Buy a Custom Fortune Chinese or Japanese Calligraphy Wall Scroll

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


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  1. Wealth / Fortune / Riches / Abundance

  2. Fortune favors the brave

  3. Fortune Favors The Brave

  4. Good Luck / Good Fortune

  5. House of Good Fortune

  6. Happiness / Fortune / Lucky

  7. Soldier of Fortune

  8. Wealth / Riches / Fortune

  9. Fortune Favors the Bold

10. Destiny / Fate

11. Destiny Determined by Heaven

12. The Karma/Fate/Destiny that Brings Lovers Together

13. Choose Your Own Destiny

14. I am the Master of My Destiny

15. Even a fool may sometimes come up with a good idea

16. Five Red Bats

17. Year-In Year-Out Have Abundance

18. Abundance / Prosperous

19. Abundance and Prosperity

20. Optimism / Happy With Your Fate

21. Bat

22. Best Friends

23. Bright and Promising Future

24. Word of God / The Gospel

25. Fate / Chance Meeting

26. Predestined Love / Love by Fate

27. Double Happiness Guest Book

28. Dragon and Phoenix Brings Luck

29. Eat Drink and Be Merry

30. Everything Happens for a Reason

31. The Mysterious Bond Between People

32. Fate / Opportunity / Chance

33. Fire and Water Have No Mercy

34. A Bright Future

35. Rise and Fall / Ups and Downs

36. Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall

37. Foresight

38. Free Will

39. Good Luck

40. Love and Happiness

41. Double Happiness

42. Home of the Auspicious Golden Dragon

43. Safety and Well-Being of the Family

44. Karma Connection

45. Keegan

46. Life Force

47. A Life of Happiness and Prosperity

48. Live in Prosperity

49. Longevity / Long Life Wishes

50. Lucky / Auspicious

51. Once in a Lifetime

52. Opportunity / Good Luck

53. Prosperity

54. The Red String

55. Red Color

56. The Red Thread of Fate

57. Serendipity / Happy Coincidence

58. Serendipity / Lucky Coincidence

59. Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo

60. Smooth Sailing

61. Spiritual Soul Mates

62. Tea Fate

63. Boar / Pig

64. Lucky Star

65. Fu Lu Shou

66. Brought Together from 1000 Miles Away by Fate

67. Da Ji Da Li

68. Birth Old-Age Sickness Death

69. Yuan Fen


Wealth / Fortune / Riches / Abundance

 fù
 tomi
 
Wealth / Fortune / Riches / Abundance Scroll

The title says it all; this word is clearly understood in Chinese and Japanese as well as Korean Hanja.

Fortune favors the brave

 yuusha ha kouun ni megumareru
Fortune favors the brave Scroll

勇者は幸運に恵まれる is a Japanese proverb that suggests that in history, the brave or courageous tend to be the ones who win.


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

Fortune Favors The Brave

 mìng yùn zhōng qíng yú yǒng shì
Fortune Favors The Brave Scroll

命運鐘情於勇士 means “Fortune favors the brave” in Chinese.

This is not the only way to express the idea of fortune favoring the bold or brave.

It's not originally a Chinese phrase, so it's been translated into Chinese in various ways.

Good Luck / Good Fortune

 fú
 fuku
 
Good Luck / Good Fortune Scroll

福 is pronounced “fu” in Chinese.

The character “fu” is posted by virtually all Chinese people on the doors of their homes during the Spring Festival (closely associated with the Chinese New Year).

One tradition from the Zhou Dynasty (beginning in 256 B.C.) holds that putting a fu symbol on your front door will keep the goddess of poverty away.

福 literally means good fortune, prosperity, blessed, blessedness, happiness, and fulfillment.

You'll also see this character in Vietnam (where Chinese characters were the written form until a romanization reform) where it is pronounced Phúc - a word commonly used in Vietnamese names because of its good meaning.


See Also:  Lucky

House of Good Fortune

 fú zhái
House of Good Fortune Scroll

福宅 is perhaps the Chinese equivalent of “This blessed house” or perhaps “home sweet home.”

This phrase literally means “Good fortune house” or “Good luck household.” It makes any Chinese person who sees it feel that good things happen in the home in which this calligraphy is hung.

Happiness / Fortune / Lucky

 xìng
 saki / sachi / rei / rē
 
Happiness / Fortune / Lucky Scroll

幸 can mean happiness, good fortune, good luck, and in the old days, good harvest or bounty.

Note: From Japanese, this character is sometimes romanized as “sachi,” and is often pronounced “kou” or sometimes “rei” when used in compound words with other Kanji.

Soldier of Fortune

 gù yōng bīng
Soldier of Fortune Scroll

雇佣兵 is “soldier of fortune” in Chinese.

It can also be read as “mercenary” or “hired gun.”

Soldier of Fortune

 fuu un ji
Soldier of Fortune Scroll

風雲児 is “soldier of fortune” in Japanese.

It can also be read as “lucky adventurer” or “adventurer who takes advantage of troubled times.”

Wealth / Riches / Fortune

 cái fù
Wealth / Riches / Fortune Scroll

財富 means wealth or riches in Chinese.

Hanging this on your wall will label you as a “lover of money” or a “greedy person.” Order this only if you don't mind being seen in this light.

Fortune Favors the Bold

 xìng yùn juàn gù yǒng gǎn de rén
Fortune Favors the Bold Scroll

幸运眷顾勇敢的人 can be translated as “Fortune favors the brave/bold/courageous” in Chinese.

Destiny / Fate

 mìng
 inochi / mei
 
Destiny / Fate Scroll

命 is often translated as “destiny.”

Sometimes this character is simply translated as “life” but more in terms of one's lot in life. In a certain context, this can mean command or decree (generally from a king or emperor). Of course, such a decree is part of fate and leads you to fulfill your destiny.

In Chinese, this word leans toward the fate or destiny definition.
In Korean, it is usually read simply as “life.”
In Japanese, it can mean all definitions shown above, depending on context.


See Also:  Good Fortune

Destiny / Fate

 mìng yùn
Destiny / Fate Scroll

These two characters contain the ideas of fate, destiny, fortune, and luck.

You can also say that it means “what life throws at you” or “your lot in life” because the first character contains the idea of life or living.

This version is really only used in Chinese. There's another version with just the characters reversed that is more universal. In fact, skip this one. The opposite character order is better.

Destiny / Fate

 yùn mìng
 un mei
Destiny / Fate Scroll

These two characters contain the ideas of fate, destiny, fortune, and luck in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

運命 is often defined as “a person's fate” or “personal fate” in various dictionaries.

These two characters can be reversed (written in either order) and yield roughly the same meaning.

This particular character order is more common in old Korean and less common in modern Chinese.


