先祖 senzo Ancestor

The Japanese word 先祖 meaning "Ancestor" is composed of the kanji 先 (read sen) meaning "before; ahead; previous" and 祖 (read so) meaning "ancestor; pioneer; founder". Together they are read senzo, because the sounds change where the characters meet: 祖 so becomes zo after 先.

Ancestor (先祖) in Block style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase

Ancestor 先祖 senzo Vertical Block VB2C

Ancestor (先祖) in Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase

Ancestor 先祖 senzo Vertical Cursive VC2B

Ancestor (先祖) in Jiun style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase

Ancestor 先祖 senzo Vertical Jiun VD3B

Ancestor (先祖) in Semi-Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase

Ancestor 先祖 senzo Vertical Semi-Cursive VS3C

Ancestor 先祖 senzo Horizontal Block HB2A

Ancestor 先祖 senzo Horizontal Cursive HC2A

Ancestor 先祖 senzo Horizontal Jiun HD2A

Ancestor 先祖 senzo Horizontal Semi-Cursive HS2A

About the Designs

Each design is Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase's hand-brushed calligraphy of the word or phrase on this page, delivered as a PDF you can print. Every PDF includes the line art, so a tattoo artist or a craftsperson can work from the outline as well as the brushed image.

Licensing

Your purchase includes a personal-use license: use the design as a tattoo reference, frame it, engrave it, print it for yourself, or make it into a gift. For more information see Licensing, which also covers commercial-use options that may be purchased separately.

Delivery

Your PDF is available for download the moment your order completes, and a copy is attached to your emailed receipt.

If you need your design again later, ask us for it and we will send it.