“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
– Desmond Tutu
INTRODUCTION
Meaning of the Chinese Character 望
The Hope Chinese Wall Hanging is the second tapestry crochet pattern of the Faith, Hope, Love Crochet Wall Hanging collection.
The Chinese character 望, pronounced as “wàng,” is a composite character made up of two components: 月 (yuè) which means “moon,” and 王 (wáng) which means “king” or “ruler.” According to legend, the ancient Chinese people often observed the sky, especially the moon, to understand the changes in the seasons and time, and to prepare for the planting and harvest of crops. Therefore, the 月 part of the character symbolizes observation and prediction, while the 王 part represents governance and domination. Together, these two components create a character that originally meant “to look toward a king or ruler,” with the implication of looking for guidance or support.
In Chinese culture and history, the character 望 also has special significance. For example, in the ancient Chinese imperial examination system, candidates who passed various levels of examinations had to take the final examination in the emperor’s presence to obtain official positions. Candidates often traveled long distances to take the examination, facing hardships along the way, but they always moved forward toward their goal, hoping to achieve good results and a bright future. Therefore, the character 望 also became a symbol of encouragement and hope for candidates, representing their expectations and aspirations.
In modern times, the character 望 is commonly used to represent the concept of hope. Beyond its use as a standalone character, 望 also appears in many compound words that express different aspects of hope. For example, “期望” (qīwàng) means “expectation,” while “抱望” (bàowàng) means “to have high hopes for someone or something.”
Biblical Meaning of Hope
In the Bible, hope is often defined as a confident and positive expectation in God’s promises, despite the circumstances or challenges we may face. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking, but rather a steadfast assurance that God is faithful to fulfill what He has promised.
The apostle Paul writes in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Here, Paul describes God as the source of hope and encourages believers to trust in Him, knowing that He will provide joy, peace, and hope.
Biblical hope is also closely tied to faith and love. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul writes, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” This passage suggests that hope, along with faith and love, is a crucial aspect of the Christian life and is ultimately grounded in God’s love for us.
In summary, the biblical meaning of hope is a confident expectation in God’s promises, rooted in faith and love, which provides joy, peace, and strength in the midst of challenges and uncertainties.
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PATTERN DETAILS
The Hope Chinese Wall Hanging is an advanced beginner tapestry crochet pattern. The pattern guides you step by step through tapestry crochet with clear written instructions, pictures, and video tutorials.
If this is your first time coming across a tapestry crochet project, I have a series of Tapestry Crochet Tutorial that I would suggest you check out before you start this project. The tutorial provides simple patterns for you to practice as well. The type of tapestry crochet that I used for the Hope Chinese Wall Hanging is the one that I called Two-Directional Flat Tapestry Crochet.
MATERIALS NEEDED
To work on this pattern, you will need:
- Hope Chinese Wall Hanging crochet pattern by Haven Crochet Designs
- Caron One Pound yarn (this is a thicker #4 worsted weight yarn; 454g/16oz, 742m/812yds per ball)
- Main Color – approx. 220 yds
- Contrast Color – approx. 92 yds
- 5mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- (1) 3/16” x 18” wood dowel
- (1) 3/8” x 24” wood dowel
- Blocking mat, pins, spray bottle with water
DIMENSSIONS
The finished project measures approximately 19” x 19” (without top dowel).
ALTERNATIVES
- Feel free to use a 4mm crochet hook if you wish the end product to be a bit smaller. Using a smaller crochet hook is a good alternative for tapestry crochet beginners.
- If you follow the pattern instructions as it is, you can easily convert the wall hanging into a pillowcase by crocheting a back panel and stitching the two panels together. It should fit a 20″ x 20″ pillow insert without a problem.
COPYRIGHT
This pattern and associated images are copyright protected and the sole property of Haven Crochet Designs. The pattern is for personal use only and may not be redistributed, transferred, or sold. Please do not alter the pattern in order to claim it as your own. Items produced from my patterns may be sold at your discretion. However, I kindly ask that you credit me as the designer and provide a link back to my site www.havencrohetdesigns.com, or provide my social media handle @havencrochetdesigns. For more details, see Terms and Conditions.