See Also:  Good Fortune | Good Luck

Destiny Determined by Heaven

 tiān yì
 teni
Destiny Determined by Heaven Scroll

天意 is a way to express destiny in a slightly religious way.

天意 means “Heaven's Wish” or “Heaven's Desire,” with the idea of fate and destiny being derived as well. It suggests that your destiny comes from God / Heaven and that your path has already been chosen by a higher power.

My Japanese dictionary defines this word as “divine will” or “providence,” but it also holds the meaning of “the will of the emperor.” Therefore, I don't suggest this phrase if your audience is Japanese - it feels strange in Japanese anyway.

The Karma/Fate/Destiny that Brings Lovers Together

 yīn yuán
The Karma/Fate/Destiny that Brings Lovers Together Scroll

姻緣 means “Destiny that brings lovers together.” It can also be translated technically as “Predestined matrimonial affinity” (wow, talk about taking the romance out of this word - that was from the Oxford C-E dictionary).

This speaks to the fate (or karma) that brings a husband and wife together. I would translate this as “Together by fate” or “Joined by destiny” but in the context of marriage. You could use this for non-married lovers, but the first character has a suggestion that this refers to those that are married.

Choose Your Own Destiny

 xuǎn zé zì jǐ de mìng yùn
Choose Your Own Destiny Scroll

選擇自己的命運 means “Choose your destiny” or “pick your own fate” in Chinese.

Let's break down the words in this phrase here...
選擇 means to choose, pick, or select.
自己 means oneself or one's own.
的 is a possessive modifier.
命運 means fate or destiny.

I am the Master of My Destiny

 wǒ mìng yóu wǒ bù yóu tiān
I am the Master of My Destiny Scroll

我命由我不由天 is often translated as “The one that shapes my destiny will always be myself rather than the God” or “Rather than Heaven, I am the master of my fate.”

Breaking down the words directly:
我命 = My fate/destiny
由我 = depends (on) me
不 = not
由天 dependant (on) Heaven.


See Also:  Choose Your Own Destiny

Even a fool may sometimes come up with a good idea

 qiān lǜ yī dé
 senryonoittoku
Even a fool may sometimes come up with a good idea Scroll

千慮一得 means “1000 tries, one success,” or “[a] thousand tries [leads to] one success.”

This proverb is a humble way to express your success, ideas, or accomplishments. As if you are a fool who just got lucky in inventing or creating something.

Translations for this proverb include:
Even without any notable ability on my part, I may still get it right sometimes by good luck.
Even a fool may sometimes come up with a good idea.

Compare this to the English idiom, “Even a broken clock is right twice a day.”

Five Red Bats

 hóng wǔ fú
Five Red Bats Scroll

紅五蝠 is a play on words in Chinese because of some homophones.

The first thing you need to know is that the word for bat, 蝠, sounds exactly like the word for good fortune, 福. Thus, bats are often associated with good luck and good fortune in Chinese culture.

Five bats (五福 / 五蝠) means “five fortunes,” referring to luck, prosperity, wealth, happiness, and longevity.

The word red, 红, has the same sound as 宏 meaning vast, great, or magnificent. Therefore, a red bat means “vast fortune.”

Altogether, five red bats represent vast reaches of the five fortunes.

Year-In Year-Out Have Abundance

 nián nián yǒu yú
Year-In Year-Out Have Abundance Scroll

年年有餘 is a common proverb or wish of prosperity you'll hear around the time of Chinese New Year.

Directly translated character by character, it means “Year Year Have Surplus.” A more natural English translation including the deeper meaning would be “Every Year may you Have Abundance in your life.”

On a side note, this phrase often goes with a gift of something related to fish. This is because the last character, “yu” which means surplus or abundance, has exactly the same pronunciation in Mandarin as the word for “fish.”

This is also one of the most common titles for traditional paintings that feature koi fish.

In China, this phrase might make an odd wall scroll - a customer asked especially for this common phrase which is why it appears here. See my other abundance-related words if you want a wall scroll that will seem more comfortable in Chinese culture.

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


See Also:  Prosperity | Good Fortune

Abundance / Prosperous

 fù yù
 fu yuu
Abundance / Prosperous Scroll

富裕 means prosperous, having an abundance, well-to-do, or well-off.

It's a simple word that suggests “you have made it” in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja.


See Also:  Good Fortune

Abundance and Prosperity

 fán róng fù yù
 hanei yuuhuku
Abundance and Prosperity Scroll

繁榮富裕 is a proverb about “Prosperity and Abundance.”

This presents and reinforces the ideas of being prosperous, a booming economy, well-to-do, well-off, wealthy, riches, and opulence.

While this is the ancient/traditional Chinese way to write this, most Japanese can fully read and understand it. It's also the correct form of old Korean Hanja (though few Koreans of the current generation will be able to read this).


See Also:  Good Fortune

Optimism / Happy With Your Fate

 lè tiān
 raku ten
Optimism / Happy With Your Fate Scroll

樂天 is about being optimistic and also making the best of whatever life throws at you.

This is hard to define. One dictionary defines this as “acceptance of fate and happy about it.” There is one English word equivalent, which is sanguinity or sanguinary.

You can also say that this means “Be happy with whatever Heaven provides,” or “Find happiness in whatever fate Heaven bestows upon you.” 樂天 suggests being an optimist in life.

Note: This is sometimes a given name in China.


楽 Please note that Japanese tend to write the first character in a slightly-different form (as seen to the right). Let us know if you have a preference when you place your order.

 fú
 
Bat Scroll

蝠 is the simplest way to write bat in Chinese and old Korean Hanja.

This also means bat in Japanese but is almost never written alone like this (it's often part of other titles for vampire bats or fruit bats).

In Chinese culture, the bat is a good luck charm, as the pronunciation is very similar to the word for “good luck” or “good fortune.” The character for bat (蝠) even looks like the good luck (福) character.

Best Friends

 zhì jiāo
Best Friends Scroll

至交 is an alternate way to say best friend in Chinese.

The first character can mean “most,” “extreme” or “best.” The second character means “making friends” or “building friendship.” There's sort of a suggestion with the second character that fate caused you to intersect in life and become friends (that character can mean intersection in some context).

This can also mean “most intimate friend,” “very good friend of long-standing,” or “closest friend.”


See Also:  Friendship | Soulmates

Bright and Promising Future

 akarui mirai
Bright and Promising Future Scroll

明るい未来 is a Japanese proverb that means “Bright Future.”

It suggests a lot of possibilities and potential awaits in your future. A great gift for a graduate.

The first part of this proverb literally means bright or light. The second part means the future but can also be translated as “the world to come.”


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

Word of God / The Gospel

 fú yīn
 fukuin
Word of God / The Gospel Scroll

福音 is the Chinese, Korean and Japanese word for “Gospel” or “Word of God.”

