Four Character Puzzle
In Chongqing my wife’s cousin gave her a Buddhist pendant as a gift. On one side was a form which consisted of four Chinese characters blended together. Can you see them?
The four characters together actually form a (Buddhist?) saying. For the answer, see below.
The meaning of 善唯呈和 is something like “goodness alone produces harmony.” I thought that was pretty cool.
The Chinese people I talked to around here had not heard this saying before, but apparently this “four characters in one” form is rather well known in the Chongqing/Sichuan area.
Hmmm, now that I think about it I wonder if 善唯呈和 means “only goodness produces harmony” or “goodness only produces harmony.”
Anyone? Anyone?
John,
I found this article. Don’t know if it helps. http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/44280.html?fr=qrl3
only goodness produces harmony
hummm, i don’t see reading Chinese clockwise very often. in this case, reading crossly doesn’t make any sense.
trivia: I’ve never heard of this before. I grew up in Soochow area.
That reminded me of “吾唯知足” (I am content and have few wants)
carved on the surface of a water basin made of stone in Ryoanji-temple in Kyoto, Japan. They say these four characters are related to 老子 or 禅.
Position: 吾: top, 足: bottom, 唯: right, 知: left
In Japanese it is read clockwise: “吾れ唯足るを知る（ware tada taru wo shiru）”
Skills, John, skills. I appreciate the character separation in the Buddhist pendant. What are your thoughts or interpretation on your meaning of “goodness alone produces harmony.”
Do a google search of “唯善呈和”–a little different from the way you’ve put–it and you will find some information… I think the meaning becomes more clear too.
Do a google search of “唯善呈和”–a little different from the way you’ve put it–and you will find some information… I think the meaning becomes more clear too.
Yeah, i forget the name of a resturant which shares 口, should be ? 味 品 ? something. the same.
Pharmine,
That’s really cool, thanks! (And half a thanks to Kastner as well…)
I am a Chinese ,born and grow up in Sichuan for 17 years,studying in Chongqing for 4 years,but I have never heard of that 善唯呈和 “goodness alone produces harmony”—–“four characters in one”!It’s damn new and cool!!!
I’m from Sichuan and have never heard of that saying either.
john, if you ever get a tattoo, that’s what you should get. awesome meaning, very aesthetically pleasing, and neat “history.”