CHINESE SYMBOLS

dragon

The Dragon is a symbol of power, strength and creativity. It takes careful nurturing to awaken it, and bring it to full flowering. Eventually, however, it's power wanes. For nothing is forever, and all things run their cycle, only to begin anew.

eternity

Pronounced 'YUNG', is formed around the image of running water with two strokes denoting 'foam' and 'ripples'.

benevolance

Pronounced 'JEN', this combines the picture for 'human being' with the pair of horizontal strokes that denotes 'two'. The essential kindness that one person shows to another.

clarity

Pronounced 'CH'ING', means 'clear, lucid and pure'. The character is composed of two elements, 'water' and the 'color of nature'. When water has clarity you see in it the color that nature gave it.

courage

Pronounced 'YING', is a 'person' with arms spread wide to signify 'an adult' standing alone in a 'wide open space' thick with 'grass' - a wilderness signifies 'courage', for he does not fear this place where wild animals roam.

destiny

Pronounced 'MING', In Chinese thought 'destiny' refers not so much to a predetermined path in life as to the fact of death, which is the destiny of all life and the law of nature. It starts with a character meaning 'to agree' then 'to close' and also 'time' or 'duration'. Several ideas here are at play. Our destiny, or allotted time is sealed; and when the door closes on life it is by mandate of heaven.

peace

Pronounced 'P'ING', is a picture of a 'bamboo stem' balanced on each side by a single tongue of 'fire'. The principle of balance between opposing forces.

revelation

Pronounced 'SHIH', is a stylized form of an ancient pictogram that showed three vertical lines of power or a light emanating from the two horizontal strokes that represent 'heaven'.

reverance

Pronounced 'CH'UNG', the character for 'ancestor' is placed below three peaks of a 'mountain', reminding us to revere those who came before.

spirit

Pronounced 'SHEN', means 'to divine' and 'sign'. Symbolizing the part of our soul, which enters at birth and ascends at death.

love

In the center is the heart pictogram. Above and below 'heart' are the characters for 'breath' and 'graceful movement'. Love, therefore, can be seen as a kind of inspiration. It breathes life into the heart, and brings grace to the body.