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

合気柔術 is the title for the Japanese martial arts style known as “Aiki-Jujutsu.”

合気武道 is the title Aiki-Budo or “Aiki Martial Arts” in Japanese Kanji.

合 means “union” or “harmony.”
気/氣 means “universal energy” or “spirit.”
武 means “martial” or “military.”
道 means “way” or “method.”

合気武道 is the modern Japanese way to write this. You may also see 合氣武道, where the second character is written in the older traditional (pre-1945) form. If you want this written 合氣武道, just include a note or email with your order.

合氣武道 are all Chinese characters as well, so I included the Chinese pronunciation above. However, while it can be understood in Chinese, this is not a common term in that language and is not used in any Chinese martial arts. Also, 気 is only used in Japan - Chinese will understand 気 to be the Japanese form of 氣.

See Also:  Martial Arts | Hapkido

合気道 is the modern Japanese way to write Aikido.

Aikido is often referred to as the defensive martial art.

While Aikido was born in Japan, it has become a somewhat famous form of defensive tactics taught to soldiers and Marines, as well as some law enforcement officers in the West.

Looking at the characters, the first means “union” or “harmony.”
The second character means “universal energy” or “spirit.”
The third means “way” or “method.”

Please note that while the original 合氣道 characters can be pronounced in Chinese, this word is not well-known in China and is not considered part of the Chinese lexicon.

Note: It is somewhat accepted that this is the origin of Hapkido in Korea. And other than a modern simplification to the middle Kanji of this 3-Kanji word, it is written the same in Korean Hanja.

See Also:  Martial Arts | Hapkido

合気道の心 is often translated as “The Spirit of Aikido,” but it is more directly translated as “Heart of Aikido.”

合気道養神館 is the title Aikidō Yōshinkan in Japanese Kanji.

合気術 (Aiki-Jutsu) is a school of martial arts descended from Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu.

Note: Some also romanize 合気術 as Aiki-Jitsu.

合気会 or “Aikikai” is the original school of Aikido.

Several organizations use this title. The first was established in Japan in 1940 (The Aikikai Foundation or 財団法人合気会).

The only difference between this title and Aikido is the last character, “kai” which means club, group, fraternity, organization, or assembly.

Note: 合気会 may be romanized with a dash like this: Aiki-Kai.

合気剣 is Aiki-Ken, a style of Japanese sword technique.

大東流合気柔術 is Daitō-Ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, a Japanese martial art established by Takeda Sōkaku.

The most famous student of Daitō-Ryū Aiki-jūjutsu is Morihei Ueshiba who later founded the school or branch of martial arts known as Aikido.

Note: 大東流合気柔術 can also be romanized as Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, Daitou-Ryuu Aiki-Juujutsu or Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujitsu.

These are the five principles of Reiki.

They translate into English as...

At least for today:
Do not be angry,
Do not worry,
Be grateful,
Work with diligence,
Be kind to people.

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

海克 is the name Heiki in Chinese (Mandarin).

ヘイキ is the name Heiki in Japanese.

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

壹岐 is the name Iki in Chinese (Mandarin).

イキ is the name Iki in Japanese Katakana.

This is also a word in Japanese that can mean living, being alive, freshness, or liveliness.

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

生き甲斐 is a Japanese word that means something one lives for, a reason for being, a purpose in life, or French, raison d'etre.

Everyone has an ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search for self. Finding your Ikigai is the way to also find satisfaction and meaning in life.

Your Ikigai could be almost anything. For some, it is running for president. For others, satisfaction is found in raising children.

Ikigai is why you get up in the morning; bringing meaning to your life and pursuing your Ikigai makes life worthwhile.

イキロ is the name Ikiro in Japanese Katakana.

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

生きる is a Japanese title that means to live, to exist, to make a living, to subsist, to come to life, or to be enlivened.

生きる is also the title of a 1952 Japanese movie that uses the translated English title of “To Live.”

This term, when used in the context of baseball, and some Japanese games such as “go,” can mean “safe.”

