buddhism, but there is more (especially for the second character):

佛 is the character for the Buddha and Buddhism.

義 has deeper meanings including justice, righteousness, morality, honour/honor, teachings, doctrine, right, proper, righteous, loyalty, purpose, or meaning. So the single word “principles” is often used to encompass all these ideas.

Galatians 5:22-23

 shèng líng suǒ jié de guǒ zi jiù shì rén ài xǐ lè he píng rěn nài ēn cí liáng shàn xìn shí wēn róu jié zhì
Galatians 5:22-23 Scroll

Here is Galatians 5:22 and a bit of 23 in Chinese.

The text with punctuation:
圣灵所结的果子,就是仁爱,喜乐,和平,忍耐,恩慈,良善,信实,温柔,节制。
Hand-painted calligraphy does not retain punctuation.
This translation is from the Chinese Union Bible.

You may know it from the KJV as:
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
5:23 Meekness, temperance...

There is one single thread binding my Way together

 wú dào yī yǐ guàn zhī
 ware dou tsurayuki
There is one single thread binding my Way together Scroll

吾道一以貫之 is a phrase from the Analects of Confucius that translates as “My Way has one thread that runs through it.”

Other translations include:
My Way is penetrated by a single thread.
There is one single thread binding my Way together.
My Way is run through with a unifying thread.
My Way is Consistent.
And sometimes poetic license is taken, and it is translated as:
My Way is the only one; I'll treasure it and stick to it with humility until the end.

After this was said, some 2500+ years ago, another disciple of Confucius clarified the meaning by stating, “Our master's Way is to be loyal and have a sense of reciprocity.”

In Japanese, this is purported to be romanized as “Waga michi ichi wo motte kore wo tsuranuku,” though some will argue the true pronunciation.

Note: Sometimes written 吾道以一貫之 instead of 吾道一以貫之 with no difference in meaning.

Ten Commandments

 shí jiè
 jukkai
Ten Commandments Scroll

十戒 means Ten Commandments or Ten Precepts.

In the Buddhist context, these are prohibitions consisting of five commandments for the layman:
1. Not to destroy life 不殺生 Pāṇātipātāveramaṇi.
2. Not to steal 不倫盜 Adinnādānāver.
3. Not to commit adultery 不婬慾 Abrahmacaryaver.
4. Not to lie 不妄語 Musāvādāver.
5. Not to take intoxicating liquor 不飮酒 Suramereyya-Majjapamādaṭṭhānāver.

The ten commandments for the monk are the preceding five plus:
6. Not to eat food outside of regulated hours 不非時食 Vikāla-Bhojanāver.
7. Not to use garlands or perfumes 不著華鬘好香塗身 Mālā- Gandha-Vilepana-Dhāraṇa-Maṇḍana-Vibhūṣanaṭṭhānā.
8. Not to sleep on high or broad beds (chastity) 不坐高廣大牀 Uccāsayanā-Mahāsayanā.
9. Not to take part in singing, dancing, musical or theatrical performances 不歌舞倡伎不往觀聽 Nacca-Gīta-Vādita-Visūkadassanāver.
10. To refrain from acquiring uncoined or coined gold, or silver, or jewels 不得捉錢金銀寶物 Jātarūpa-Rajata-Paṭīggahaṇāver.

These original Buddhist commandments date back to about 2500 years ago. The English definitions above are followed by Chinese characters and original Pali pronunciation.

Under the Māhayāna Buddhism, these ten commands for the monk were changed, to accord with the new environment of the monk, to the following: not to kill, not to steal, to avoid all unchastity, not to lie, not to slander, not to insult, not to chatter, not to covet, not to give way to anger, to harbor no skepticism.

Xin Xin Ming / Shinjinmei

 xìn xīn míng
 shin jin mei
Xin Xin Ming / Shinjinmei Scroll

This is the title of a Buddhist poem known as Xin Xin Ming, Xinxinming, or Hsin Hsin Ming in Chinese and Shinjinmei in Japanese.

This title is typically translated as “Faith in Mind.” The poem itself is quite long and steeped with meaning.

Download this document for more info: http://www.ln.edu.hk/econ/staff/Xin Xin Ming.doc

Kyojitsu: Falsehood and Truth

 kyo jitsu
Kyojitsu: Falsehood and Truth Scroll

虚実 is a Japanese word that means “falsehood [and] truth” or “fiction [and] fact.”

This concept is used in warfare, gameplay, and martial arts strategies. 虚実 can be a strategy of real and/or deceptive moves. This gets to some Sun Tzu Art of War stuff where in warfare a strategic move is either a real and serious move or it is a deceptive blow.

Let's explore each character in more depth:

was originally written (there is a very subtle difference in the strokes at the bottom of the character) and means unpreparedness, falsehood, emptiness, void, abstract theory, empty or unoccupied, diffident or timid, false, humble or modest, virtual, or in vain.
In the Buddhist context, 虛 represents the Pali/Sanskrit word “śūnya,” meaning empty, vacant, unreal, unsubstantial, untrue, space, humble, or in vain.
In ancient Eastern/Chinese astronomy, 虛 represents the “Emptiness” constellation (one of the 28 mansions in the sky).

was originally in Chinese (they currently write it as in Simplified Chinese) with the meaning, truth, reality, sincerity, honesty, fidelity, and substance.
The Buddhist context is similar, adding real, true, honest, really, solid, definitely, sincere, solid, fixed, full, to fill, fruit, kernel, verily, in fact, the supreme fact, or ultimate reality to the definition.




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Dictionary

Lookup in my Japanese & Chinese Dictionary

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.