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2. Devotion / Diligence / Vigorous / Energetic
3. The Spirit of the Dragon Horse
4. The Spirit of the Dragon Horse and Power of a Tiger
5. The Spirit of Dragon and Tiger
6. Dynamic Energy / Enthusiasm
7. Rise and Fall / Ups and Downs
8. Good Health / Healthy / Vigor
11. Initiative / Proactive / Positive
12. Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine
13. Spirit
14. Stamina / Vigor
16. Strong / Healthy
17. Warrior Soul / Heroic Spirit
19. Seiryoku Zenyo
20. Seishin Budo
These are the “Five Reflections” of Vice Admiral Hajime Matsushita of the Japanese Imperial Navy.
These days, the Five Reflections are recited or contemplated daily by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force recruits in training. This long proverb is popularly translated into English this way:
Hast thou not gone against sincerity?
Hast thou not felt ashamed of thy words and deeds?
Hast thou not lacked vigor?
Hast thou not exerted all possible efforts?
Hast thou not become slothful?
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
vīrya
精進 is a wide-ranging word that is used in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
It can mean devotion, diligence, concentration, aggressive, enterprising, vigorous, energetic, purification, pushing, asceticism, assiduity, or virility. 精進 is deep, and these two characters can express ideas that take a full English phrase to describe, such as “concentration of mind,” “to forge ahead vigorously,” or “to dedicate oneself to progress.”
Used in the context of Buddhism, it means “making earnest efforts to cultivate virtue and get rid of evil” or “zeal in one's quest for enlightenment.”
龍馬精神 is an old proverb that is used to wish someone good health and success combined as a great compliment.
The meaning is “The vigor and spirit of the legendary dragon-horse.” These four characters are often accompanied by four more which mean “...and the power and prestige of the tiger.” Here we are just offering the first part which is considered the short version.
By giving a wall scroll like this to someone, you were either wishing or telling them that they have an amazing quality. There is also a suggestion of good health - at least anyone with the vigor of a dragon horse would seem to also be in good health.
Note: In Japanese, this would be read as the spirit of 坂本龍馬 (Sakamoto_Ryōma), a beloved rebel who help abolish the old Japanese feudal system. This can be confusing, so I am declaring this proverb to be Chinese only.
龍馬精神虎虎生威 is an old proverb that is used to wish someone great health and success combined as a great compliment.
The meaning is “The vigor and spirit of the legendary dragon-horse and the power and prestige of the tiger.”
By giving a wall scroll like this to someone, you were either wishing or telling them that they have these qualities. There is also a suggestion of good health - at least anyone with the vigor of a dragon horse would seem to also be in good health.
龍虎精神 means the spirit of the dragon and tiger.
It speaks to the vitality and vigor that is the nature of these two creatures.
Beyond “spirit,” the last two characters can also mean mind, soul, or heart. Therefore, you can also say this means “Heart of the Dragon and Tiger,” etc.
龍虎精神 is often titled “Ryukoseishin” in many Japanese martial arts.
活力 is a Chinese, Japanese, and Korean word that can be defined as energy, vitality, vigor, vital force, enthusiasm, energetic, or dynamism.
Eiko-Seisui
This Japanese proverb can be translated as “flourish and wither, prosper and perish,” “life is full of fortune and misfortune,” or simply “vicissitudes of life.”
栄枯盛衰 / 榮枯盛衰 is about the rise and fall of human affairs or the ups and downs of life. Prosperity comes and goes, everything is fleeting and temporary, but like waves, another swell of prosperity may come.
Here's how the Kanji break down in this proverb:
栄 = prosper; thrive; flourish; boom.
枯 = wither; die.
盛 = prosperous; flourishing; thriving; successful; energetic; vigorous; enthusiastic.
衰 = become weaker; decline; get weak; die down; subside; abate; fail.
Notes: The original version of the first character looks like the image to the right. In modern Japan, they simplified that Kanji a bit into the version shown above. If you have a preference for which style is used for your calligraphy, please let me know when you place your order.
Apparently, with that original version of the first character, this is also used in Korean Hanja. However, I have not confirmed that
it’s
used in the same way or is widely-known in Korean.