福音 is a specifically Christian word in Asia (not used for any other religion).

The first character means blessing, good fortune, or good luck. This first character is a special character used throughout China to bring good tidings and fortune - especially during Chinese New Year. The second character means sound, noise, or news.

Together, these characters create a word that means “The Good News” or “The Sound of Good Fortune.”

When read by a Chinese or Japanese person, this word is always perceived as “The Christian Gospel,” “Word of God,” or even “The Voice of God.”


See Also:  Christianity | Jesus Christ | God of Abraham

Fate / Chance Meeting

 yuán fèn
Fate / Chance Meeting Scroll

緣份 specifically represents the fate or destiny that brings two people together.

This is like the chance meeting of two people that leads sometime later to marriage.

This could also be the chance meeting of two business people who become partners and build a huge and successful company.

This idea is often associated with a fateful meeting leading to good fortune.

Some will define this word as “Destiny brings you two together” or “Meant to be.”


分 Note: The second character can also be written without the left radical, as shown to the right. If you have a preference, please let use know in the special instructions for your project. There is no difference in meaning or pronunciation, just two (alternate) ways to write the same character.


See Also:  Soulmates | Good Fortune

Predestined Love / Love by Fate

 qíng yuán
Predestined Love / Love by Fate Scroll

This Chinese word means predestined love or love affinity.

This can be fate, karma, or the bond that brings two lovers together.

Double Happiness Guest Book

Customize a special Asian guest book for your wedding

 xǐ
 
Double Happiness Guest Book Scroll

Start customizing a “Double Happiness Guest Book Wall Scroll” Here!

The paper panel length can be whatever you choose from 68cm to 135cm (27” to 53”).

If you don't mention what paper length you want in the special instructions tab (on the next page), we'll make it about 100cm (40”).

How many signatures fit

The medium-size scroll with a 33cm x 100cm (13” x 40”) paper panel can usually handle up to 89 signatures. That breaks down to 37 signatures per empty square and 15 signatures around the 囍 character. If you switch to a 135cm paper panel, add another 37 potential signatures.

We can splice two 135cm papers together, but that would be a crazy-long scroll. These are only estimates, your mileage may vary.


With silk panels, this will yield a wall scroll about 155cm (61”) long. That's enough for up to 89 signatures. Of course, that depends on if your guests just sign a brief salutation and name, or more verbose good wishes. Customer feedback is that 126 people can sign the 135cm long paper on a medium-sized scroll. If we go bigger than that, there will be a minor paper seam and an extra charge. Email me with your specifications if you need something special.

Most customers pick the festive red paper with gold flecks and white or ivory silk. Red is a good luck color in Chinese culture, thus the most popular choice. But, you can do any color combination that you want.

There is a long history of Chinese-character-use outside of mainland China. This Double Happiness character is also seen at weddings in Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as in Chinese communities in Thailand, Indonesia, and elsewhere. While Japan borrowed Chinese characters into their language, you won't see 囍 as often at Japanese weddings.

Dragon and Phoenix Brings Luck

 lóng fèng chéng xiáng
Dragon and Phoenix Brings Luck  Scroll

龍鳳呈祥 is often seen at weddings and other celebrations in China.

It suggests that the dragon and phoenix will bring you auspicious tidings.

The first character is a dragon.
The second is a phoenix.
The third is presents or brings.
And the last means auspicious, propitious, or luck.

Throughout China, the dragon and phoenix are symbols of good fortune. You will see these auspicious figures as decorative symbols on everything from buildings, furniture, wedding costumes, and sculptures in public parks to caskets and items used in ceremonies.

Eat Drink and Be Merry

 chī hē wán lè jí shí xíng lè
Eat Drink and Be Merry Scroll

喫喝玩樂及時行樂 is just about the closest proverb to match the western idea of “Eat, drink, and be merry.”

This is a Chinese proverb that more literally means “Eat, drink, play, be merry, enjoy everything as long as you can.”

It's basically a suggestion that you try to enjoy everything in life, as long as you live, or as long as you are able.

Everything Happens for a Reason

 wàn shì jiē yīn guǒ
Everything Happens for a Reason Scroll

萬事皆因果 means “Everything happens for a reason” in Chinese.

The first two characters mean “all things” or “everything.”

The middle character kind of means “in all cases.”

The last two characters create a complex word that can be defined in many ways, such as “karma,” “cause and effect,” “fate,” and “every cause has its effect, as every effect arises from a cause.”

Keep in mind that Chinese grammar is a bit different than English, so trust me that this makes a natural-sounding proverb in Chinese.

Everything Happens for a Reason

 monogoto ha subete riyuu ga at te okiru
Everything Happens for a Reason Scroll

物事は全て理由があって起きる means everything happens for a reason.

However, this is a work in progress. We're still trying to decide the best way to express this in Japanese. If you order this, we might have a discussion about the best version that fits you. Here's how the characters break down by meaning (keep in mind, Japanese grammar and sentence construction is very different from English, so it doesn't make complete sense in English)...

物事 = things, everything
は particle
全て all, the whole, entirely
理由 reason
が particle
あっ be, exist, have, take place, happens
て particle
起きる to occur, to happen; to take place (usually unfavorable incidents)


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

The Mysterious Bond Between People

The invisible force that brings people together forever

 yuán
 en
 
The Mysterious Bond Between People Scroll

緣 represents the fate that brings and bonds people together.

緣 is a complicated single character. It can mean a lot of different things depending on how you read it.

In Japanese, it can mean fate, destiny, a mysterious force that binds two people together, a relationship between two people, bond, link, connection, family ties, affinity, opportunity, or chance (to meet someone and start a relationship). It can also mean “someone to rely on,” relative, reminder, memento, or the female given name, Yori.

It's the same in Chinese, where it's defined as cause, reason, karma, fate, or predestined affinity.

In the Buddhist context, it's Pratyaya. This is the concept of indirect conditions, as opposed to direct causes. It's when something happens (meeting someone) by circumstance or a contributing environment. Instead of a direct cause or act, it is a conditioning cause without direct input or action by the involved people.

Occasionally, this character is used in a facetious way to say hem, seam, or edge of clothing. In this case, it's the seam that brings or holds the clothing together.


縁Note: Japanese will tend to use the variant of this Kanji shown to the right. If you want this version (and are ordering this from the Japanese master calligrapher), click on the Kanji at the right instead of the button above.

Fate / Opportunity / Chance

The Buddhist idea of Fate

 yīn yuán
 in nen
Fate / Opportunity / Chance Scroll

因緣 is the Buddhist concept of a chance meeting or an opportunity that presents itself by fate.

Sometimes this is used to describe a cosmic chain of events or cause and effect.

