We have many options to create artwork with the Chinese characters / Asian symbols / Japanese Kanji for Libra on a wall scroll or portrait.
The Libra is associated with balance and justice, so we've included some entries on those subjects too.
Check out our Chinese Zodiac page to learn what your Chinese animal sign is, and more!
1. Libra
4. The Five Tenets of Confucius
5. Courage to do what is right
9. Faithful / Honorable / Trustworthy / Fidelity / Loyalty
10. Honesty
11. Impartial and Fair to the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the World
13. One Justice Can Overpower 100 Evils
14. Justice / Rectitude / Right Decision
15. Life in Harmony / Balanced Life
16. Life in Balance / Balancing Life
17. Life in Harmony / Balanced Life
18. Nature in Balance / Balanced Nature
19. The Universe in Balance / Balanced Universe
20. Yin Yang
21. Righteousness
天秤座 is the Chinese and Japanese way to write Libra (scales) of western astrology.
See Also: Chinese Zodiac
平 is a single character that means balance in Chinese but it's not too direct or too specific about what kind of balance.
Chinese people often like calligraphy art that is a little vague or mysterious. In this way, you can decide what it means to you, and you'll be right.
平 is also part of a word that means peace in Chinese, Japanese, and old Korean.
Some alternate translations of this single character include: balanced, peaceful, calm, equal, even, level, smooth, or flat.
Note that in Japanese, this just means “level” or “flat” by itself (not the best choice for balance if your audience is Japanese).
均衡 means balance or equilibrium.
This title is best for a Japanese audience where the word suggests that your life is in balance in all matters (or is a reminder for you to try and keep all matters in balance).
The Five Cardinal Rules / Virtues of Confucius
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.”
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
見義勇為 means the courage to do what is right in Chinese.
This could also be translated as “Never hesitate to do what is right.”
This comes from Confucian thought:
Your courage should head in an honorable direction. For example, you should take action when the goal is to attain a just result as, without honorable intent, a person’s gutsy fervor can easily lead them astray.
One who flaunts courage but disregards justice is bound to do wrong; someone who possesses courage and morality is destined to become a hero.
Some text above paraphrased from The World of Chinese - The Character of 勇
See Also: Work Unselfishly for the Common Good | Justice | Bravery
Cho Wa
調和 is one of the several ways to express harmony in Chinese and Japanese.
Note: The first character means harmony but also suggests a musical meaning. It can also describe warriors marching in perfect cadence (in step) or to regulate something.
The second character carries the meaning of harmony and peace by itself.
Together, these characters create a word that can be defined as harmonious, to mediate, to reconcile, to compromise; mediation, temper, to mix, blend, blended, season, seasoning (getting the flavors of the food in balance), to placate, or be in harmonious proportion.
The meaning varies depending on the context. However, when hanging as a wall scroll, this will refer to the person (you) being balanced and in harmony while rational and under control simultaneously.
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.”
一視同仁 is how to write “universal benevolence.” This is also how to express the idea that you see all people the same.
If you are kind and charitable to everyone, this is the best way to state that virtue. It is the essence of being impartial to all mankind, regardless of social standing, background, race, sex, etc. You do not judge others, but instead, you see them eye to eye on the same level as you.
See Also: Benevolence | Compassion | Equality | Justice | Right Decision | Selflessness | Work Unselfishly for the Common
正義 means justice or righteousness in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
Practicing justice and righteousness is being fair.
It solves problems, so everyone wins. You don't prejudge. You see people as individuals. You don't accept it when someone acts like a bully, cheats, or lies. Being a champion for justice takes courage. Sometimes when you stand for justice, you stand alone.
Note: This is also considered to be one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.
一正压百邪 is an ancient Chinese proverb and idiom that means “One Justice Can Overpower a Hundred Evils.”
While this proverb is famous in China, it has been around so long that its origins have been forgotten.
It could be something that Confucius or one of his disciples said, but no one can say for sure.
Also means: honor loyalty morality righteousness
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.
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
Harmonious Life
This 和諧生活 title suggests that you have, or want to get your life in balance.
The first two characters regard the idea of balance, harmony, and peace.
The second two characters mean “life.” More specifically this refers to your livelihood, career, and the daily activities that comprise your life or living. Some would translate those two characters as “one's daily existence.”
Note: We have a couple of titles for this idea. This version is more of a noun, thus "The Balanced Life" verses a verb form like "Balancing [Your] Life."
The art of balancing your life
This 平衡人生 title suggests that you are actively trying to keep your life in balance.
Think of this as the action verb of seeking or having a balanced life.
The first two characters mean balance, equilibrium, or keeping things equal.
The last two characters mean “life.” Literally “human life.”
調和生活 is a Japanese title that suggests that you have, or want to get your life in balance.
The first two Kanji mean harmonious or in harmony.
The second two Kanji mean “life.” More specifically this refers to your livelihood, career, and the daily activities that comprise your life or living.
生態平衡 is a title about the way and balance of nature.
The first two characters mean nature or the way of life.
The second two characters mean balance or balanced.
Note: We have two versions of this title on our website. This is the one we recommend, as it is a little more natural (no pun intended).
自然界の均衡 is a verbose way to say “nature in balance” in Japanese.
The first three Kanji have the meaning of “the natural world” or “the natural kingdom” (kind of like the animal kingdom but including plants and all things biological).
The third character is a Hiragana that acts to connect the two ideas here.
The last two Kanji mean equilibrium or balance.
