鬼は外福は内 (oni wa soto fuku wa uchi)
The four-character idiom 鬼は外福は内 meaning "Devils Go Out Fortune Come In" is composed of the kanji |oni,鬼demons" (read meaning "devils)wa,は (read which marks the preceding word as the subject)soto,外 (read meaning "outside")fuku,福the grammatical element (read meaning "good fortune")wa,はand (read which marks the preceding word as the subject)uchi,内| meaning "inside, within".
This beautiful calligraphy art of <i>%k</i> is appropriate for the entrance to the home and is a wish that evil spirits that bring misfortune and sickness be banished from the home and good fortune be welcomed in. This phrase is part of the <i>mamemaki</i> custom of purifying the home on the day before the start of spring by throwing beans out the front door while saying "oni wa soto! fuku wa uchi!" and then shutting the door.
Devils Go Out Fortune Come In
鬼は外福は内
oni wa soto fuku wa uchi
Block Vertical VB4C
Devils Go Out Fortune Come In
鬼は外福は内
oni wa soto fuku wa uchi
Block Vertical VB4D
Devils Go Out Fortune Come In
鬼は外福は内
oni wa soto fuku wa uchi
Cursive Vertical VC4B
Devils Go Out Fortune Come In
鬼は外福は内
oni wa soto fuku wa uchi
Cursive Vertical VC4C
Devils Go Out Fortune Come In
鬼は外福は内
oni wa soto fuku wa uchi
Design Vertical VD4B
Devils Go Out Fortune Come In
鬼は外福は内
oni wa soto fuku wa uchi
Semi-Cursive Vertical VS4C
Devils Go Out Fortune Come In
鬼は外福は内
oni wa soto fuku wa uchi
Semi-Cursive Vertical VS6C
Devils Go Out Fortune Come In
鬼は外福は内
oni wa soto fuku wa uchi
Semi-Cursive Horizontal HS6A