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1. Any success can not compensate for failure in the home
2. No man knows what he owes to his parents until he comes to have children of his own
3. Best
4. Best Love / Most Sincere Love
10. First Born
11. First Love
12. First Turn of the Dharma Wheel
13. Forever Family
14. Genesis
15. Happy Family
16. The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering
17. January
18. John 3:16
19. Safety and Well-Being of the Family
20. Never Forget Your First Resolution
21. Never Give Up
22. No one knows a son better than the father
24. Simply the Best
29. When the sun rises it first shines on the highest mountain
子を持って知る親の恩 literally translates as: Only after you have a baby, you would appreciate your parents (feel the way they do, etc).
This is a bit like the “walk a mile in another man's shoes” saying. Basically, it's about you cannot fully understand the plight of others until you experience it yourself. It also shows appreciation for the plight of parents.
This Japanese proverb can also be translated a few more ways:
No man knows what he owes to his parents till he comes to have children of his own.
One knows not what one owes to one's parents till one comes to have children of one's own.
Only after you have a baby, you will appreciate your parents or feel the way they do.
Only after becoming a parent yourself do you realize how much you owe [how indebted you are] to your own parents.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
至 is a little strange as calligraphy, but 至 would be the character that means “best” or “extreme” in Chinese and Korean.
The problem is, this is seldom used alone. It's mostly used in combination with other characters to make words like “best friend,” “best food,” and “best love.”
I do not recommend this character for a wall scroll. It's better if you find a more specific term that fits your circumstances.
Note: This can be pronounced in Japanese and has a similar meaning but it is rarely if ever used in modern Japanese.
至愛 can mean the best love or most sincere love of your life.
This could be a romantic love such as your love for your spouse or a boyfriend/girlfriend.
It can also apply to the extreme love you have for your children or a parent and maybe a really good friend.
See Also: I Love You
長女 is a Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji title for eldest daughter or firstborn daughter.
This can also be a given name “Osame” in Japanese.
長男 is a Chinese, old Korean Hanja and Japanese Kanji title for eldest son (may be the only son), firstborn son.
This can also be the Japanese personal name “Nobuo.”
家 is the single character that means family in Chinese and Japanese.
It can also mean home or household depending on context.
Hanging this on your wall suggests that you put “family first.”
Pronunciation varies in Japanese depending on context. When pronounced “uchi” in Japanese, it means home, but when pronounced “ke,” it means family.
Note that there is an alternate form of this character. It has an additional radical on the left side but no difference in meaning or pronunciation. The version shown above is the most universal, and is also ancient/traditional. The image shown to the right is only for reference.
初戀 means “first love” in Chinese and Japanese.
You could also say that it means “first crush,” “first affection,” or “puppy love.”
In Japanese and Simplified Chinese, they write the second character as shown to the right. If you want this version, click on the characters to the right instead of the Select and Customize button above.
初轉法輪 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja for the first turning of the wheel of the dharma.
永遠的家 is a special phrase that we composed for a “family by adoption” or “adoptive family.”
It's the dream of every orphan and foster child to be formally adopted and find their “forever family.”
The first two characters mean forever, eternal, eternity, perpetuity, immortality, and/or permanence. The third character connects this idea with the last character which means “family” and/or “home.”
See Also: Family
First Book of the Bible
和諧之家 means “harmonious family” or “happy family” in Chinese.
The first two characters relay the idea of happiness and harmony.
The third character is a connecting or possessive article (connects harmony/happiness to family).
The last character means family but can also mean home or household.
和やかな家庭 means “happy family” or “harmonious family” in Japanese.
The first three Kanji create a word that means mild, calm, gentle, quiet, or harmonious. After that is a connecting article. The last two Kanji mean family, home, or household.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
First Month
一月 is the month of January, the first month of the year, in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
Kanai Anzen
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
Never Lose Your Beginner's Spirit
初心忘るべからず is an old Japanese proverb that suggests you try to never forget the enthusiasm you had as a child when you try new things (or even face the day-to-day). Basically, avoid having the mundane attitude that many people get with age.
You'll find this Japanese proverb translated in a few different ways. Here are some of them:
Don't forget your first resolution.
Never forget your childlike enthusiasm.
Forget not the beginner's mind.
Try never to lose your initial enthusiasm (freshness of attitude).
Note: This is sometimes written as 初心忘る可からず. The one shown above is used about 10x more often. There’s only one character difference between the two versions.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
The first character means “eternal” or “forever,” and the second means “not” (together, they mean “never”). The last two characters mean “give up” or “abandon.” Altogether, you can translate this proverb as “never give up” or “never abandon.”
Depending on how you want to read this, 永不放棄 is also a statement that you will never abandon your hopes, dreams, family, or friends.
知子莫若父 can be translated as “No one knows a son better than his father.”
