Asian Art Outpost

Adventures in Asian Art



Custom Sincerity Chinese & Japanese Calligraphy Wall Scroll

We have many options to create artwork with Sincerity characters on a wall scroll or portrait.
If you want to create a cool Sincerity Asian character tattoo, you can purchase that on our Chinese and Japanese Tattoo Image Service page and we'll help you select from many forms of ancient Asian symbols that express the idea of Sincerity.

Quick links to words on this page...

  1. Sincere / True Sincerity
  2. Sincerity and Devotion
  3. Sincerity and Faithfulness
  4. Best Love / Most Sincere Love
  5. Integrity - Sincere Honest and Faithful
  6. Most Sincere Friend / Honest Friend...
  7. Sincere Heart
  8. Five Reflections / Gosei
  9. Believe / Faith / Trust
10. Daodejing / Tao Te Ching Chapter 81
11. Devotion / Enthusiasm
12. Honesty
13. Honesty / Fidelity
14. Integrity
15. Loyalty

Sincere / True Sincerity

zhēn chéng
진성
真
誠

This is the true essence of sincerity. It takes strength of personality to be truly sincere without over-doing it. Speaking of strength, this is probably the strongest way to convey the idea of sincerity in the Chinese language without over-doing it.

The first character literally means true, real, and genuine. While the second character means sincere and honest.

See Also...  Love | Honor

Sincerity and Devotion

zhì chéng
shisei
지성
至
誠

This is the idea that you enter into something with the utmost sincerity and fidelity. Ideas such as devotion, honesty, and "one's true heart" are also contained in this word.

This is a universal word as the Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja are all identical.

Sincerity and Faithfulness

dǔ shí
독실
篤
實

This word means sincere, solid, and faithful.

Best Love / Most Sincere Love

zhì ài
至
愛

This can mean the best love or most sincere love of your life. This could be a romantic love such as the love you have for your spouse or a boyfriend / girlfriend. It can also apply to the extreme love you have for your children or a parent, and maybe a really good friend.

See Also...  I Love You

Best Love / Most Sincere Love

Japanese Only

sai ai
最
愛

This Japanese word means the best love or most sincere love of your life. This could be a romantic love such as the love you have for your spouse or a boyfriend / girlfriend. It can also apply to the extreme love you have for your children or a parent, and maybe a really good friend.

Integrity - Sincere Honest and Faithful

sei jitsu
誠
実

This is the Japanese version of integrity which can also be defined as a combination of "sincere, honest and faithful".

Some may also define this as "loyal" or "loyalty". In some context, it can mean "genuine". Yes, all of this meaning in just one Japanese word!

Most Sincere Friend / Honest Friend
Real Friend / Best Friend

zhì yǒu
摯
友

This one way to say best friend in Chinese.

The first character can mean "honest" or "most sincere". The second character means "friend" or "friends" (plural forms work differently in Chinese).

See Also...  Friendship | Soulmates

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Sincere Heart

xuě xīn
혈심
血
心

When you take this word apart, you find the sum is a little different than the parts. The first character means blood and the second means heart. It is important to note that for thousands of years, it was believed that your heart was both your soul and your mind in Asian culture. When you add blood to the heart, it is your whole being - it is pure and clean dedication with your whole soul.

Most Chinese dictionaries define this as sincerity of heart or a MEDICAL TERM!!!
Please think carefully before ordering this selection - it was only added as others have used this for coffee cups and other novelties (though perhaps naively).

Five Reflections / Gosei

by Vice Admiral Hajime Matsushita

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?
に
憾
み
な
か
り
し
か
一
不
精
に
亘
る
な
か
り
し
か
か
り
し
か
一
氣
力
に
缺
く
る
な
か
り
し
か
一
努
力
一
至
誠
に
悖
る
な
か
り
し
か
一
言
行
に
恥
づ
る
な

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

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 passage 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?

Believe / Faith / Trust

(single character)

xìn
shin
信

This single character is often part of other words with similar meanings. Alone, this character can mean to believe, truth, faith, fidelity, sincerity, trust and confidence in Chinese, old Korean Hanja and Japanese Kanji.

It is one of the five basic tenets of Confucius.

In Chinese, it sometimes has the secondary meaning of a letter (as in the mail) depending on context, but it will not be read that way when seen on a wall scroll.