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

This Japanese phrase, “常識を超える” or “Jōshiki Wo Koeru” means “beyond common sense.”

常識 alone can be translated as “common sense,” “good sense,” “common knowledge”，“general knowledge,” “common practice,” “accepted practice,” or “social etiquette.”
The rest of the phrase indicates exceeding, overtaking, surpassing, transcending, or an idea of going beyond something.

More ways to translate this whole phrase:
Over what was known.
Surpassing common sense.
Beyond the ordinary.
Going beyond conventional knowledge.
Beyond conventional wisdom.

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

奇奇 is the name Kiki in Chinese (Mandarin).

キキ is the name Kiki in Japanese (Katakana).

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

光道館合気道 / 光道館合氣道 is Kodokan Aikido.

Be sure this is the right Kodokan for your school, as there are two different titles that romanize as Kodokan in Japanese.

If you like or collect and maintain koi fish, 錦鯉 is the wall scroll for you.

Technically, this is a certain and revered species of “koi fish” in Japan, but it is the most normal selection for a wall scroll (more normal than the actual Kanji for “koi” or “fish” alone.

This literally means “brocade carp” or “embroidered carp.” This term is also used to mean the same thing in China (which is the origin of koi fish breeding and cultivation, several generations before they became popular in Japan).

For those of you that don't know, the Kanji for “koi” (which is pronounced “goi” in this entry) really means “carp.” If you want the word that means “koi fish,” it would just be the generic word for “carp fish.” That would include both colorful carp and the more mundane gray carp (the ones people eat if they don't mind lots of bones).

米吉 is the transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the Latin / Spanish name Miki.

ミキ is the name Miki in Japanese.

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

無双直伝英信流 is the modern way to write the Japanese martial arts term, Musō Jikiden Eishin-Ryū (iaido style).

Sometimes the second Kanji is written as 雙, and the fourth Kanji is written 傳, making the full title 無雙直傳英信流. See the other version of this title if you want that traditional version.

無雙直傳英信流 is the traditional or old way to write the Japanese martial arts title, Musō Jikiden Eishin-Ryū (iaido style).

In modern Japanese, the second and fourth Kanji are different making them 無双直伝英信流.

尼基 is the name Niki in Chinese (Mandarin).

ニッキー is the name Niki in Japanese.

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

尼奇塔 is the name Nikita in Chinese (Mandarin).

This is another common Mandarin Chinese transliteration for the female name Nikita.

ニキタ is the name Nikita in Japanese.

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

海盜 is a Chinese title that can mean Viking or Pirate.

This literally means “sea thief.”

拉賈尼基拉 is the name Rajanikila in Chinese (Mandarin).

ラジャニキラ is the name Rajanikila in Japanese Katakana.

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

靈氣 is the title of a healing practice now found globally but with origins in Japan.

Special note: Outside of the context of the healing practice of Reiki, this means “aura” or “spiritual essence that surrounds all living things.” A Japanese person unfamiliar with the practice will take the “aura” meaning.

Reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also heals. It can be compared to massage but is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If your life force energy is low, you'll be more likely to get sick or feel stressed. If your life force energy is abundant and flowing well, you become more capable of being happy and healthy.

There is a lot of information available if you want to Google this term - my job is to offer the calligraphy while you can decide if it is right for you.

Note: We are showing the ancient (traditional) form of the Reiki Kanji. I have seen Reiki written with the slightly simplified version and this more classic form. If you want the form of Reiki with the two strokes in the shape of an X on the second character and the modern first character, simply click on the Kanji characters to the right.

Note: 靈氣 is also a Chinese word, but in Chinese, these characters create a word that refers to a smart person or someone with high aspirations. It is not read as a healing method in Chinese.
In Korean Hanja, this can be read as a “mysterious atmosphere” by a Korean who is not familiar with the practice of Reiki (still has a cool meaning in Korean).

大光明 is the master symbol “Daikomyo” or “Dai Ko Myo,” which is usually associated with the healing practice of Reiki.

