Sai-Ou No Uma

塞翁之 (Sai-ou No) is of an old guy living near a fortress. 馬 (Uma) is a horse.
-->Literaly means "A horse of an old guy living near a fortress".

Explaining
Happiness and unhappiness always comes around. Do not be happy even though good things happen. Do not be sad even though bad things happen.

This Japanese proverb derives from Chinese ancient story.
Sai-ou has a an old horse and it ran away from him. Many villagers consoled him but he said "this can not be called bad".
Then the horse came back to him with a new young horse. Many villagers congratulated him but he said "this can not be called good".
Then his son got on the young one, dropped from it and broke his leg. Many villagers consoled him again but he said "this can not be called bad".
Sooner or later, his village was invaded and many guys fought against it, and most of them were dead or injured even though they won. But his son was safe because he could not go to the fight due to his broken leg.

Ka Cho Fu Getsu

花(Ka) is a flower. 鳥(Cho) is a bird. 風(Fu) is wind. 月(Getsu) is the moon.
-->Literallyy means "Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon"

Explaining:
The beauties of nature.

This Japanese proverb is showing the sense of Japanese people. They feel beauty most in these four elements and have made many paintings and poems. That is why these four elements are considered as the beauties of nature.

Ichi-go Ichi-e

一期 (Ichi-go) is lifetime. 一会 (Ichi-e) is one time.
--> Literally means "One time in your life".

Explaining:
Every encounter is important because it is only one time in your life and will never recur.

This is the Japanese proverb created by Japanese Tea Ceremony master Sen No Rikyu. He thought present will never come again. So He welcomed and treated people with his tea as best as he could. If you won't you will regret because you may not see them again. This thought is also linked to Zen.