This idiom is based on the idea that after spending many years together, family members know everything about each other. Better than anyone else, a father knows the qualities and shortcomings of his son.
If you are looking for something about “father and son,” this is probably the best selection.
While this is the original proverb (very old), others have been composed about various combinations of mothers, sons, daughters, and fathers. Let me know if you need a custom version.
天下一家 is a proverb that can also be translated as “The whole world is one family.”
It is used to mean that all humans are related by decree of Heaven.
The first two characters can be translated as “the world,” “the whole country,” “descended from heaven,” “earth under heaven,” “the public,” or “the ruling power.”
The second two characters can mean “one family,” “a household,” “one's folks,” “a house” or “a home.” Usually, this is read as “a family.”
Note: This proverb can be understood in Japanese, though not commonly used.
Supreme / Highest
最高 means the highest level, supreme, top, the most, or the best.
Depending on the context, it can mean the most expensive or highest quality.
一流 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja for top quality, front-ranking, first-class, top grade, foremost, top-notch, or unique.
In Japanese martial arts, this usually represents the first-degree black belt rank.
It can also be like a linguistic stair step of “more, much more, still more, all the more.” It can also be a step, rung, level, or rank.
Also sometimes used in the context of Buddhism to mean “first step” or “first stage.” This might presume the first step towards enlightenment etc.
This directly translates as, “First, love yourself.”
Because this uses “yourself” instead of “myself,” this is a direction for those reading it. It could be the owner of the art or those who view it.
This would be weird as a tattoo, so please avoid it since for whom the tattoo is directed would be confusing.
This old Buddhist phrase means, “When the sun rises it always shines first on the highest mountain,” or “When the sun appears, it first casts its light upon the highest mountain.”
This comes from the Avatamsaka Sutra and has been used as the name or portion of the name for temples in Japan and sites in China.
The Buddha's first round of teaching (Avatamsaka period) is likened to the time when the sun rises from the east horizon. When the sun first rises it illuminates the high mountains. In this analogy, the high mountains represent the great Bodhisattvas and/or those most ready to receive enlightenment and liberation.
This can be romanized from Japanese as “Nichi shutsu sen shō kō san,” “Nisshutsu saki teru takayama,” or “Hide temazu kōzan wo terasu yama.” The last one is probably the most common. Ask three Japanese people what they think the pronunciation is, and you will get three different opinions.
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These search terms might be related to First:
Best / Number One
Four Noble Truths: Path Leading Away From Suffering
Fundamental Principles of Tai Chi Chuan
Kensho - Initial Enlightenment
One Key Opens One Lock
Opening / Blooming Flowers
Perseverance is the Key
The Key to Immortality is First Living a Life Worth Remembering
The Original Mind
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Any success can not compensate for failure in the home | 所有的成功都無法補償家庭的失敗 所有的成功都无法补偿家庭的失败 | suǒ yǒu de chéng gōng dōu wú fǎ bǔ cháng jiā tíng de shī bài suo3 you3 de cheng2 gong1 dou1 wu2 fa3 bu3 chang2 jia1 ting2 de shi1 bai4 suo you de cheng gong dou wu fa bu chang jia ting de shi bai | so yu te ch`eng kung tou wu fa pu ch`ang chia t`ing te shih pai so yu te cheng kung tou wu fa pu chang chia ting te shih pai |
|
No man knows what he owes to his parents until he comes to have children of his own | 子を持って知る親の恩 | ko wo motte shiru oya no on kowomotteshiruoyanoon | ||
Best | 至 | shi | zhì / zhi4 / zhi | chih |
Best Love Most Sincere Love | 至愛 至爱 | zhì ài / zhi4 ai4 / zhi ai / zhiai | chih ai / chihai | |
Best Love Most Sincere Love | 最愛 | moai | ||
Best Number One | 一番 | ichi ban / ichiban | ||
