The Name Ed in Japanese/Chinese on a Custom-Made Wall 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.

阿塞多 is the transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the Latin / Spanish name Acedo.

アコディ is the name Acedo in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

阿塞韋達 is the name Aceveda in Chinese (Mandarin).

アセヴェダ is the name Aceveda in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

阿塞維多 is the transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the Latin / Spanish name Acevedo.

アセブド is the name Acevedo in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

練功 is a martial arts term that can mean to practice and attain working skills, feats of practice/practise, or skills acquired through hard training.

練功 is often used as a martial arts term but can apply to other skills (or professions).

阿迪德 is the name Adeed in Chinese (Mandarin).

アディード is the name Adeed in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

エイダン is the name Aedan in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

艾登 is the name Aeden in Chinese (Mandarin).

エイデン is the name Aeden in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

阿格達 is the transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the Latin / Spanish name Agueda.

アグエダ is the name Agueda in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

This is the most common Mandarin Chinese transliteration for the male Arabic name Ahmed.

阿梅德 is the second most common transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the name Ahmed.

アーメッド is the name Ahmed in Japanese.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

阿拉米達 is the name Alameda in Chinese (Mandarin).

アラメダ is the name Alameda in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

阿爾弗雷德 is the name Alfred in Chinese (Mandarin).

アレフレツド is the name Alfred in Japanese.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

阿爾弗雷多 is the transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the Latin / Spanish name Alfredo.

アルフレード is the name Alfredo in Japanese.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

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.

阿爾梅達 is the name Almeda in Chinese (Mandarin).

アルメダ is the name Almeda in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

愕然 is a Chinese and Japanese word meaning amazing, shocking, astonishment, shock, or amazement.

This is a common Mandarin Chinese transliteration for the male French name Amédée or Amedee.

アメディー is the name Amedee in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

阿米地奧 is the name Amedeo in Chinese (Mandarin).

アメデオ is the name Amedeo in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

This is a common Mandarin Chinese transliteration for the female Arabic name Amédine or Amedine.

アメディン is the name Amedine in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

心印 is a Buddhist concept that simply stated is “appreciation of truth by meditation.”

It's a deep subject, but my understanding is that you can find truth through meditation, and once you've found the truth, you can learn to appreciate it more through further meditation. This title is not commonly used outside of the Buddhist community (your Asian friends may or may not understand it). The literal translation would be something like “the mind seal,” I've seen this term translated this way from Japanese Buddhist poetry. But apparently, the seal that is stamped deep in your mind is the truth. You just have to meditate to find it.

Soothill defines it this way: Mental impression, intuitive certainty; the mind is the Buddha-mind in all, which can seal or assure the truth; the term indicates the intuitive method of the Chan (Zen) school, which was independent of the spoken or written word.

Reference: Soothill-Hodous Dictionary of Chinese Buddhism

See Also:  Zen

不怕千招会只怕一招熟 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: Do not worry about making a thousand clever moves; what [one has to] fear is one bad move.

Figuratively, this means: Even if you have made many clever moves before, one wrong move will ruin the whole game.

I compare this to the English saying, “It takes only one Aw-shit to wipe out a thousand Attaboys.”

貝德福德 is the name Bedford in Chinese (Mandarin).

ベドフォード is the name Bedford in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

貝德森 is the name Bedson in Chinese (Mandarin).

ベッドソン is the name Bedson in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

愛嬢 means “beloved daughter” in Japanese Kanji.

愛子 means “beloved son” in Chinese and Japanese.

While it could refer to a child in general (in Japanese), it's usually reserved or expected to be a title for a male child (in Chinese).

This can also be a given name in Japanese romanized as Aiko or Yoshiko.

本篤十六世 is the name Benedict in Chinese (Mandarin).

ベネヂクト is the name Benedict in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

This is a common Mandarin Chinese transliteration for the female French name Bénédicte or Benedicte.

ベネディクト is the name Benedicte in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

貝內迪克托 is the transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the Latin / Spanish name Benedicto.

ベネディクト is the name Benedicto in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

This is a common Mandarin Chinese transliteration for the female Portuguese/Latin name Benedita.

ベネディタ is the name Benedita in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

This is a common Mandarin Chinese transliteration for the male Portuguese/Latin name Benedito.

ベネディト is the name Benedito in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

逾 means: to exceed; to go beyond; to transcend; to cross over; to jump over.

You'll see this character used in Buddhism (same meaning).

Technically, this single character is a Japanese word but is seldom used as a single Kanji in modern Japanese.

神によって祝福された means “Blessed by God” in Japanese.

This would be understood to mean “We have been blessed by God.”

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

冒地質多 is a Chinese and Japanese way to write Bodhicitta.

冒地質多 is often translated as “the enlightened mind” or “enlightened heart.”

This title is strictly Buddhist and won't make sense to Chinese or Japanese people who do not have an expansive background in Buddhist terms, concepts, and scripture.

