Custom Simplicity Chinese & Japanese Calligraphy Wall Scroll

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


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  1. Simplicity

  2. Simplicity / Modesty

  3. Tanjun / Simplicity

  4. Heijoshin / Presence of Mind

  5. Inner Peace

  6. Peace / Harmony

  7. Silent / Solitary

  8. Tathata / Ultimate Nature of All Things

  9. Wabi Sabi

10. Mysterious

11. Shitsujitsu Goken


 jiǎn
 kan
 
Simplicity Scroll

簡 expresses the idea of something simple or the essence of simplicity in life in Chinese.

This can also refer to a simple slip of bamboo for taking notes or writing a letter (especially in Korean Hanja).

Technically this is a word meaning simplicity and brevity in Japanese but it's rarely used in modern Japanese. Therefore, you should probably only select this character if your audience is Chinese.


See Also:  Brevity

Simplicity / Modesty

 zhì sù
 shisso
Simplicity / Modesty Scroll

In Japanese, 質素 means “simplicity,” “modesty,” and/or “frugality.”

While these Japanese Kanji are also currently-used Chinese characters, they do not create a single word or idea in Chinese. Therefore, only select this if your audience is Japanese.


See Also:  Modesty | Prudence

Tanjun / Simplicity

 tanjun
Tanjun / Simplicity Scroll

単純 or Tanjun is a Japanese word that means simplicity, simple, and/or uncomplicated.

Do you want to live the “tanjun lifestyle”? Maybe this wall scroll will remind you to uncomplicate your life.

Heijoshin / Presence of Mind

 píng cháng xīn
 hei jou shin
Heijoshin / Presence of Mind Scroll

平常心 is the title Heijoshin, as associated with Kendo and Aikido schools of Japanese martial arts.

平常心 is also a word in Japanese that can be translated as “one's self-possession” or “presence of mind.”

In Chinese and Korean, this means “simplicity heart,” “composure,” “calmness,” or a “sense of orderliness.” In Chinese and Korean, this implies that you enjoy what you have, keep your heart in balance, and have no over-blown ambitions.

 nèi xīn píng jìng
 naishin heizyou
Inner Peace Scroll

內心平靜 is a Chinese and Japanese phrase that is a direct translation of the western idea of inner peace.

The first two characters contain the idea of “heart,” “innermost being,” or “deep in the/your inner mind.”

The last two characters mean “tranquil” and “serene.”

I have seen this phrase used as “inner peace” for art prints and even on the side of coffee cups. But I think the translation is too literal. It feels like a direct translation from English rather than a nicely composed Chinese or Japanese phrase. See my other entries for “inner peace.”


See Also:  Serenity | Peace

Peace / Harmony

 hé
 wa
 
Peace / Harmony Scroll

和 is the simplest form of peace and harmony.

和 can also be translated as the peaceful ideas of gentle, mild, kind, and calm. With a more harmonious context, it can be translated as union, together with, on good terms with, or on friendly terms.

Most people would just translate this character as peace and/or harmony. 和 is a very popular character in Asian cultures - you can even call it the “peace symbol” of Asia. In fact, this peace and harmony character was seen repeatedly during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (a major theme of the games).


In old Chinese poems and literature, you might see this used as a kind of "and." As in two things summed together. As much as you could say, "the sun and moon," you could say "the sun in harmony with the moon."


See Also:  Inner Peace | Patience

Silent / Solitary

 jì
 jaku
 
Silent / Solitary Scroll

寂 means silent, solitary, quiet, calm, still, rest, or tranquil.

This also has a strong association with Buddhism where it can mean “entering into Nirvana.” In that context, this is sometimes used to refer to the passing of a Buddhist monk (he is silent, as he has entered Nirvana). For the living, this is about tranquility (especially of mind).

Some will also use this to mean “elegant simplicity.”

From Sanskrit, this can represent praśama, vivikta, śānti, or nibbāna (nirvāṇa).

Tathata / Ultimate Nature of All Things

 zhēn rú
 shinnyo
Tathata / Ultimate Nature of All Things Scroll

真如 comes from the Sanskrit and Pali word often romanized as “tathata” or “tathatā.” Originally written, “तथता.”

It's a Buddhist term often translated as “thusness” or “suchness,” but this does not explain it.
A better explanation may be “the ultimate nature of all things” or “ultimate truth.” However, this gives it too strong of a feeling. This concept is sometimes described as being in awe of the simple nature of something - like a blade of grass blowing in the wind or ripples on water. It is what it is supposed to be, these things follow their nature. Amazing in their mundane simplicity.

Every sect of Buddhism will have a slightly different flavor or explanation, so don't get fixated on one definition.


Notes: Sometimes Buddhists use the word dharmatā, a synonym to tathatā.

In Japan, this can also be the female given name Mayuki, or the surname Majo.

 wabi sabi
Wabi Sabi Scroll

侘寂 is Wabi-Sabi, the aesthetic sense in Japanese art emphasizing quiet simplicity and subdued refinement.


More about this subject at Wikipedia: Wabi Sabi

 yōu xuán
 yū gen
Mysterious Scroll

幽玄 is the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja word meaning dim, deep, mysterious, subtle grace, hidden beauty, mysterious profundity, elegant simplicity, or subtle and profound.

This can also be the Japanese personal name Yuugen or Yugen.

Shitsujitsu Goken

 shitsu jitsu gou ken
Shitsujitsu Goken Scroll

質実剛健 is a Japanese word that can mean “unaffected and sincere, with fortitude and vigor” or “simplicity and fortitude.”

The first two characters, 質実 mean simplicity or the “essence of something.”
The last two, 剛健, mean strength, fortitude, or strong composure.




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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
Simplicity
kanjiǎn / jian3 / jianchien
Simplicity
Modesty
質素
质素
shisso / shisozhì sù / zhi4 su4 / zhi su / zhisuchih su / chihsu
Tanjun
Simplicity
単純tanjun
Heijoshin
Presence of Mind
平常心hei jou shin
heijoushin
hei jo shin
píng cháng xīn
ping2 chang2 xin1
ping chang xin
pingchangxin
p`ing ch`ang hsin
pingchanghsin
ping chang hsin
Inner Peace內心平靜
内心平静
naishin heizyou
naishinheizyou
naishin heizyo
nèi xīn píng jìng
nei4 xin1 ping2 jing4
nei xin ping jing
neixinpingjing
nei hsin p`ing ching
neihsinpingching
nei hsin ping ching
Peace
Harmony
wahé / he2 / heho
Silent
Solitary
jakujì / ji4 / jichi
Tathata
Ultimate Nature of All Things
真如shinnyozhēn rú / zhen1 ru2 / zhen ru / zhenruchen ju / chenju
Wabi Sabi侘寂wabi sabi / wabisabi
Mysterious幽玄yū gen / yūgenyōu xuán / you1 xuan2 / you xuan / youxuanyu hsüan / yuhsüan
Shitsujitsu Goken質実剛健shitsu jitsu gou ken
shitsujitsugouken
shitsu jitsu go ken
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.



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