First Born Daughter | 長女 长女 | choujo / chojo | zhǎng zhang3 nu:3 zhang nu: zhangnu: | chang nü changnü |
First Born Son | 長男 长男 | chounan / chonan | zhǎng nán zhang3 nan2 zhang nan zhangnan | chang nan changnan |
Family Over Everything | 家庭至上 | jiā tíng zhì shàng jia1 ting2 zhi4 shang4 jia ting zhi shang jiatingzhishang | chia t`ing chih shang chiatingchihshang chia ting chih shang |
|
Family Home | 家 / 傢 家 | ei / uchi / ke | jiā / jia1 / jia | chia |
First Born | 惣領 | souryou / soryo | ||
First Love | 初戀 初恋 | hatsukohi / hatsukoi | chū liàn / chu1 lian4 / chu lian / chulian | ch`u lien / chulien / chu lien |
First Turn of the Dharma Wheel | 初轉法輪 初转法轮 | sho ten bourin shotenbourin sho ten borin | chū zhuàn fǎ lún chu1 zhuan4 fa3 lun2 chu zhuan fa lun chuzhuanfalun | ch`u chuan fa lun chuchuanfalun chu chuan fa lun |
Forever Family | 永遠的家 永远的家 | yǒng yuǎn de jiā yong3 yuan3 de jia1 yong yuan de jia yongyuandejia | yung yüan te chia yungyüantechia |
|
Genesis | 創世記 创世记 | sou sei ki / souseiki / so sei ki | chuàng shì jì chuang4 shi4 ji4 chuang shi ji chuangshiji | ch`uang shih chi chuangshihchi chuang shih chi |
Happy Family | 和諧之家 和谐之家 | hé xié zhī jiā he2 xie2 zhi1 jia1 he xie zhi jia hexiezhijia | ho hsieh chih chia hohsiehchihchia |
|
Happy Family | 和やかな家庭 | nago ya ka na ka tei nagoyakanakatei | ||
The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering | 獲得永生的鑰匙是先要活得精彩 获得永生的钥匙是先要活得精彩 | huò dé yǒng shēng de yào shí shì xiān yào huó dé jīng cǎi huo4 de2 yong3 sheng1 de yao4 shi2 shi4 xian1 yao4 huo2 de2 jing1 cai3 huo de yong sheng de yao shi shi xian yao huo de jing cai | huo te yung sheng te yao shih shih hsien yao huo te ching ts`ai huo te yung sheng te yao shih shih hsien yao huo te ching tsai |
|
January | 一月 | ichi gatsu / ichigatsu | yī yuè / yi1 yue4 / yi yue / yiyue | i yüeh / iyüeh |
John 3:16 (first half) | 神愛世人甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們 神爱世人甚至将他的独生子赐给他们 | shén ài shì rén shèn zhì jiāng tā de dú shēng zǐ cì gè tā mén shen2 ai4 shi4 ren2 shen4 zhi4 jiang1 ta1 de du2 sheng1 zi3 ci4 gei3 ta1 men2 shen ai shi ren shen zhi jiang ta de du sheng zi ci gei ta men | shen ai shih jen shen chih chiang t`a te tu sheng tzu tz`u kei t`a men shen ai shih jen shen chih chiang ta te tu sheng tzu tzu kei ta men |
|
Safety and Well-Being of the Family | 家內安全 家内安全 | ka nai an zen kanaianzen | ||
Never Forget Your First Resolution | 初心忘るべからず / 初心忘る可からず 初心忘るべからず | sho shin wasu ru be ka ra zu shoshinwasurubekarazu | ||
Never Give Up | 永不放棄 永不放弃 | yǒng bù fàng qì yong3 bu4 fang4 qi4 yong bu fang qi yongbufangqi | yung pu fang ch`i yungpufangchi yung pu fang chi |
|
No one knows a son better than the father | 知子莫若父 | zhī zǐ mò ruò fù zhi1 zi3 mo4 ruo4 fu4 zhi zi mo ruo fu zhizimoruofu | chih tzu mo jo fu chihtzumojofu |
|
One Family Under Heaven | 天下一家 | tenka ikka / tenkaikka / tenka ika | tiān xià yī jiā tian1 xia4 yi1 jia1 tian xia yi jia tianxiayijia | t`ien hsia i chia tienhsiaichia tien hsia i chia |
Simply the Best | 最高 | sai kou / saikou / sai ko | zuì gāo / zui4 gao1 / zui gao / zuigao | tsui kao / tsuikao |
Top Quality First Class | 一流 | ichiryuu / ichiryu | yī liú / yi1 liu2 / yi liu / yiliu | i liu / iliu |
Ichi-Dan First Degree | 一段 | ichi dan / ichidan | yī duàn / yi1 duan4 / yi duan / yiduan | i tuan / ituan |
Love Myself First | 先愛我自己 先爱我自己 | xiān ài wǒ zì jǐ xian1 ai4 wo3 zi4 ji3 xian ai wo zi ji xianaiwoziji | hsien ai wo tzu chi hsienaiwotzuchi |
|
Love Yourself First | 先愛你自己 先爱你自己 | xiān ài nǐ zì jǐ xian1 ai4 ni3 zi4 ji3 xian ai ni zi ji xianainiziji | hsien ai ni tzu chi hsienainitzuchi |
|
When the sun rises it first shines on the highest mountain | 日出先照高山 | hiide temazu kousan wo terasu yama hide temazu kosan wo terasu yama | rì chū xiān zhào gāo shān ri4 chu1 xian1 zhao4 gao1 shan1 ri chu xian zhao gao shan richuxianzhaogaoshan | jih ch`u hsien chao kao shan jihchuhsienchaokaoshan jih chu hsien chao kao shan |
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
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All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
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