布雷登 is the name Braeden in Chinese (Mandarin).

ブレーデン is the name Braeden in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

In Chinese, this can mean losing one's love; to breaking up (in a romantic relationship); to feel jilted.

In Japanese Kanji, this means disappointing love, broken heart, unrequited love, or being lovelorn.

失戀 is also valid in old Korean Hanja, which means unrequited love, unreturned love, a disappointment in love, or a broken heart.

Note: In modern Japan, they will tend to write the more simple 失恋 form instead of 失戀. If you order this from the Japanese master calligrapher, expect the more simple modern version to be written (unless you give us instructions to use the older or more traditional version).

破鏡重圓 is about a husband and wife who were separated and reunited.

About 1500 years ago in China, there lived a beautiful princess named Le Chang. She and her husband Xu De Yan loved each other very much. But when the army of the Sui Dynasty was about to attack their kingdom, disposed of all of their worldly possessions and prepared to flee into exile.

They knew that in the chaos, they might lose track of each other, so the one possession they kept was a bronze mirror which is a symbol of unity for a husband and wife. They broke the mirror into two pieces, and each of them kept half of the mirror. They decided that if separated, they would try to meet at the fair during the 15th day of the first lunar month (which is the lantern festival). Unfortunately, the occupation was brutal, and the princess was forced to become the mistress of the new commissioner of the territory, Yang Su.

At the Lantern Festival the next year, the husband came to the fair to search for his wife. He carried with him his half of the mirror. As he walked through the fair, he saw the other half of the mirror for sale at a junk market by a servant of the commissioner. The husband recognized his wife's half of the mirror immediately, and tears rolled down his face as he was told by the servant about the bitter and loveless life that the princess had endured.

As his tears dripped onto the mirror, the husband scratched a poem into his wife's half of the mirror:

You left me with the severed mirror,
The mirror has returned, but absent are you,
As I gaze in the mirror, I seek your face,
I see the moon, but as for you, I see not a trace.

The servant brought the inscribed half of the mirror back to the princess. For many days, the princess could not stop crying when she found that her husband was alive and still loved her.

Commissioner Yang Su, becoming aware of this saga, realized that he could never obtain the princess's love. He sent for the husband and allowed them to reunite.

This proverb, 破鏡重圓, is now used to describe a couple who has been torn apart for some reason (usually divorce) but have come back together (or remarried).
It seems to be more common these days in America for divorced couples to reconcile and get married to each other again. This will be a great gift if you know someone who is about to remarry their ex.

無事 is a Zen Buddhist term meaning no problem and no trouble.

無事 is the Zen state of perfect freedom from troubles and leaving secular affairs behind.

Sometimes this is used to describe the state of satori and complete tranquility of mind.

Written as 無事に with an extra Hiragana at the end, this becomes an adverb to describe something in the condition of safety, peace, quietness, and without troubles.

無事 (Buji) can also be a given name in Japan.

This has more meaning in the Japanese Zen Buddhist community than in China or Korea, where it can mean “be free” or “nothing to do or worry about.”

卡登 is the name Caeden in Chinese (Mandarin).

シーデン is the name Caeden in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

卡德蒙 is the name Caedmon in Chinese (Mandarin).

ケイドモン is the name Caedmon in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

These two characters mean calm and collected or simply not nervous.

冷靜 means calm and cool-headed in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

Other translations: calmness, composure, coolness, serenity, tranquility.

冷靜 is a good wall scroll for someone that wants to remind themselves to stay calm and level-headed.

See Also:  Sober Calm

卡斯塔涅達 is the name Castañeda or Castaneda in Chinese (Mandarin).

カスタニェダ is the name Castañeda or Castaneda in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

塞德 is the name Ced in Chinese (Mandarin).

セド is the name Ced in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

塞德里克 is the name Cedric in Chinese (Mandarin).

セドリック is the name Cedric in Japanese.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

塞德里克 is the name Cedrick in Chinese (Mandarin).

セドリック is the name Cedrick in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

中醫 is how to write “Chinese traditional medicine.”

The original medicine consists of herbal remedies derived from over 3000 years of research.

精選 is a Chinese and Japanese word that means carefully chosen; handpicked; best of the bunch; choice (product); careful selection.

This is not a common title for a wall scroll, so be sure you have a specific and appropriate purpose for this if you order it.

不見棺材不落淚 is a cautionary tale that suggests you are unknowingly (though it should be obvious）on a bad course.

It further suggests that you will not realize your folly until the worst has happened.

This can also be a warning of inaction until it's too late to take action. Again, not realizing your error until it's too late.

In an alternate interpretation, some will suggest this means doing something bad and not looking back - Then the worst happens.

It should be noted that this is one of the oddest selections for a wall scroll in our whole Asian calligraphy database. All of our translators are convinced that no Chinese person would ever hang this on their wall.

蟠龍 is sometimes seen as a lower-level of dragon or a dragon that has not-yet-reached its potential.

