Chinese symbol for righteousness
The Chinese symbol for righteousness is 义 (yì) in simplified writing and 義 in traditional writing. Many people choose the fuller 義. Duane checked this reading. The picture is a sample stencil, not a design made for your own words, but feel free to download it if it suits your needs.
Characters
Simplified is mainly used in mainland China and Singapore. Traditional is used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and classic Chinese calligraphy, including Ou style (歐體). Readers in all these places generally recognize either.
These two forms are not the same shape. The form to tattoo depends on who should be able to read it.
Simplified
Traditional
Classic uses 汇文正楷 (Huiwen Zhengkai). It is a modern font copied from 汉文正楷 (Hanwen Zhengkai), a regular script (楷书) metal type used to print books and papers in China in the early 1900s. It was copied from a printed sample sheet of the small size of that type. The slightly rough edges and small nicks are marks of that old printing, not mistakes. Smooth uses LXGW WenKai, a newer font with clean edges. Prefer smoother strokes? Choose Smooth, or just ask.
This sample uses 汇文正楷 (Classic) or LXGW WenKai (Smooth), both regular script (楷书) fonts. Both are in the same brush-style family as the 欧体 Duane has practiced since childhood, but neither is 欧体 and neither is his own brush writing. Want it closer to classic 欧体 calligraphy? Choose Hand-brushed by Duane in the form.
Meaning
义 (traditional 義) is moral rightness: knowing what is right and doing it, even when it costs you. It is one of the core virtues in Chinese thought.
Common mistakes
正义 (traditional 正義) means justice in the legal or social sense, like courts and fairness in society. It is not personal righteousness.
Also check the final stencil before you ink: a flipped (mirrored) character, a look-alike with one stroke changed, or a whole English sentence put through a machine translator are the mistakes Chinese readers spot first. See how to avoid a wrong Chinese tattoo.
Before you tattoo this
The traditional 義 looks fuller and more classic than the sparse simplified 义, so many people choose 義 for a tattoo. 義 is also common in Japanese bushido designs, so some people may read it that way.
Want this in your own words or name? Tell Duane the meaning you're after.
Checked by Duane, who grew up in China and lives in Ottawa. About Duane. Reviewed .