It also is used to describe predestined relationships between people - and sometimes married couples (although if you want one about marriage, try this: Fate / Destiny of Lovers.

因緣 can also be translated as origin, karma, destiny, affinity, connection, and relation. This all depends on context - seen alone on a wall scroll, this will be read with a “fate/chance” meaning by a Chinese person or a Korean person who can read Hanja.

The more complex definition of this word would be, “Direct causes and indirect conditions, which underlie the actions of all things.”

This concept is known as nidana in the original Sanskrit. Also sometimes presented as hetupratyaya (or “hetu and prataya”), which I believe is Pali.


Note: Japanese will tend to use this version of the second Kanji: 縁
If you order this from the Japanese master calligrapher, expect that you’ll get this version. However, this word often carries a negative connotation in Japanese (bad things happen), as it is used that way in a certain Japanese idiom. Therefore, this may not be the best choice if Japanese is your target language.


See Also:  Buddhism | Opportunity

Fire and Water Have No Mercy

 shuǐ huǒ wú qíng
Fire and Water Have No Mercy Scroll

水火無情 is a Chinese proverb that means “fire [and] water have-not mercy.”

This serves to remind us that the forces of nature are beyond human control.

Some may also translate this as “implacable fate.”

A Bright Future

Incredible 10,000-Mile Flight of the Peng

 péng chéng wàn lǐ
A Bright Future Scroll

鵬程萬里 is an ancient Chinese proverb used in modern times to wish someone a long and successful career.

It's really about the 10,000 Flight of the Peng (Peng, also known as Roc is a mythical fish that can turn into a bird and take flight).

Zhuangzi

莊子
Zhuangzi or Chuang Tzu

Breaking down each character:
1. Peng or Roc (a kind of bird).
2. Journey (in this case, a flight).
3. 10,000 (Ten Thousand).
4. Li is a unit of distance often referred to as a “Chinese Mile,” though the real distance is about half a kilometer.

Direct Translation: “Peng's Journey [of] 10,000 Li.”
Literal meaning: “The 10,000-Li Flying Range Of The Roc.”
Perceived meaning: “To have a bright future” or “To go far.”

This proverb/idiom comes from the book of Zhuangzi or Chuang Tzu. It tells the tale of a huge fish that could turn into a gigantic bird. This bird was called a “peng” and was many miles long. This legendary size allowed the Peng to fly from the Northern Sea to the Southern Sea in a single bound.

Wishing someone “a Peng's Journey of 10,000 Li” will imply that they can travel far without stopping and will have great success, a long career, and a prosperous future.

Rise and Fall / Ups and Downs

Eiko-Seisui

 ei ko sei sui
Rise and Fall / Ups and Downs Scroll

This Japanese proverb can be translated as “flourish and wither, prosper and perish,” “life is full of fortune and misfortune,” or simply “vicissitudes of life.”

栄枯盛衰 / 榮枯盛衰 is about the rise and fall of human affairs or the ups and downs of life. Prosperity comes and goes, everything is fleeting and temporary, but like waves, another swell of prosperity may come.

Here's how the Kanji break down in this proverb:

栄 = prosper; thrive; flourish; boom.
枯 = wither; die.
盛 = prosperous; flourishing; thriving; successful; energetic; vigorous; enthusiastic.
衰 = become weaker; decline; get weak; die down; subside; abate; fail.


榮 Notes: The original version of the first character looks like the image to the right. In modern Japan, they simplified that Kanji a bit into the version shown above. If you have a preference for which style is used for your calligraphy, please let me know when you place your order.

Apparently, with that original version of the first character, this is also used in Korean Hanja. However, I have not confirmed that it’s used in the same way or is widely-known in Korean.

Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall

 hana wa sa ki hana wa chi ru
Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall Scroll

花は咲き花は散る is a Japanese proverb about the cycle of life, or how things come and go in life.

This can be used to suggest that youth, fortune, and life can come and go (everything is temporary).


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

 xiān jiàn
 senken
Foresight Scroll

先見 is about seeing the potential benefits or troubles that may lie ahead in the future.

先見 can also be defined as “presupposition” or “forethought.”


See Also:  Fate

 zì yóu yì zhì
 jiyuu ishi
Free Will Scroll

自由意志 is a concept that has existed for thousands of years that humans can understand right and wrong, then make a decision one way or the other (thus affecting their fate).

Sources such as Confucius, Buddhist scriptures, the Qur'an, and the Bible all address this idea.

As for the characters shown here, the first two mean free, freedom, or liberty. The last two mean “will.”

Can be romanized from Japanese as jiyū-ishi, jiyuu-ishi, and sometimes jiyuu-ishii.
It's 자유의지 or jayuu-yiji in Korean and zìyóu yìzhì in Chinese.


See Also:  Freedom | Strong Willed | Fate

 xìng yùn
 kou un
Good Luck Scroll

幸運 can be translated as “good luck,” fortunate, lucky, and/or “good fortune” in Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

Occasionally, this is also translated as a type of happiness or a short way to write serendipity.

Love and Happiness

 xìng fú yǔ ài
Love and Happiness Scroll

幸福與愛 is “happiness and love” in Chinese.

There is a suggestion of “good fortune” in the version of happiness used here.

Double Happiness

(Happy wedding and marriage)

 xǐ
Double Happiness Scroll

囍 is a common gift for Chinese couples getting married or newly married couples.

As we say in the west, “Two heads are better than one” Well, in the east, two “happinesses” are certainly better than one.

Some will suggest this is a symbol of two happinesses coming together. Others see it as a multiplication of happiness because of the union or marriage.

囍 is not really a character that is pronounced very often - it's almost exclusively used in written form. However, if pressed, most Chinese people will pronounce this “shuang xi” (double happy) although literally there are two “xi” characters combined in this calligraphy (but nobody will say “xi xi”).

Double Happiness Portrait Red If you select this character, I strongly suggest the festive bright red paper for your calligraphy. Part of my suggestion comes from the fact that red is a good luck color in China, and this will add to the sentiment that you wish to convey with this scroll to the happy couple.

Home of the Auspicious Golden Dragon

 jīn ruì xiáng lóng zhī jiā
Home of the Auspicious Golden Dragon Scroll

This 金瑞祥龍之家 or “home golden auspicious dragon” title was added by special request of a customer.

The first character means gold or golden.
The second and third characters hold the meaning of auspiciousness and good luck.
The fourth character is dragon.
The fifth is a possessive modifier (like making “dragon” into “dragon's”).
The last character means home (but in some context can mean “family” - however, here it would generally be understood as “home”).

Note: The word order is different than the English title because of grammar differences between English and Chinese. This phrase sounds very natural in Chinese in this character order. If written in the English word order, it would sound very strange and lose its impact in Chinese.


