Collection: Japanese Quotes

Two hundred and fifty lines in Japanese: proverbs (kotowaza), four-character idioms (yojijukugo) such as 一期一会 and 七転八起, Zen sayings, lines from the haiku poets Bashō, Issa and Buson, and a few from Musashi, Dōgen and Sen no Rikyū. The print carries the Japanese only; the English translation is on the product page.

The Japanese is set vertically, in columns read from right to left, as it would be on a hanging scroll or in a printed book. Vertical setting is what makes a four-character idiom look like calligraphy rather than a caption. These prints are bought by Japanese families abroad, by students of the language, by martial artists and tea people, and by travellers who came home from Kyoto with a word that stayed. They suit a hallway, a bedroom, a dojo or a quiet corner.

Three to start with

• 一期一会 (One time, one meeting: treasure every encounter)
• 七転八起 (Fall seven times, rise eight)
• 千里の道も一歩から (A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step)

Questions people ask

Is the translation on the print? No. The print carries the original words and the author only; the English translation is on the product page.

Is the Japanese typeset properly? Yes. Vertical punctuation forms and line-breaking rules (kinsoku) are handled, and the type is embedded in the PDF so it prints exactly as shown.

Which sizes? Eight, from 5 x 7 inches to 24 x 36 inches, plus A4, downloaded as a PDF straight after payment.