This title can be translated as “Great Bright Light.” This symbol, as used in Reiki, alludes to “Enlightened Nature” or the radiance of a purified soul or deity.

Pronunciations in Chinese and Korean are included above but this title has no meaning except when used by a Reiki practitioner. In fact, this title is not that well known by those outside the Reiki community in Japan.

In Chinese, this would be interpreted as “Great Bright Future” (the second two characters alone create a word that means “bright future” in Chinese).

These are the precepts of Reiki that are attributed to Usui Mikao.

Here is a breakdown of the characters and a rough translation:
招福の秘法,　萬病の霊薬。
Invite blessings of [the] secret method, 10,000 illnesses of spiritual medicine.
今日丈けは:　怒るな,　心配すな,　感謝して,　業をはげめ,　人に親切に。
At least for today: Do not be angry, do not worry, be grateful, work with diligence, and be kind to people.
朝夕合掌して,　心に念じ,　口に唱へよ,　心身改善。
Morning [and] evening perform gassho (join hands), [with your] heart/mind in silent prayer, [with your] mouth chant, [thusly] mind [and] body [will] reform/improve.
臼井靈氣療法！　-肇祖,　臼井甕男。
Usui Reiki Ryōhō! -Founder, Usui Mikao.

The middle portion of this is often titled, “The Five Principles of Reiki” and makes a nice calligraphy selection by itself. The Japanese text presented here can be considered the more verbose version.

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

靈氣療法肇祖臼井甕男先生遺訓招福の秘法萬病の霊薬今日丈けは心配すな感謝して業を励げめ人に親切に is an alternate version of the precepts or tenets of Reiki by Usui Mikao.

It is impossible to be sure which version or versions were actually written by Usui Mikao. This is the less common of the three versions that you might see in the wild.

Here is a breakdown of the characters and a rough translation:
靈氣 療法 肇祖 臼井甕男。
Reiki therapy founder Mikao Usui
先生 遺訓。
Teacher's testament 招福の秘法,　萬病の霊薬。
Invite blessings of [the] secret method, 10,000 illnesses of spiritual medicine.
今日丈けは: 怒るな, 心配すな,　感謝して,　業をはげめ,　人に親切に。
At least for today: Do not be angry, do not worry, be grateful, work with diligence, [and] be kind to people.

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

リキオイ is the name Rikioi in Japanese Katakana.

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

詞韻波羅蜜大光明 are the Japanese Kanji characters that romanize as “Shikin Haramitsu Daikōmyō.”

This is a complicated proverb. I'm actually going to forgo writing any translation information here. You can figure it out via Google search and at sites like Paramita and the Perfection of Wisdom or Fecastel.Wordpress.com::Shikin Haramitsu Daikōmyō

松涛館合気道 is the title for Shotokan Aikido in Japanese.

Note: Chinese and Korean pronunciations of these characters are included above, however, this title would only be understood in Chinese or Korean by someone who practices or is familiar with Shotokan Aikido. Please consider this title to be “Japanese only.”

See Also:  Martial Arts | Hapkido

This is the Chinese name for the country of Tajikistan.

See Also:  Asia

タジキスタン is the Japanese Katakana name for Tajikistan.

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

武産合氣 is one of the core spiritual concepts developed by Morihei Ueshiba to support his practice of Aikido.

Breaking down the characters:

武 - Bu (as in Bushido) is read as “Take” here. It means martial.

産 - Musu means innocent or naive, but also refers to the idea of birth and creation.

合氣 - Aiki as in Aikido - unifying spirit.

圖金 is the name Tuikim in Chinese (Mandarin).

ツイキム is the name Tuikim in Japanese Katakana.

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

バイキング is how to write Viking in Japanese Katakana.

Colloquially in Japan, this can refer to a smorgasbord or all-you-can-eat buffet.

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

和道會合気道 is the title for Wado-Kai Aikido.

See Also:  Wado-Ryu