Taoist Teachings: An Analysis Through Chinese Calligraphy — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Thomas Carr
Katherin Hilson
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Sarah Terrill

Taoist Teachings: An Analysis Through Chinese Calligraphy

Name: Mary England
Major: Graphic Design & Studio Art
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Abstract

For this class project, our goal was to select a passage from the book Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, analyze, through cross-cultural comparisons, the Confucianist and Taoist teachings, and offer a personal interpretation of our selection. From this passage we were to also choose kanji or hanzi characters that represented it and design a couplet in the Chinese calligraphy style. The significance of this project can be seen in the unique approach made to understanding the Confucianist and Taoist teachings through calligraphy, and the practice thereof, especially from the point of view of a non-native of Asia. To arrive at the characters chosen, I analyzed passage number 78 from the book Tao Te Ching. The main theme is the overcoming nature and duality of water and how it relates to the contradiction of elements throughout life. The result of this project is a scroll with the couplet I chose done in Chinese calligraphy representing what I think passage 78 means.

Poster file

Submit date: March 15, 2015, 11:49 p.m.