The Study Of Confucianism And Daoism In China

Calligraphy, or an art of writing, was the visual art form prized above all others in traditional China. It was not until the Song dynasty, when painting became closely allied with calligraphy in form and technique. In addition to the central role played by the written word in traditional Chinese culture, is the distinctive visual form of the written language. The Chinese characters are dynamic, closely bound to nature and the kinesthetic energies of the human body. Calligraphy is the counterbalance of order and dynamism manifested in all aspects of Chinese writing. Calligraphy and Swordship are a connection, through the composure of writing the words and display many aspects of Confucianism and Daoism throughout. The fundamental study of

To the Chinese, “the world consists of and operates on two great powers that are opposing in nature: yin, like a negative force in the Western terms; and yang, analogous to a positive one” (Wendan 176). These two concepts are represented in the Daoist symbol known as the Great Ultimate; the black part is yin and the white part is yang. The Great Ultimate represents duality and unity. “Yin and yang are two poles between which all manifestation takes place” (Wendan 176). There is a major difference in the metaphors of Western culture and the Chinese view of these opposites, in which oppositions are always in conflict. The Chinese view is where the two fundamentally different forces are not in opposition but in perfect harmony. “They complement each other and come together to form a whole” (Wendan 177). These two forces cannot exist without the other, while one is integral to the other. Yin and yang may appear to be different but ultimately are caused by the same energy source. “The Daoist philosophy of yin and yang and the dialectic of diversity within unity have nurtured and fundamentally determined the character of the art of calligraphy” (Wendan 178). A perfect example is the pure contrast of black writing on a plain white background. These concepts, along with wisdom, are the foundation of the aesthetics of Chinese