蟠龍 is often defined as a “lake dragon” that has not ascended to heaven.
Another way to put that is a dragon coiled on the earth, which has not yet ascended to the sky.

自行束脩以上吾未尝无诲焉 means, for anyone who brings even the smallest token of appreciation, I have yet to refuse instruction.

Another way to put it is: If a student (or potential student) shows just an ounce of interest, desire, or appreciation for the opportunity to learn, a teacher should offer a pound of knowledge.

This quote is from the Analects of Confucius.

This was written over 2500 years ago. The composition is in ancient Chinese grammar and phrasing. A modern Chinese person would need a background in Chinese literature to understand this without the aid of a reference.

好學近乎知力行近乎仁知恥近乎勇 is a Saying from Confucius which relates certain actions to virtues.

A more verbose translation:
To love learning is akin to knowledge,
to study diligently is akin to benevolence,
to know shame is akin to courage.

體貼 is a Chinese word that means to be considerate (of other people's needs).

不拘一格 is a Chinese proverb that speaks of exploring different styles and not being stuck in conventional thinking.

It can also be translated as “not sticking to one pattern” or “not limited to one type (or style).” The most simple translation is “being creative” or “unbridled creativity.” Some may also say this means “not being stuck in a rut,” in the context of a designer or artist.

If you translate this, the first two characters mean “not stick to” or “not confine oneself to.”
The second two characters mean “one mode,” “one pattern,” “one form,” “one style,” or “one rule.”

鬼武者 is an unusual title that can be translated two ways, daredevil warrior or demon warrior.

The most common is probably the daredevil warrior. However, the first character means demon, ghost, or soul of the departed. Therefore, it can mean the soul of a warrior or a demon warrior.

This title is Japanese only, and should not be used if your audience is Chinese.

專用 is the dedication you might have to your job or a person.

Trivia: It is the same word used as an adjective in front of the word for “network” to say “dedicated network” in Chinese.

Please note: While this is a word in Korean, the meaning is private or “exclusive use.” So this is best if your audience is Chinese.

See Also:  Devotion | Passion | Tenacious | Commitment

専念 is the Japanese word for dedication.

It means “give undivided attention” or “devote oneself to (something).”

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

See Also:  Devotion | Passion | Tenacious | Commitment

德迪奧斯 is the name Dedios in Chinese (Mandarin).

デディオス is the name Dedios in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

德德拉 is the name Dedra in Chinese (Mandarin).

デドラ is the name Dedra in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

This Chinese word means predestined love or love affinity.

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

有志者事竟成 is a Chinese proverb that means “A really determined person will find a solution.”

It figuratively means “Where there's a will, there's a way.”

專心 makes a word that means “paying attention with your heart.”

It's often translated as “dedication,” as in “be absorbed in” or “concentrate one's efforts.” It's also used to mean “with the single mind,” “whole-heartedly,” “paying attention,” “undivided attention,” “concentration (-ed),” “engrossed,” “devotionally (listening/watching),” and/or “attentive.”

The first character means “for a particular person, occasion, or purpose,” “focused on one single thing,” “concentrated,” and sometimes, “special.”

The second character means “heart” or “mind” by itself.

My favorite translation, which comes from the Oxford Advanced Chinese/English Dictionary, is, “wholehearted devotion.”

If it seems like the meaning of this word is quite open, you are correct. The context in which the word is used matters a lot. It can mean different things depending on how you use it. This makes it kind of nice as you can decide what this means to you (within some limits). This is always positive in meaning, so even if a Chinese person reads it differently than you, it will still have a good meaning.

In Japanese, they tend to use a variation of the second character which has one less stroke. If you want your calligraphy written this Japanese form, please click on the Kanji shown to the right instead of the button above. Note: Japanese and Chinese people will recognize either form.

See Also:  Faith | Devotion

狄奧梅德斯 is the name Diomedes in Chinese (Mandarin).

ディオメデス is the name Diomedes in Japanese (Katakana).

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

迪奧內達 is the name Dioneda in Chinese (Mandarin).

ディオネダ is the name Dioneda in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

妙手仁心悬壶济世 is a phrase that celebrates the benevolence, skill, and service to his/her patients.

Here's a breakdown of the characters:
妙手 miào shǒu admirable skill in curing disease (when used in reference to doctors).
仁心 rén xīn kindheartedness, charity, benevolent heart.
悬壶济世 xuán hú jì shì practice medicine or pharmacy to help the people or the public.

妙手仁心 is a phrase that celebrates the benevolence, skill, and service to his/her patients.

Here's a breakdown of the characters:
妙手 miào shǒu is an admirable skill in curing disease (when referring to doctors).
仁心 rén xīn kindheartedness, charity, benevolent heart.

德雷登 is the name Dredyn in Chinese (Mandarin).

ドレディン is the name Dredyn in Japanese Katakana.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

愛德 is a common transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the name Ed.

愛德 mean “loving virtue” or charity.