Entry 6: Taoism and Ancient Chinese

Entry 6: Taoism and ancient Chinese

     One of my passions is Asian artwork and culture. I was excited when reading the Asian contributions section of Meggs History of Graphic Design. It is amazing how much us Westerner owe to China. They invented paper and calligraphy. The picture on the left is of a page of a small book about Taoism I own. For those who don't know, Taoism is a ancient philosophy in China that is still taught today. You can find some of its influences in Buddhism. This book holds a special place in my art since my dad followed Buddhism.

     On the side of the page it reminds me of early versions of the Chinese characters. In the Chinese script there is a traditional version and a standardized version. Most people today use the Standardized version. The next picture is from Megg History of Graphic Design and was created in the 11th century. According to the description it is a inscription found in a four-handled vessel with chinwen.   

3-3 Chapter 3 The Asian Contribution