User:Hannah Silverman/sandbox

Taoist Art

Taoist Art is art that uses imagery relating to the Taoist philosophy and narratives, which are "based on the writings of Lao-tzu that stresses living simply and honestly and in harmony with nature." The philosophy, tracing back to the late Bronze Age (third - fifth centuries B.C.), later developed into a set of religious practices. Currently Taoism is considered a "living religion, practiced in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and many overseas Chinese communities, and one that is undergoing a major revival in mainland Chinas today.”

The Chicago Institute of Art exhibition called Taoism and the Arts of China, presented at The Chicago Institute of Art (2000) emphasized late Han to Qing dynasties

: “The exhibition explores the beginnings of Taoist philosophy in the late Bronze Age (fifth-third centuries B.C.), the transformations of Taoism into an organized religion, the Taoist pantheon of gods who inhabit the stars and the heavens, modes of ritual and visualization, the cult of the immortals, and the role of landscape as a symbol of cosmic structure and process.”   and   “ While the focus is on Taoism in traditional China, it is hoped that the visitor will come away with the knowledge that Taoism is a living religion, practiced in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and many overseas communities, and one that is undergoing a major revival in mainland Chinas today.”  

“Significantly, Taoism has no supreme being. Instead there is the Tao itself, underlying and permeating reality. At the same time, paradoxically religious Taoism evolved many gods.  The high gods of Taoism, such as the Celestial Worthy  of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi tiansun) and the Perfected Warrior (Zhenwu) Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven, are ultimately mere pneuma who exist to put a recognizable face on the Tao itself."    p. 13 

  PNEUMA LINK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneuma

Beneficent Rain (1985.227.2) or https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1985.227.2/ "by the Celestial Master Zhang Yucai, the highest dignitary of the Orthodox Unity sect of southern Daoism, illustrates dragons—embodiments of cosmic energy capable of bringing forth clouds and rain." https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/daoi/hd_daoi.htm

Master Thunder (Lei Gong) https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1989.155/ According to Daoist scripture, this figure, the Li Star of the Southern Dipper, was granted the honorific title "Master Thunder" (Lei Gong) by the Jade Emperor, who also bestowed upon him a gold ball and chain. He often wears a plaque—seen here hanging across his right shoulder—that describes his merits: "compassionate, loyal, and virtuous." His official duties include protecting people, safeguarding the laws, and dispelling all manner of evil spirits. Accordingly, he is depicted riding on a flaming wheel and subduing a roiling sea of serpents as other Daoist deities offer spiritual reinforcement.

Augustin, Birgitta. “Daoism and Daoist Art.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/daoi/hd_daoi.htm (December 2011)