Note: Korean pronunciation is included above, but this has not been reviewed by a Korean translator.

Safety and Well-Being of the Family

Kanai Anzen

 ka nai an zen
Safety and Well-Being of the Family Scroll

家內安全 is the Japanese way of saying “Family First.”

It's a Japanese proverb about the safety and well-being of your family and/or peace and prosperity in the household.

Some Japanese will hang an amulet in their home with these Kanji. The purpose is to keep your family safe from harm.

According to Shinto followers, hanging this in your home is seen as an invocation to God to always keep family members free from harm.

We were looking for a way to say “family first” in Japanese when this proverb came up in the conversation and research. While it doesn't say “family first,” it shows that the safety and well-being of your family is your first or most important priority. So, this proverb is the most natural way to express the idea that you put your family first.


See Also:  Peace and Prosperity

Karma Connection

 yǒu yuán
 uen
Karma Connection Scroll

有緣 means: related; brought together by fate; same karma; those who have the cause, link, or connection.

有緣 is a common word in Chinese but usually only used in the context of Buddhism in Japanese.

Buddhists will say this refers to those that are influenced by and responsive to the Buddha.

 jí gēn
Keegan Scroll

We like this way to transliterate the name Keegan into Mandarin Chinese because it has a nice meaning.

It kind of means “The root of luck.”

 shēng mìng
 seimei / inochi
Life Force Scroll

This Chinese, Korean and Japanese word means “life force” or simply “life.”

The first character means “life” or “birth.” The second means “life” or “fate.” Together they create the meaning of “life force,” though some will translate this as “existence” and sometimes “vitality.”


See Also:  Vitality | Birth

A Life of Happiness and Prosperity

 xìng fú chéng gōng de yì shēng
A Life of Happiness and Prosperity Scroll

幸福成功的一生 means “A life of happiness and prosperity” or “A life of happiness and success.”

It's a very positive and inspirational wall scroll selection.


See Also:  Prosperity

A Life of Happiness and Prosperity

 kou fuku to ha nei no jin sei
A Life of Happiness and Prosperity Scroll

幸福と繁栄の人生 is a Japanese proverb that means “A life of happiness and prosperity” or “A life of happiness and success.”


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


See Also:  Prosperity

Live in Prosperity

 shēng huó yú fán róng zhōng
Live in Prosperity Scroll

生活于繁榮中 means “live in prosperity.” It's kind of a suggestion to be prosperity the center of your world.

This is the way some people want to live (and you should always live for what you love). However, this phrase does not suggest a peaceful life - rather one that is always busy. It's not for everyone, but it might be for you.


See Also:  Prosperity

Longevity / Long Life Wishes

A wish for a long and prosperous life

 fú rú dōng hǎi shòu bǐ nán shān
Longevity / Long Life Wishes Scroll

福如東海壽比南山 is a phrase that means “May you have good fortune as great as the eastern oceans, and may your life last as long as the southern mountains.”

In ancient Chinese mythology, the eastern oceans and southern mountains are where God resides (basically it is the same as saying “heaven”). So it's like saying, “May your good fortune and life be as vast as the heavens.”

There is also a longer, 14-character version of this phrase. Also, this can be cut into two scrolls (with half the phrase on each side - great for hanging on either side of a doorway). Just let me know if you'd like a special version (there is an additional cost).

Longevity / Long Life Wishes

 nan zan no jyu
Longevity / Long Life Wishes Scroll

南山之壽 is a wish for long life for someone. The first part of this Japanese phrase is “Nan Zan,” which means “south mountain.” This mountain is one of the good wishes, good fortune, and prosperity. The title is often used as a salutation of good wishes.

The third Kanji is just a connector, and the last Kanji means long life or longevity.

I guess you could translate this phrase as “May your life be as long as Nan Zan is tall.”

Lucky / Auspicious

 jí
 kichi
 
Lucky / Auspicious Scroll

吉 is a simple way to express the state of being lucky.

Also used in conversation to hope that all is well with someone. 吉 is more often seen as part of a compound word with a lucky association (especially in Korean).


Not as often used in Japanese but still means "good luck" but can also mean "joy" in Japanese.


See Also:  Good Luck

Once in a Lifetime

 yī qī yī huì
 ichigo ichie
Once in a Lifetime Scroll

This Japanese title can be translated as “for this time only,” “chance meeting,” “one meeting, one opportunity,” “never again,” or “one chance in a lifetime.”

The characters literally mean “one time one meeting” - of course, the Kanji characters have meaning far beyond a direct translation like this.

Some might use this proverb to talk of an opportunity that presents itself just once in your life. It could also be a one-and-only chance meeting with your true soul mate. An expression of any event that might happen once in a lifetime.


This is primarily a Japanese title, however, there is also a Traditional Chinese (and old Korean) version of this proverb. Just the last character is different.
會The traditional form was used in Japan before WWII and in Korea prior to 1900. This title is somewhat known in China.

If you want the older traditional form, just click on the character to the right.

Opportunity / Good Luck

 jī yù
Opportunity / Good Luck Scroll

機遇 is the kind of opportunity that comes via good luck or good fortune.

This word is sometimes translated as “stroke of good luck.”

While there are other ways to express “opportunity,” I think this version is best for a calligraphy wall scroll or portrait.

Note: In Korean Hanja, this would also mean “Meeting someone under strange circumstances.”


See Also:  Good Luck

Prosperity

(also means salary)

 lù
 fuchi
 
Prosperity Scroll

祿 is occasionally used in China to mean prosperity or good fortune.
祿 once meant the “official's salary” in old feudal China and Korea (obviously, the officials lived well, so you can imagine how this was associated with the idea of being prosperous).

祿 is only used in Korean historical documents for “salary.” In old Japanese, this means fief, allowance, stipend, reward, pension, grant, and sometimes happiness depending on context. It's very obscure in modern Japanese.

We have other entries that are better suited for a prosperity wall scroll. This entry just addresses “the coffee cup issue” where this character has been used on coffee cups and tee-shirts. However, without context, the meaning is ambiguous to some.

The Red String

Thread of Lover's Destiny / Fate

 akai ito
The Red String Scroll

This literally translates as “the red string” or “the red thread” in Japanese, but the real meaning is much deeper...

In Japanese culture, it's believed that fate, destiny, or karma joins lovers by an unseen string, tied around one little finger of each. 赤い糸 is how soul mates find and are drawn to each other.

