Click the "Customize" button next to your name below to start your personalized a rising tide lifts all boats calligraphy artwork...
1. A rising tide lifts all boats
2. With all the strength of your heart
3. Time and Tide Wait for No Man
4. ...And this above all to thine own self be true
5. Drain the pond to get all the fish
7. Flying / Flight / Rising Upward
10. Love the House and Its Crow
11. Loving-Kindness Conquers All
12. All Tenets of the Noble Eightfold Path
14. Phoenix Rise from the Ashes
15. Tathata / Ultimate Nature of All Things
16. Time and Tide Wait for No Man
17. To a Willing Heart, All Things Are Possible
18. Wisdom
思い切り can be translated as “with all one's strength,” “with all one's heart,” “to the limits of your heart,” or “to the end of your heart/emotions.”
The character breakdown:
思い (omoi) thought; mind; heart; feelings; emotion; sentiment; love; affection; desire; wish; hope; expectation; imagination; experience
切り (kiri) bounds; limits.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
光陰矢の如し is a Japanese proverb that means “time flies like an arrow.” It's very similar to the English idiom, “time and tide wait for no man,” or “life is short.”
The Kanji breakdown:
光陰 = Time (the cycle of light and dark).
[and an]
矢 = Arrow
の = are
如し = Alike
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
A line from Shakespeare's Hamlet
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
In 632 BC, Duke Wen of the Kingdom of Jin was about to lead an army against the forces of the Kingdom of Chu.
The Duke asked one of his advisers, Jiu Fan, how they could win the impending battle, as they were drastically outnumbered.
Jiu Fan said, “All is fair in war,” and suggested a plan of dishonorable tactics (cheating).
The Duke was unsure of this advice, so he asked another adviser, Yong Ji, who replied, “If you catch fish by draining the pond, you can certainly get all the fish. But there will be no fish the following year. You can cheat this one time in battle, but such tactics can only be used once, as the enemy will be wise in future encounters.”
The Duke heard the words of his wiser adviser but cheated to gain victory in the battle. However, he rewarded Yong Ji more than Jiu Fan at the victory celebration, stating that while Jiu Fan's advice gained one victory, the wise words of Yong Ji would last forever.
This Chinese idiom/proverb is still used, over 2600 years later to remind people not to burn bridges, cheat, or dishonor themselves in exchange for a short-term gain while sacrificing the future.
竭澤而漁 is very similar to the meaning of the English phrase, “Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
慈悲征服一切 is a way to express the idea that mercy, compassion, and loving-kindness can overcome all things.
This phrase is composed of 3 Chinese words:
慈悲 = loving-kindness; mercy; compassion; benevolence. It's used in Buddhism a lot to express the idea of how one should treat everyone else and all living beings.
征服 = to conquer; to subdue; to vanquish; to overcome.
一切 = all; everything; the whole; lock, stock, and barrel; without exception.
These are the eight tenets of the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path written altogether.
Here's this list of tenets in English:
1. Right View / Right Understanding / Right Perspective / Perfect View
2. Right Resolve / Right Thought / Right Intention / Perfect Resolve
3. Right Speech / Right Talk / Perfect Speech
4. Right Action / Perfect Conduct
5. Right Living / Right Livelihood / Perfect Livelihood
6. Right Effort / Right Endeavor / Perfect Effort
7. Right Mindfulness / Right Memory / Perfect Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration / Perfect Concentration
全能 means almighty or omnipotent in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
In some contexts, this can mean all-round or strong in every area (especially in athletics).
鳳凰涅磐 is a proverb that suggests “Legendary Phoenix rises from the ashes.” It means “Legendary Phoenix [reaches] Nirvana.”
There is a legend in China of a great bird reborn once every 500 years. This bird gathers all the ill will, suffering, desire, and other negative things of the world. The bird then plunges into the fire to burn away all negative things, sacrificing itself in the process (achieving Nirvana, or perhaps allowing others the opportunity to reach Nirvana).
500 years later, the phoenix is reborn from the ashes again, and the cycle repeats.
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.
歲不我與 is a Chinese proverb that means is a way to express, “Time and tide wait for no man.”
The literal meaning of these Chinese characters is, “Years don't [for] oneself wait.” In more natural English, it's more like, “Years will pass by, with or without you.”
There is also an alternate version, 时不我待, which literally means “Time doesn't [for] oneself, wait.” In natural English, it's more like, “Time waits for no man.”
Where there is a will, there is a way
有志者事竟成 is an old Chinese proverb that has been translated many different ways into English. As you read the translations below, keep in mind that in Chinese, heart=mind.
Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.
Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.
Nothing is difficult to a willing heart.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Nothing in the world is impossible if you set your mind to doing it.
A willful man will have his way.
If you wish it, you will do it.
A determined heart can accomplish anything.
All things are possible with a strong mind.
(All-Knowing)
Beyond wisdom, 智慧 can be translated as knowledge, sagacity, sense, and intelligence.
The first character means “wise” or “smart,” and the second character means “intelligence.”
Note: 智慧 is used commonly in Chinese and is a less-common word in Japanese and Korean. If your audience is Japanese, I suggest our other Japanese wisdom option.
This means intellect or wisdom in Japanese too but is a more unusual way to write this word (though both versions are pronounced the same in Japanese).
See Also: Learn From Wisdom
萬事如意 is a Chinese and old Korean proverb that means to have all one's wishes.
