Collection: Mandarin Chinese Quotes

Two hundred and fifty lines from the Chinese tradition: Confucius and Laozi, Sun Tzu, the Tang poets Li Bai, Du Fu and Wang Wei, and nearly ninety four-character chengyu. All are set in traditional characters; the print carries the characters only, and the English translation is on the product page.

The Chinese is set vertically, in columns read from right to left, the way classical texts were written and the way calligraphy scrolls still hang. These prints are bought by families keeping a language alive at home, by students of Mandarin who want a chengyu in front of them every day, and by travellers who came home from Taipei or Beijing with a phrase that stayed.

Three to start with

• 上善若水 (The highest good is like water), Laozi
• 三人行，必有我師焉 (When three walk together, one is surely fit to be my teacher), Confucius
• 塞翁失馬 (The old man at the frontier lost his horse: a blessing in disguise)

Questions people ask

Traditional or simplified characters? Traditional, throughout. It is the form used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and in classical texts, and it is the more beautiful on a wall.

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.

How do I print it? You download a PDF with embedded vector type in one of eight sizes, from 5 x 7 inches to 24 x 36 inches, plus A4.