See Also...  Faith | Trust | Confucius

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Daodejing / Tao Te Ching Chapter 81

已
癒
多
故
天
之
道
利
而
不
害
聖
人
之
道
為
而
不
爭
多
者
不
善
聖
人
無
積
既
以
為
人
己
癒
有
既
以
予
人
矣
信
言
不
美
美
言
不
信
知
者
不
博
博
者
不
知
善
者
不
多

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

This is the Mawangdui version of Daodejing chapter 81.

It can be translated this way:
Credible words are not eloquent;
Eloquent words are not credible.

The wise are not erudite;
The erudite are not wise.

The adept are not all-around;
The all-around are not adept.
The sages do not accumulate things.
Yet the more they have done for others,
The more they have gained themselves;
The more they have given to others,
The more they have gotten themselves.

Thus, the way of tian is to benefit without harming;
The way of sages is to do without contending.


Another translation:
Sincere words are not showy;
showy words are not sincere.
Those who know are not "widely learned";
those "widely learned" do not know.
The good do not have a lot;
Those with a lot are not good.
The Sage accumulates nothing.
Having used what he had for others,
he has even more.
Having given what he had to others,
what he has is even greater.
Therefore, the Way of Heaven is to benefit and not cause any harm,
The Way of Man is to act on behalf of others and not to compete with them.


And a third translation:
True words aren't charming,
charming words aren't true.
Good people aren't contentious,
contentious people aren't good.
People who know aren't learned,
learned people don't know.
Wise souls don't hoard;
the more they do for others the more they have,
the more they give the richer they are.
The Way of heaven provides without destroying.
Doing without outdoing
is the Way of the wise.


Devotion / Enthusiasm

rè chéng
nessei
열성
熱
誠

This word is universal in Chinese, Japanese Kanji and old Korean Hanja.

It can mean earnestness, enthusiasm, ardor, zeal, devotion, spirit, or fervor.

Honesty

zhèng zhí
shoujiki
정직
正
直

Honesty is being truthful and sincere. It is important because it builds trust. When people are honest, they can be relied on not to lie, cheat or steal. Being honest means that you accept yourself as you are. When you are open and trustworthy, others can believe in you.

Japanese jikiPlease note that the second Kanji sometimes has an alternate form in Japanese. Let us know if you want the alternate form shown to the right.

Note: This entry is cross-listed as "integrity" because it also fits that definition.

See Also...  Truth | Trust | Integrity

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Honesty

shí
實

This character means real, true, honest, or solid. It is one of several ways to express the idea of truth.

Note: In some context, this can carry extended meanings of reality, actuality, really, sincerity, or substance.

See Also...  Truth | Trust | Justice

Honesty

chéng
makoto
誠

This character means truth, faith, fidelity, sincerity, trust and/or confidence.

As a single-character wall scroll, this suggests that you believe "honesty is the best policy", as your personal philosophy.

This is also a virtue of the Samurai Warrior
See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here

See Also...  Sincere

Honesty / Fidelity

xìn
shin
信

This is another character that expresses the idea of honesty. It can also mean truth, faith, believe in, fidelity, sincerity, trust and/or confidence.

Some have included this in the list for the Bushido, although "makoto" is probably more common/popular.

Note: In some context, this character can mean letter; news or envoy. However, alone, it will generally be read with the honesty-meaning.

See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here

See Also...  Loyalty Trustworthiness Trustworthy

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Integrity

zhèng zhí
shoujiki
정직
正
直

Integrity is living by your highest values. It is being honest and sincere. Integrity helps you to listen to your conscience, to do the right thing, and to tell the truth. You act with integrity when your words and actions match. Integrity gives you self-respect and a peaceful heart.

Japanese jikiPlease note that the second Kanji sometimes has an alternate form in Japanese. Let us know if you want the alternate form shown to the right.

Note: This entry is cross-listed as "honesty" because it also fits that definition.

Beyond Integrity, this word also means "upright" and "honest" in Chinese. Means "integrity", "honesty" or "frankness" in Japanese.

See Also...  Honor | Honesty | Truth | Trust

Loyalty

Japanese Chinese Korean

zhōng chéng
chuu sei
충성
忠
誠

Loyalty is staying true to someone. It is standing up for something you believe in without wavering. It is being faithful to your family, country, school, friends or ideals, when the going gets tough as well as when things are good. With loyalty, you build relationships that last forever.