Also suggests being at peace
康 is a single character that means good health or vigor in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
康 can also mean peaceful, at ease, or abundant in some contexts.
Please note that this is rarely seen alone in Japanese Kanji. In Japanese, it is used both for health-related compound words and to denote the kouhou through koushou eras of Japan.
In Korean, this can also be the family name “Kang” (caution: not the only family name romanized as Kang in Korean).
If you are into healthy living, 健康生活 might be an excellent selection for a wall scroll to hang in your home.
The first two characters speak of health, vitality, vigor, and being of sound body. The second two characters mean living or life (daily existence).
獨立精神 means independent spirit in Chinese.
The first two characters mean independent, independence, or to stand alone.
The last two characters mean spirit, spiritual, vigor, vitality, drive, mind, consciousness, thought, essence, heart, or soul.
With this information, you can make your translation combination such as “independent heart,” “stand-alone spirit,” or more creatively, “the drive to stand alone” in English. There are a lot of ways to interpret 獨立精神.
This word closely matches the way initiative is often used in English. This word can also mean active, energetic, vigorous, positive (outlook), or proactive in Chinese.
The meaning also includes positive and progressive in Japanese and Korean.
精, 氣, 神 are the characters jing, qi, and shen.
As a set, these three characters are known in English as the treasures of traditional Chinese medicine, the treasures of Qi Gong, or the three treasures of Taoism / Daoism.
Sometimes this set is titled 三寶 (sānbǎo) or “three treasures,” but here, we're writing each treasure out.
Here's how these characters are perceived in this context...
Jing: nutritive essence; refined; perfected; pure
Qi: vitality; energy; force; breath; vigor
Shen: spirit; soul; mind; being
To keep it simple, you can use “essence, vitality, and spirit” to define these.
精神 is the kind of spirit you have if you perform well in sports or competitions. It is the idea of having a good attitude and putting your all into something - so much so that others can see or feel your spirit. It is the essence of your being that can only be subjectively described because there are no words that can fully explain what “spirit” really is.
For your information:
My Japanese dictionary further tries to explain this word by comparing it to mind, soul, heart, or intention.
My Chinese dictionary compares these characters to meanings like vigor, vitality, drive, and mentality.
My Korean dictionary defines this as mind, spirit, and soul.
Physical Strength
氣力 can mean any of the words in the title above, and in some contexts, can also mean effort, will-power, or talent.
This refers mostly to physical strength (as opposed to mental or spiritual).
In modern Japan, they use a simplified first character for this word. If you want to order this title with that special Japanese version, click on the character to the right instead of the button above.
This “strong” character is the more “healthy” version of strong. 健 is the “strong” that is appropriate for an athlete.
Beyond “healthy,” it can also mean strength, persistence, vigorous, or invigorated/invigoration.
健やか is a verbose way to say strong and healthy in Japanese. 健やか is the “strong” that is appropriate for an athlete.
Beyond “healthy,” it can also mean strength, persistence, vigorous, or invigoration.
Japanese also use the first Kanji to mean the same thing. This version adds two hiragana which serve to emphasize or amplify the word and clarify the meaning.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
勇士精神 can be translated as the warrior's spirit or warrior's soul. The first two characters can be translated as “warrior” or literally “brave soldier/man,” although some will translate this word as “hero.” Therefore, this is also how to say “heroic spirit.”
The second two characters mean vigor, vitality, drive, spirit, mind, heart, mental essence, and psychological component. Basically “your soul.”
We have two versions of this phrase. The only difference is the first two and last two characters are swapped. The version here suggests that you admire or like the idea of the spirit of a warrior. The other version suggests that you are the warrior or hero.
精神勇士 can be translated as the spirit or soul of a warrior. The first two characters can be translated as vigor, vitality, drive, spirit, mind, heart, mental essence, and psychological component. Basically, “your soul.”
The second two characters mean “warrior” or literally “brave soldier/man,” although some will translate this word as “hero.” Therefore, this is also how to say “soul of a hero.”
Note: This title is best for Chinese and old Korean. It does make sense in Japanese but is not a common or natural Kanji combination in Japanese.