宇宙平衡 is a proverb that is simply Universe Balanced (we might say “Balanced Universe” in English).
The first two characters mean the Universe. However, in some contexts, it can mean cosmic, cosmos, or outer space.
The second two characters mean balance or balanced (can also mean equilibrium).
陰陽 literally means yin and yang in written form (versus the common yin-yang symbol). The first character has the element of the moon, while the second character has the element of the sun so that you can see, even in written form, they suggest the balance of opposites (of night and day). You could also translate this title as “sun and moon.”
Note: This title is often misspelled as Ying Yang instead of Yin Yang.
See Also: Taoism
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Gallery Price: $65.00
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Gallery Price: $300.00
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The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Libra Zodiac Symbol Sign | 天秤座 | tenbin-za | tiān chèng zuò tian1 cheng4 zuo4 tian cheng zuo tianchengzuo | t`ien ch`eng tso tienchengtso tien cheng tso |
Balance Peace | 平 | hira | píng / ping2 / ping | p`ing / ping |
Balance Equilibrium | 均衡 | kin kou / kinkou / kin ko | héng / jun1 heng2 / jun heng / junheng | chün heng / chünheng |
The Five Tenets of Confucius | 仁義禮智信 仁义礼智信 | jin gi rei tomo nobu jingireitomonobu | rén yì lǐ zhì xìn ren2 yi4 li3 zhi4 xin4 ren yi li zhi xin renyilizhixin | jen i li chih hsin jenilichihhsin |
Courage to do what is right | 見義勇為 见义勇为 | jiàn yì yǒng wéi jian4 yi4 yong3 wei2 jian yi yong wei jianyiyongwei | chien i yung wei chieniyungwei |
|
Fair Impartial | 公平 | kouhei / kohei | gōng píng gong1 ping2 gong ping gongping | kung p`ing kungping kung ping |
God is my Judge | 上帝是我的法官 | shàng dì shì wǒ de fǎ guān shang4 di4 shi4 wo3 de fa3 guan1 shang di shi wo de fa guan shangdishiwodefaguan | shang ti shih wo te fa kuan shangtishihwotefakuan |
|
Harmony Balance | 和諧 和谐 | hé xié / he2 xie2 / he xie / hexie | ho hsieh / hohsieh | |
Harmony Balance | 調和 调和 | chou wa / chouwa / cho wa | tiáo hé / tiao2 he2 / tiao he / tiaohe | t`iao ho / tiaoho / tiao ho |
Faithful Honorable Trustworthy Fidelity Loyalty | 信義 信义 | shingi | xìn yì / xin4 yi4 / xin yi / xinyi | hsin i / hsini |
Honesty | 實 实 | shí / shi2 / shi | shih | |
Impartial and Fair to the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the World | 一視同仁 一视同仁 | isshidoujin ishidojin | yí shì tóng rén yi2 shi4 tong2 ren2 yi shi tong ren yishitongren | i shih t`ung jen ishihtungjen i shih tung jen |
Justice Righteousness | 正義 正义 | sei gi / seigi | zhèng yì / zheng4 yi4 / zheng yi / zhengyi | cheng i / chengi |
One Justice Can Overpower 100 Evils | 一正壓百邪 一正压百邪 | yī zhèng yā bǎi xié yi1 zheng4 ya1 bai3 xie2 yi zheng ya bai xie yizhengyabaixie | i cheng ya pai hsieh ichengyapaihsieh |
|
Justice Rectitude Right Decision | 義 义 | gi | yì / yi4 / yi | i |
Life in Harmony Balanced Life | 和諧生活 和谐生活 | hé xié shēng huó he2 xie2 sheng1 huo2 he xie sheng huo hexieshenghuo | ho hsieh sheng huo hohsiehshenghuo |
|
Life in Balance Balancing Life | 平衡人生 | hei kou jin sei heikoujinsei hei ko jin sei | píng héng rén shēng ping2 heng2 ren2 sheng1 ping heng ren sheng pinghengrensheng | p`ing heng jen sheng pinghengjensheng ping heng jen sheng |
Life in Harmony Balanced Life | 調和生活 | cho wa sei katsu chowaseikatsu | ||
Nature in Balance Balanced Nature | 自然平衡 | zì rán píng héng zi4 ran2 ping2 heng2 zi ran ping heng ziranpingheng | tzu jan p`ing heng tzujanpingheng tzu jan ping heng |
|
Nature in Balance Balanced Nature | 生態平衡 生态平衡 | shēng tài píng héng sheng1 tai4 ping2 heng2 sheng tai ping heng shengtaipingheng | sheng t`ai p`ing heng shengtaipingheng sheng tai ping heng |
|
Nature in Balance Balanced Nature | 自然界の均衡 | shizenkai no kinkou shizenkainokinkou shizenkai no kinko | ||
Nature in Balance Balanced Nature | 自然の調和 | shizen no cho wa shizennochowa | ||
The Universe in Balance Balanced Universe | 宇宙平衡 | u chuu hei kou uchuuheikou u chu hei ko | yǔ zhòu píng héng yu3 zhou4 ping2 heng2 yu zhou ping heng yuzhoupingheng | yü chou p`ing heng yüchoupingheng yü chou ping heng |
Yin Yang | 陰陽 阴阳 | in you / inyou / in yo | yīn yáng / yin1 yang2 / yin yang / yinyang | |
Righteousness | 公義 公义 | kou gi / kougi / ko gi | gōng yì / gong1 yi4 / gong yi / gongyi | kung i / kungi |
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. |
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.