The Japanese concept of the red thread of fate, by most estimations, comes from Chinese folklore, where it's known as 姻緣紅線. The only difference is that in China, the celestial red thread is tied around the ankles of the lovers (versus what is usually represented as the pinky finger in Japan).

 hóng
 hung
 beni
 
Red Color Scroll

紅 is a single character that means red in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

The perceived meaning of this character can be ambiguous. Most will see it as the color red but it can also mean Communist (just like it can in English). In Japanese, it can be a female given name “Rena,” or refer to red silk lining. In Chinese, red is a good luck color, and can refer to a bonus or revolutionary.

The Red Thread of Fate

 yīn yuán hóng xiàn
The Red Thread of Fate Scroll

姻緣紅線 is the legendary red string of destiny that binds all soul mates or lovers together.

In ancient Chinese culture, a mythological matchmaker named 月老 (Yuè Lǎo) was the controller of the fate that led lovers to meet. He did this by tying a celestial red string to the ankle of each person. Sometime during their life, they will meet and marry as fate dictates.

While the origin of the red string comes from China, it has spread to other parts of Asia (such as Japan, where it's known as 赤い糸).

Serendipity / Happy Coincidence

 shiawa se na guu zen
Serendipity / Happy Coincidence Scroll

幸せな偶然 is one of many ways to express serendipity in Japanese.

The first two characters mean happiness, good fortune, luck, or blessing.

In the middle is a Japanese Hiragana character connecting these words/ideas.

The last two Kanji mean incidentally, by chance, randomly, unexpectedly, suddenly, accident, fortuity, or by coincidence.


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

Serendipity / Lucky Coincidence

 kou un na guu zen
Serendipity / Lucky Coincidence Scroll

幸運な偶然 is one of many ways to express serendipity in Japanese.

The first two Kanji mean fortunate, lucky, fortune, or good luck.

In the middle is a Japanese Hiragana character connecting these words/ideas.

The last two Kanji mean incidentally, by chance, randomly, unexpectedly, suddenly, accident, fortuity, or by coincidence.

Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo

 shi ken ha ra mitsu dai kou myou
Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo Scroll

四拳波羅蜜大光明 is “shiken haramitsu daikōmyō,” a famous Japanese Buddhist mantra.

四拳 = shi-ken = four fists (many translate this as “four hearts”).
波羅蜜 = ha-ra-mitsu = A loanword representing pāramitā, or entrance into Nirvana. Awkwardly, it also means jackfruit.
大光明 = dai-kou-myo = big/great light bright (great bright light).

Shiken represents four hearts:
1. The Merciful Heart - Love and caring for all living things.
2. The Sincere Heart - Pursues righteousness, or the right path - sincerely trying to do what is right.
3. The Attuned Heart - Knows that nature and fate have their ways, and thus stay in tune with the universe.
4. The Dedicated Heart - Steadfast on the chosen path to the end.

Smooth Sailing

 yī fán fēng shùn
Smooth Sailing Scroll

一帆風順 is just what you think it means. It suggests that you are on a trouble-free voyage through life, or literally on a sailing ship or sailboat. It is often used in China as a wish for good luck on a voyage or as you set out on a new quest or career in your life. Some may use this in place of “bon voyage.”

The literal meaning is “Once you raise your sail, you will get the wind you need, and it will take you where you want to go.” Another way to translate it is “Your sail and the wind follow your will.”

This is a great gift for a mariner, sailor, adventurer, or someone starting a new career.

Note: Can be understood in Korean Hanja but is rarely used.


See Also:  Bon Voyage | Adventure | Travel

Spiritual Soul Mates

 jīng shén bàn lǚ
 sei shin han ryo
Spiritual Soul Mates Scroll

精神伴侶 means “Spiritual Soul Mates.” The first two characters mean “spiritual” or “soul.” The second two characters mean “mates,” “companions,” or “partners.”

This is more about the spiritual connection between partners rather than a “fate-brought-us-together” kind of soul mates.

Both halves of this title have meaning in Japanese but I've not yet confirmed that this is a commonly used title in Japan.

 chá yuán
Tea Fate Scroll

茶緣 is a special title for the tea lover. This kind of means “tea fate,” but it's more spiritual and hard to define. Perhaps the tea brought you in to drink it. Perhaps the tea will bring you and another tea-lover together. Perhaps you were already there, and the tea came to you. Perhaps it's the ah-ha moment you will have when drinking the tea.

I've been told not to explain this further, as it will either dilute or confuse the purposefully-ambiguous idea embedded in this enigma.

I happen to be the owner of a piece of calligraphy written by either the son or nephew of the last emperor of China, which is the title he wrote. It was given to me at a Beijing tea house in 2001. 茶緣 is where I learned to love tea after literally spending weeks tasting and studying everything I could about Chinese tea. I did not understand the significance of the authorship or the meaning of the title at all. Some 10 years later, I realized the gift was so profound and had such providence. Only now do I realize the value of a gift that it is too late to give proper thanks for. It was also years later that I ended up in this business and could have the artwork properly mounted as a wall scroll. It has been borrowed for many exhibitions and shows and always amazes native Chinese and Taiwanese who read the signature. This piece of calligraphy I once thought was just a bit of ink on a thin and wrinkled piece of paper, is now one of my most valued possessions. And fate has taught me to be more thankful for seemingly simple gifts.

Boar / Pig

Year of the Pig / Zodiac Sign

 zhū
 inoshishi
 
Boar / Pig Scroll

豬 is the character for boar, pig, or swine in Chinese and old Korean.

If you were born in the year of the boar/year of the pig, you...

Are optimistic.
Have good luck with wealth and money.
Are honest, generous, and warm-hearted.


猪The character shown to the right is the Japanese Kanji for "wild boar."
it’s an alternate/simplified form of pig/boar in Chinese (can be read by both Chinese and Japanese people). Click on that character instead of the button above if you want this version.

See also our Chinese Zodiac page.

 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.

 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.

Brought Together from 1000 Miles Away by Fate

 yǒu yuán qiān lǐ lái xiāng huì
Brought Together from 1000 Miles Away by Fate Scroll

有緣千里來相會 means that fate or destiny has caused us to meet from a thousand miles away.

The 有緣 part suggests something that is connected as if by a thread due to fate, destiny, or karma.

This romantic phrase is seen in Chinese greeting cards. It relays the idea that your love was meant to be and that you were destined to meet (regardless of what distance or obstacles might have made such a meeting unlikely).


See Also:  Red Thread

 dà jí dà lì
Da Ji Da Li Scroll

大吉大利 or “Da Ji Da Li” is a Chinese proverb that means great luck, great profit, or everything is thriving.

Birth Old-Age Sickness Death

Born to Suffer

 shēng lǎo bìng sǐ
 shou rou byou shi
Birth Old-Age Sickness Death Scroll

生老病死 means “to be born, to grow old, to get sick and to die” or “birth, aging, sickness, and death.”