We have two versions of this phrase. The only difference is the first two and last two characters are swapped. The version here suggests that you are the warrior or hero. The other version suggests that you admire or like the idea of the spirit of a warrior.
精力善用 means “maximum efficiency” and is often associated with Judo.
It is often matched with “Jita Kyoei” (mutual benefit) to complete the philosophy of Kodokan Judo.
精力 = sei ryoku = energy, vigor, and/or vitality.
善用 = zen yo = to be good at using (something), or to put (something) to good use.
精神武道 is the Japanese martial arts title, Seishin Budo.
The first two characters, 精神, can mean vigor, vitality, drive, spiritual, mind, spirit, soul, heart, ethos, attitude, mentality, will, intention, essence, and fundamental significance.
The last two characters, 武道, are the Japanese word for martial arts (literally the Martial Way).
This title can also be romanized as Seshin Budou or Seishin Budō.
Age is just a number
老當益壯 is a Chinese proverb that means “old but vigorous” or “hale and hearty despite the years.”
Said of someone who is more spirited when he/she grows older.
The story behind this Chinese proverb:
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a man named Ma Yuan. He had been planning to herd animals on the frontier since he was young. When he grew up, Ma became a minor official of a county.
Once, he was sending some prisoners to another location. He felt pity for them, so he set them free, and then he fled to another county in the north. He herded animals there, and thus his dream came true. He always said: “If you want to be a great man, the poorer you are, the firmer in spirit you have to be; the older you are, the more spirited you should be.”
Later, when he was even older, Ma Yuan became a famous general of the Eastern Han Dynasty and contributed to many battles.
理直氣壯 is a Chinese proverb that means “to do something while knowing you’re in the right.”
This can also be translated as and is appropriate when you are:
“In the right and self-confident”
“Bold and confident with justice on one's side”
“Having the courage of one's convictions”
“Justified and forceful”
“To be confident and vigorous because reason and logic are on one's side”
“Justified and confident”
These search terms might be related to Vigorous:
Devotion / Diligence / Vigorous / Energetic
Dynamic
Dynamic Energy / Enthusiasm
Firm Belief / Strong Faith
Live Strong
Mighty / Powerful / Strong
Stay Strong / Indestructible / Unbreakable
Stay Strong / Iron Will
Strength: Strong and Solid
Strong / Healthy
Strong / Powerful
Strong / Powerful / Force
Strong / Robust
Strong and Beautiful
Strong Body, Strong Mind
Strong Bones Come From Hard Knocks
Strong Hearted / Strong Willed
Strong Mind Strong Body
Strong Minded
Strong Willed
Strong Woman
Strong-Minded Woman
Strong-Willed / Strong of Heart
Tempering Makes Strong Steel
The Strong One
The Weak Are Meat, the Strong Eat
Woman of Strong Character / Woman Hero
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Five Reflections Gosei | 一至誠に悖るなかりしか一言行に恥づるなかりしか一氣力に缺くるなかりしか一努力に憾みなかりしか一不精に亘るなかりしか | shi se i ni moto ru na ka ri shi ka? gen kou ni ha zu ru na ka ri shi ka? ki ryo ku ni ka ku ru na ka ri shi ka? do ryo ku ni u ra mi na ka ri shi ka? bu sho u ni wa ta ru na ka ri shi ka? shi se i ni moto ru na ka ri shi ka? gen ko ni ha zu ru na ka ri shi ka? ki ryo ku ni ka ku ru na ka ri shi ka? do ryo ku ni u ra mi na ka ri shi ka? bu sho u ni wa ta ru na ka ri shi ka? | ||