When speaking to someone, it's a way to say best wishes, all the best, may all your hopes be fulfilled, or may everything go well.
On your wall as calligraphy, it's meant to inspire all your wishes, hopes, dreams, and life to go well or come true.
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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 | |
A rising tide lifts all boats | 水漲船高 水涨船高 | shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo shui3 zhang3 chuan2 gao1 shui zhang chuan gao shuizhangchuangao | shui chang ch`uan kao shuichangchuankao shui chang chuan kao |
|
With all the strength of your heart | 思い切り | omoi kiri / omoikiri | ||
Time and Tide Wait for No Man | 光陰矢の如し 光阴矢の如し | kouinya no goto shi kouinyanogotoshi koinya no goto shi | ||
...And this above all to thine own self be true | 尤其要緊的你必須對你自己忠實 尤其要紧的你必须对你自己忠实 | yóu qí yào jǐn de nǐ bì xū duì nǐ zì jǐ zhōng shí you2 qi2 yao4 jin3 de ni3 bi4 xu1 dui4 ni3 zi4 ji3 zhong1 shi2 you qi yao jin de ni bi xu dui ni zi ji zhong shi | yu ch`i yao chin te ni pi hsü tui ni tzu chi chung shih yu chi yao chin te ni pi hsü tui ni tzu chi chung shih |
|
Drain the pond to get all the fish | 竭澤而漁 竭泽而渔 | jié zé ér yú jie2 ze2 er2 yu2 jie ze er yu jiezeeryu | chieh tse erh yü chiehtseerhyü |
|
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 |
|
Flying Flight Rising Upward | 飛揚 飞扬 | hi you / hiyou / hi yo | fēi yáng / fei1 yang2 / fei yang / feiyang | |
Love Conquers All | 愛情征服一切 爱情征服一切 | ài qíng zhēng fú yī qiè ai4 qing2 zheng1 fu2 yi1 qie4 ai qing zheng fu yi qie aiqingzhengfuyiqie | ai ch`ing cheng fu i ch`ieh aichingchengfuichieh ai ching cheng fu i chieh |
|
Universal Love | 兼愛 兼爱 | jiān ài / jian1 ai4 / jian ai / jianai | chien ai / chienai | |
Love the House and Its Crow | 愛屋及烏 爱屋及乌 | ài wū jí wū ai4 wu1 ji2 wu1 ai wu ji wu aiwujiwu | ai wu chi wu aiwuchiwu |
|
Loving-Kindness Conquers All | 慈悲征服一切 | cí bēi zhēng fú yī qiè ci2 bei1 zheng1 fu2 yi1 qie4 ci bei zheng fu yi qie cibeizhengfuyiqie | tz`u pei cheng fu i ch`ieh tzupeichengfuichieh tzu pei cheng fu i chieh |
|
All Tenets of the Noble Eightfold Path | 正見正思唯正語正業正命正精進正念正定 正见正思唯正语正业正命正精进正念正定 | shouken shoushiyui shougo shougo shoumyou shoushoujin shounen shoujou shoken shoshiyui shogo shogo shomyo shoshojin shonen shojo | zhèng jiàn zhèng sī wéi zhèng yǔ zhèng yè zhèng mìng zhèng jīng jìn zhèng niàn zhèng dìng zheng4 jian4 zheng4 si1 wei2 zheng4 yu3 zheng4 ye4 zheng4 ming4 zheng4 jing1 jin4 zheng4 nian4 zheng4 ding4 zheng jian zheng si wei zheng yu zheng ye zheng ming zheng jing jin zheng nian zheng ding | cheng chien cheng ssu wei cheng yü cheng yeh cheng ming cheng ching chin cheng nien cheng ting |
Almighty Omnipotent | 全能 | zennou / zenno | quán néng quan2 neng2 quan neng quanneng | ch`üan neng chüanneng chüan neng |
Phoenix Rise from the Ashes | 鳳凰涅磐 凤凰涅磐 | fèng huáng niè pán feng4 huang2 nie4 pan2 feng huang nie pan fenghuangniepan | feng huang nieh p`an fenghuangniehpan feng huang nieh pan |
|
Tathata Ultimate Nature of All Things | 真如 | shinnyo | zhēn rú / zhen1 ru2 / zhen ru / zhenru | chen ju / chenju |
Time and Tide Wait for No Man | 歲不我與 岁不我与 | suì bù wǒ yǔ sui4 bu4 wo3 yu3 sui bu wo yu suibuwoyu | sui pu wo yü suipuwoyü |
|
To a Willing Heart, All Things Are Possible | 有志者事竟成 / 有誌者事竟成 有志者事竟成 | yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng you3 zhi4 zhe3 shi4 jing4 cheng2 you zhi zhe shi jing cheng youzhizheshijingcheng | yu chih che shih ching ch`eng yuchihcheshihchingcheng yu chih che shih ching cheng |
|
Wisdom | 智慧 | chie | zhì huì / zhi4 hui4 / zhi hui / zhihui | chih hui / chihhui |
All Hopes Fulfilled | 萬事如意 万事如意 | wàn shì rú yì wan4 shi4 ru2 yi4 wan shi ru yi wanshiruyi | wan shih ju i wanshihjui |
|
Time Heals All Wounds | 時が解決する | tokigakaiketsusuru | ||
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.