Notes:
1. This written form of loyalty is universal in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

2. There is also a Japanese version that is part of the Bushido Code which may be more desirable depending on whether your intended audience is Japanese or Chinese.

3. This version of loyalty is sometimes translated as devotion, sincerity, fidelity, or allegiance.

See Also...  Honor | Trust | Integrity


A nice Chinese calligraphy wall scroll

The scroll that I am holding in this picture is a "medium size"
4-character wall scroll.
As you can see, it is a great size to hang on your wall.
(We also offer custom wall scrolls in larger sizes)

A professional Chinese Calligrapher

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.

Trying to learn Chinese calligrapher - a futile effort

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.


A high-ranked Chinese master calligrapher that I met in Zhongwei

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.



See: Our list of specifically Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls. And, check out Our list of specifically old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.

The following table is only helpful for those studying Chinese (or Japanese), and perhaps helps search engines to find this page when someone enters Romanized Chinese or Japanese

Title
Characters 
Simplified
Traditional
Japanese Romaji
(Romanized Japanese)
Various forms of Romanized Chinese
Sincere / True Sincerity真诚
真誠
n/azhēn chéng
zhen cheng
chen ch`eng
zhen1 cheng2
zhencheng
chencheng
chen cheng
Sincerity and Devotion至诚
至誠
shiseizhì chéng
zhi cheng
chih ch`eng
zhi4 cheng2
zhicheng
chihcheng
chih cheng
Sincerity and Faithfulness笃实
篤實
n/adǔ shí
du shi
tu shih
du3 shi2
dushi
Best Love / Most Sincere Love至爱
至愛
n/azhì ài
zhi ai
chih ai
zhi4 ai4
zhiai
Best Love / Most Sincere Love最愛
最愛
sai ai
saiai
n/a
Integrity - Sincere Honest and Faithful誠実
誓實
sei jitsu
seijitsu
n/a
Most Sincere Friend / Honest Friend / Real Friend / Best Friend挚友
摯友
n/azhì yǒu
zhi you
chih yu
zhi4 you3
zhiyou
Sincere Heart血心
血心
n/axuě xīn
xue xin
hsüeh hsin
xue3 xin1
xuexin
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
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?
shiseinimotorunakarishika?genkounihazurunakarishika?kiryokunikakurunakarishika?doryokuniuraminakarishika?bushouniwatarunakarishika?
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?
n/a
Believe / Faith / Trust
shinxìn
xin
hsin
xin4
xin
Daodejing / Tao Te Ching Chapter 81信言不美美言不信知者不博博者不知善者不多多者不善圣人无积既以为人己愈有既以予人矣已愈多故天之道利而不害圣人之道为而不争
信言不美美言不信知者不博博者不知善者不多多者不善聖人無積既以為人己癒有既以予人矣已癒多故天之道利而不害聖人之道為而不爭
n/an/a
Devotion / Enthusiasm热诚
熱誠
nessei
nesei
rè chéng
re cheng
je ch`eng
re4 cheng2
recheng
jecheng
je cheng
Honesty正直
正直
shoujiki
shojiki
zhèng zhí
zheng zhi
cheng chih
zheng4 zhi2
zhengzhi
Honesty
n/ashí
shi
shih
shi2
shi
Honesty
makotochéng
cheng
ch`eng
cheng2
cheng
cheng
cheng
Honesty / Fidelity
shinxìn
xin
hsin
xin4
xin
Integrity正直
正直
shoujiki
shojiki
zhèng zhí
zheng zhi
cheng chih
zheng4 zhi2
zhengzhi
Loyalty忠诚
忠誠
chuu sei
chuusei
chu sei
zhōng chéng
zhong cheng
chung ch`eng
zhong1 cheng2
zhongcheng
chungcheng
chung cheng

If you have not set up your computer to display Chinese, the characters in this table probably look like empty boxes or random text garbage.
This is why I spent hundreds of hours making images so that you could view the characters in the "Sincerity" listings above.
If you want your Windows computer to be able to display Chinese characters you can either head to your Regional and Language options in your Win XP control panel, select the [Languages] tab and click on [Install files for East Asian Languages]. This task will ask for your Win XP CD to complete in most cases. If you don't have your Windows XP CD, or are running Windows 98, you can also download/run the simplified Chinese font package installer from Microsoft which works independently with Win 98, ME, 2000, and XP. It's a 2.5MB download, so if you are on dial up, start the download and go make a sandwich.

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