This is an old somewhat-morbid Chinese proverb that is also used in Korean and Japanese. It figuratively means the fate of humankind (i.e. mortality) or suggests that we are all born to suffer.

In the Buddhist context, there are the “four inevitables in human life” or “four afflictions that are the lot of every human” known as “四苦” (literally “four afflictions”). Sometimes this proverb is written with that affliction character, 苦, at the end like 生老病死苦.

 yuán fèn
Yuan Fen Scroll

緣分 or Yuan Fen is the fate or chance that brings people together.

This can also mean a predestined affinity or relationship. Basically this is about destiny.




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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
Wealth
Fortune
Riches
Abundance
tomifù / fu4 / fu
Fortune favors the brave勇者は幸運に恵まれるyuusha ha kouun ni megumareru
yusha ha koun ni megumareru
Fortune Favors The Brave命運鐘情於勇士
命运钟情于勇士
mìng yùn zhōng qíng yú yǒng shì
ming4 yun4 zhong1 qing2 yu2 yong3 shi4
ming yun zhong qing yu yong shi
ming yün chung ch`ing yü yung shih
ming yün chung ching yü yung shih
Good Luck
Good Fortune
fukufú / fu2 / fu
House of Good Fortune福宅fú zhái / fu2 zhai2 / fu zhai / fuzhaifu chai / fuchai
Happiness
Fortune
Lucky
saki / sachi / rei / rēxìng / xing4 / xinghsing
Soldier of Fortune雇佣兵gù yōng bīng
gu4 yong1 bing1
gu yong bing
guyongbing
ku yung ping
kuyungping
Soldier of Fortune風雲児fuu un ji / fuuunji / fu un ji
Wealth
Riches
Fortune
財富
财富
cái fù / cai2 fu4 / cai fu / caifuts`ai fu / tsaifu / tsai fu
Fortune Favors the Bold幸運眷顧勇敢的人
幸运眷顾勇敢的人
xìng yùn juàn gù yǒng gǎn de rén
xing4 yun4 juan4 gu4 yong3 gan3 de ren2
xing yun juan gu yong gan de ren
hsing yün chüan ku yung kan te jen
Destiny
Fate
inochi / meimìng / ming4 / ming
Destiny
Fate
命運
命运
mìng yùn / ming4 yun4 / ming yun / mingyunming yün / mingyün
Destiny
Fate
運命
运命
un mei / unmeiyùn mìng / yun4 ming4 / yun ming / yunmingyün ming / yünming
Destiny Determined by Heaven天意tenitiān yì / tian1 yi4 / tian yi / tianyit`ien i / tieni / tien i
The Karma/Fate/Destiny that Brings Lovers Together姻緣
姻缘
yīn yuán / yin1 yuan2 / yin yuan / yinyuanyin yüan / yinyüan
Choose Your Own Destiny選擇自己的命運
选择自己的命运
xuǎn zé zì jǐ de mìng yùn
xuan3 ze2 zi4 ji3 de ming4 yun4
xuan ze zi ji de ming yun
xuanzezijidemingyun
hsüan tse tzu chi te ming yün
I am the Master of My Destiny我命由我不由天wǒ mìng yóu wǒ bù yóu tiān
wo3 ming4 you2 wo3 bu4 you2 tian1
wo ming you wo bu you tian
womingyouwobuyoutian
wo ming yu wo pu yu t`ien
womingyuwopuyutien
wo ming yu wo pu yu tien
Even a fool may sometimes come up with a good idea千慮一得
千虑一得
senryonoittokuqiān lǜ yī dé
qian1 lv4 yi1 de2
qian lv yi de
qianlvyide
ch`ien lü i te
chienlüite
chien lü i te
Five Red Bats紅五蝠
红五蝠
hóng wǔ fú
hong2 wu3 fu2
hong wu fu
hongwufu
hung wu fu
hungwufu
Year-In Year-Out Have Abundance年年有餘
年年有馀
nián nián yǒu yú
nian2 nian2 you3 yu2
nian nian you yu
niannianyouyu
nien nien yu yü
niennienyuyü
Abundance
Prosperous
富裕fu yuu / fuyuu / fu yufù yù / fu4 yu4 / fu yu / fuyufu yü / fuyü
Abundance and Prosperity繁榮富裕
繁荣富裕
hanei yuuhuku
haneiyuuhuku
hanei yuhuku
fán róng fù yù
fan2 rong2 fu4 yu4
fan rong fu yu
fanrongfuyu
fan jung fu yü
fanjungfuyü
Optimism
Happy With Your Fate
樂天 / 楽天
乐天
raku ten / rakutenlè tiān / le4 tian1 / le tian / letianle t`ien / letien / le tien
Batfú / fu2 / fu
Best Friends至交zhì jiāo / zhi4 jiao1 / zhi jiao / zhijiaochih chiao / chihchiao
Bright and Promising Future明るい未来akarui mirai
akaruimirai
Word of God
The Gospel
福音fukuinfú yīn / fu2 yin1 / fu yin / fuyin
Fate
Chance Meeting
緣份 / 緣分
缘份 / 缘分
yuán fèn / yuan2 fen4 / yuan fen / yuanfenyüan fen / yüanfen
Predestined Love
Love by Fate
情緣
情缘
qíng yuán
qing2 yuan2
qing yuan
qingyuan
ch`ing yüan
chingyüan
ching yüan
Double Happiness Guest Book
喜喜
xǐ / xi3 / xihsi
Dragon and Phoenix Brings Luck 龍鳳呈祥
龙凤呈祥
lóng fèng chéng xiáng
long2 feng4 cheng2 xiang2
long feng cheng xiang
longfengchengxiang
lung feng ch`eng hsiang
lungfengchenghsiang
lung feng cheng hsiang
Eat Drink and Be Merry喫喝玩樂及時行樂
吃喝玩乐及时行乐
chī hē wán lè jí shí xíng lè
chi1 he1 wan2 le4 ji2 shi2 xing2 le4
chi he wan le ji shi xing le
chihewanlejishixingle
ch`ih ho wan le chi shih hsing le
chih ho wan le chi shih hsing le
Everything Happens for a Reason萬事皆因果
万事皆因果
wàn shì jiē yīn guǒ
wan4 shi4 jie1 yin1 guo3
wan shi jie yin guo
wanshijieyinguo
wan shih chieh yin kuo
wanshihchiehyinkuo
Everything Happens for a Reason物事は全て理由があって起きるmonogoto ha subete riyuu ga at te okiru
monogoto ha subete riyu ga at te okiru