Devotion Diligence Vigorous Energetic | 精進 精进 | shoujin / shojin | jīng jìn / jing1 jin4 / jing jin / jingjin | ching chin / chingchin |
The Spirit of the Dragon Horse | 龍馬精神 龙马精神 | lóng mǎ jīng shén long2 ma3 jing1 shen2 long ma jing shen longmajingshen | lung ma ching shen lungmachingshen |
|
The Spirit of the Dragon Horse and Power of a Tiger | 龍馬精神虎虎生威 龙马精神虎虎生威 | lóng mǎ jīng shén hǔ hǔ shēng wēi long2 ma3 jing1 shen2 hu3 hu3 sheng1 wei1 long ma jing shen hu hu sheng wei | lung ma ching shen hu hu sheng wei | |
The Spirit of Dragon and Tiger | 龍虎精神 龙虎精神 | ryu ko sei shin ryukoseishin | lóng hǔ jīng shén long2 hu3 jing1 shen2 long hu jing shen longhujingshen | lung hu ching shen lunghuchingshen |
Dynamic Energy Enthusiasm | 活力 | katsuryoku | huó lì / huo2 li4 / huo li / huoli | |
Rise and Fall Ups and Downs | 栄枯盛衰 / 榮枯盛衰 荣枯盛衰 | ei ko sei sui eikoseisui | ||
Good Health Healthy Vigor | 康 | kou / ko | kāng / kang1 / kang | k`ang / kang |
Healthy Living | 健康生活 | kenkou seikatsu kenkouseikatsu kenko seikatsu | jiàn kāng shēng huó jian4 kang1 sheng1 huo2 jian kang sheng huo jiankangshenghuo | chien k`ang sheng huo chienkangshenghuo chien kang sheng huo |
Independent Spirit | 獨立精神 独立精神 | dú lì jīng shén du2 li4 jing1 shen2 du li jing shen dulijingshen | tu li ching shen tulichingshen |
|
Initiative Proactive Positive | 積極 积极 | sekkyoku / sekyoku | jī jí / ji1 ji2 / ji ji / jiji | chi chi / chichi |
Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine | 精氣神 精气神 | jīng qì shén jing1 qi4 shen2 jing qi shen jingqishen | ching ch`i shen chingchishen ching chi shen |
|
Spirit | 精神 | sei shin / seishin | jīng shén jing1 shen2 jing shen jingshen | ching shen chingshen |
Stamina Vigor | 元気 | genki | ||
Strength Vigor Energy | 氣力 气力 / 気力 | kiryoku | qì lì / qi4 li4 / qi li / qili | ch`i li / chili / chi li |
Strong Healthy | 健 | ken | jiàn / jian4 / jian | chien |
Strong Healthy | 健やか | sukoyaka | ||
Warrior Soul Heroic Spirit | 勇士精神 | yǒng shì jīng shén yong3 shi4 jing1 shen2 yong shi jing shen yongshijingshen | yung shih ching shen yungshihchingshen |
|
Soul of a Warrior | 精神勇士 | jīng shén yǒng shì jing1 shen2 yong3 shi4 jing shen yong shi jingshenyongshi | ching shen yung shih chingshenyungshih |
|
Seiryoku Zenyo | 精力善用 | sei ryoku zen yo seiryokuzenyo | ||
Seishin Budo | 精神武道 | seishin budou seishinbudou seishin budo | ||
Shitsujitsu Goken | 質実剛健 | shitsu jitsu gou ken shitsujitsugouken shitsu jitsu go ken | ||
Old, But More Vigorous in Spirit | 老當益壯 老当益壮 | lǎo dāng yì zhuàng lao3 dang1 yi4 zhuang4 lao dang yi zhuang laodangyizhuang | lao tang i chuang laotangichuang |
|
Engage with Confidence | 理直氣壯 理直气壮 | lǐ zhí qì zhuàng li3 zhi2 qi4 zhuang4 li zhi qi zhuang lizhiqizhuang | li chih ch`i chuang lichihchichuang li chih chi chuang |
|
Seiryoku Saizen Katsuyo | 精力最善活用 | Seiryoku saizen katsuyou Seiryokusaizenkatsuyou Seiryoku saizen katsuyo | ||
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. |
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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.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as Vigorous Kanji, Vigorous Characters, Vigorous in Mandarin Chinese, Vigorous Characters, Vigorous in Chinese Writing, Vigorous in Japanese Writing, Vigorous in Asian Writing, Vigorous Ideograms, Chinese Vigorous symbols, Vigorous Hieroglyphics, Vigorous Glyphs, Vigorous in Chinese Letters, Vigorous Hanzi, Vigorous in Japanese Kanji, Vigorous Pictograms, Vigorous in the Chinese Written-Language, or Vigorous in the Japanese Written-Language.
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