The Mysterious Bond Between People緣 / 縁
enyuán / yuan2 / yuanyüan
Fate
Opportunity
Chance
因緣
因缘 / 因縁
in nen / innenyīn yuán / yin1 yuan2 / yin yuan / yinyuanyin yüan / yinyüan
Fire and Water Have No Mercy水火無情
水火无情
shuǐ huǒ wú qíng
shui3 huo3 wu2 qing2
shui huo wu qing
shuihuowuqing
shui huo wu ch`ing
shuihuowuching
shui huo wu ching
A Bright Future鵬程萬里
鹏程万里
péng chéng wàn lǐ
peng2 cheng2 wan4 li3
peng cheng wan li
pengchengwanli
p`eng ch`eng wan li
pengchengwanli
peng cheng wan li
Rise and Fall
Ups and Downs
栄枯盛衰 / 榮枯盛衰
荣枯盛衰
ei ko sei sui
eikoseisui
Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall花は咲き花は散るhana wa sa ki hana wa chi ru
hanawasakihanawachiru
Foresight先見
先见
senkenxiān jiàn
xian1 jian4
xian jian
xianjian
hsien chien
hsienchien
Free Will自由意志jiyuu ishi / jiyuuishi / jiyu ishizì yóu yì zhì
zi4 you2 yi4 zhi4
zi you yi zhi
ziyouyizhi
tzu yu i chih
tzuyuichih
Good Luck幸運
幸运
kou un / kouun / ko unxìng yùn / xing4 yun4 / xing yun / xingyunhsing yün / hsingyün
Love and Happiness幸福與愛
幸福与爱
xìng fú yǔ ài
xing4 fu2 yu3 ai4
xing fu yu ai
xingfuyuai
hsing fu yü ai
hsingfuyüai
Double Happiness
喜喜
xǐ / xi3 / xihsi
Home of the Auspicious Golden Dragon金瑞祥龍之家
金瑞祥龙之家
jīn ruì xiáng lóng zhī jiā
jin1 rui4 xiang2 long2 zhi1 jia1
jin rui xiang long zhi jia
jinruixianglongzhijia
chin jui hsiang lung chih chia
Safety and Well-Being of the Family家內安全
家内安全
ka nai an zen
kanaianzen
Karma Connection有緣
有缘
uenyǒu yuán / you3 yuan2 / you yuan / youyuanyu yüan / yuyüan
Keegan吉根jí gēn / ji2 gen1 / ji gen / jigenchi ken / chiken
Life Force生命seimei / inochishēng mìng
sheng1 ming4
sheng ming
shengming
A Life of Happiness and Prosperity幸福成功的一生xìng fú chéng gōng de yì shēng
xing4 fu2 cheng2 gong1 de yi4 sheng1
xing fu cheng gong de yi sheng
xingfuchenggongdeyisheng
hsing fu ch`eng kung te i sheng
hsingfuchengkungteisheng
hsing fu cheng kung te i sheng
A Life of Happiness and Prosperity幸福と繁栄の人生kou fuku to ha nei no jin sei
koufukutohaneinojinsei
ko fuku to ha nei no jin sei
Live in Prosperity生活于繁榮中
生活于繁荣中
shēng huó yú fán róng zhōng
sheng1 huo2 yu2 fan2 rong2 zhong1
sheng huo yu fan rong zhong
shenghuoyufanrongzhong
sheng huo yü fan jung chung
shenghuoyüfanjungchung
Longevity
Long Life Wishes
福如東海壽比南山
福如东海寿比南山
fú rú dōng hǎi shòu bǐ nán shān
fu2 ru2 dong1 hai3 shou4 bi3 nan2 shan1
fu ru dong hai shou bi nan shan
furudonghaishoubinanshan
fu ju tung hai shou pi nan shan
fujutunghaishoupinanshan
Longevity
Long Life Wishes
南山之壽
南山之寿
nan zan no jyu
nanzannojyu
Lucky
Auspicious
kichijí / ji2 / jichi
Once in a Lifetime一期一會
一期一会
ichigo ichie
ichigoichie
yī qī yī huì
yi1 qi1 yi1 hui4
yi qi yi hui
yiqiyihui
i ch`i i hui
ichiihui
i chi i hui
Opportunity
Good Luck
機遇
机遇
jī yù / ji1 yu4 / ji yu / jiyuchi yü / chiyü
Prosperity祿
fuchilù / lu4 / lu
The Red String赤い糸akai ito / akaiito
Red Color
benihóng / hong2 / honghung
The Red Thread of Fate姻緣紅線
姻缘红线
yīn yuán hóng xiàn
yin1 yuan2 hong2 xian4
yin yuan hong xian
yinyuanhongxian
yin yüan hung hsien
yinyüanhunghsien
Serendipity
Happy Coincidence
幸せな偶然shiawa se na guu zen
shiawasenaguuzen
shiawa se na gu zen
Serendipity
Lucky Coincidence
幸運な偶然kou un na guu zen
kouunnaguuzen
ko un na gu zen
Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo四拳波羅蜜大光明shi ken ha ra mitsu dai kou myou
shi ken ha ra mitsu dai ko myo
Smooth Sailing一帆風順
一帆风顺
yī fán fēng shùn
yi1 fan2 feng1 shun4
yi fan feng shun
yifanfengshun
i fan feng shun
ifanfengshun
Spiritual Soul Mates精神伴侶
精神伴侣
sei shin han ryo
seishinhanryo
jīng shén bàn lǚ
jing1 shen2 ban4 lv3
jing shen ban lv
jingshenbanlv
ching shen pan lü
chingshenpanlü
Tea Fate茶緣
茶缘
chá yuán / cha2 yuan2 / cha yuan / chayuanch`a yüan / chayüan / cha yüan
Boar
Pig

inoshishizhū / zhu1 / zhuchu
Lucky Star福星fukuseifú xīng / fu2 xing1 / fu xing / fuxingfu hsing / fuhsing
Fu Lu Shou福祿壽fú lù shòu
fu2 lu4 shou4
fu lu shou
fulushou
Brought Together from 1000 Miles Away by Fate有緣千里來相會
有缘千里来相会
yǒu yuán qiān lǐ lái xiāng huì
you3 yuan2 qian1 li3 lai2 xiang1 hui4
you yuan qian li lai xiang hui
youyuanqianlilaixianghui
yu yüan ch`ien li lai hsiang hui
yu yüan chien li lai hsiang hui
Da Ji Da Li大吉大利dà jí dà lì
da4 ji2 da4 li4
da ji da li
dajidali
ta chi ta li
tachitali
Birth Old-Age Sickness Death生老病死shou rou byou shi
shouroubyoushi
sho ro byo shi
shēng lǎo bìng sǐ
sheng1 lao3 bing4 si3
sheng lao bing si
shenglaobingsi
sheng lao ping ssu
shenglaopingssu
Yuan Fen緣分
缘分
yuán fèn / yuan2 fen4 / yuan fen / yuanfenyüan fen / yüanfen
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 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.