CHINESE PAINTING

http://www.albany.edu/faculty/hartman/eac280/19.html

* * *

God is reflected in His creation but is not His creation. He is the Creator.

Gn:1:
1 ¶ In the beginning God created heaven, and earth.
2 And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.
3 ¶ And God said: Be light made. And light was made.
4 And God saw the light that it was good; and he divided the light from the darkness.
5 And he called the light Day, and the darkness Night; and there was evening and morning one day.
6 ¶ And God said: Let there be a firmament made amidst the waters: and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made a firmament, and divided the waters that were under the firmament, from those that were above the firmament, and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament, Heaven; and the evening and morning were the second day.
9 ¶ God also said; Let the waters that are under the heaven, be gathered together into one place: and let the dry land appear. And it was so done.
10 And God called the dry land, Earth; and the gathering together of the waters, he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11 And he said: let the earth bring forth green herb, and such as may seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, which may have seed in itself upon the earth. And it was so done.
12 And the earth brought forth the green herb, and such as yieldeth seed according to its kind, and the tree that beareth fruit, having seed each one according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
14 ¶ And God said: Let there belightsmade in the firmament of heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:
15 To shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the earth, and it was so done.
16 And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day; and a lesser light to rule the night: and The stars.
17 And he set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the earth.
18 And to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 And the evening and morning were the fourth day.
20 ¶ God also said: let the waters bring forth the creeping creature having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the firmament of heaven.
21 And God created the great whales, and every living and moving creature, which the waters brought forth, according to their kinds, and every winged fowl according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 And he blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the waters of the sea: and let the birds be multiplied upon the earth.
23 And the evening and morning were the fifth day.
24 ¶ And God said: Let the earth bring forth the living creature in its kind, cattle and creeping things, and beasts of the earth, according to their kinds. And it was so done.
25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and cattle, and every thing that creepeth on the earth after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 ¶ And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth.
27 And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him: male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth.
29 ¶ And God said: Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own kind, to be your meat:
30 And to all beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to all that move upon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they may have to feed upon. And it was so done.
31 ¶ And God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very good. And the evening and morning were the sixth day.
(DRV)

______________________________________________________


500 BC
CONFUCIAN ANALECTS
Confucius
2

The Master said, "The superior man is catholic and not partisan. The
mean man is partisan and not catholic."

______________________________________________________

Tao Te Ching Chapter 25

There is something formlessly created
Born before Heaven and Earth
So silent! So ethereal!
Independent and changeless
Circulating and ceaseless
It can be regarded as the mother of the world
I do not know its name
Identifying it, I call it "Tao"
Forced to describe it, I call it great
Great means passing
Passing means receding
Receding means returning
Therefore the Tao is great
Heaven is great
Earth is great
The sovereign is also great
There are four greats in the universe
And the sovereign occupies one of them
Humans follow the laws of Earth
Earth follows the laws of Heaven
Heaven follows the laws of Tao
Tao follows the laws of nature

Chinese Gardens

http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~rviau/japanchinagardens.html

 

* * *

 

Lk:12:
54 ¶ And he said also to the multitudes: When you see a cloud rising from the west, presently you say: A shower is coming. And so it happeneth.
55  And when ye see the south wind blow, you say: There will be heat. And it cometh to pass.
56  You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth: but how is it that you do not discern this time?
57  And why, even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just?

 

 

Confucius saw the need to honor parents and neighbors. The ancient Chinese understood that such virtue, such justice, brought peace to the land.

 

 

                                     500 BC

                               CONFUCIAN ANALECTS

                                   Confucius

                              1

 

  The Master "Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance

and application?

  "Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?

  "Is he not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure

though men may take no note of him?"

  The philosopher Yu said, "They are few who, being filial and

fraternal, are fond of offending against their superiors. There have

been none, who, not liking to offend against their superiors, have

been fond of stirring up confusion.

  "The superior man bends his attention to what is radical. That being

established, all practical courses naturally grow up. Filial piety and

fraternal submission,-are they not the root of all benevolent

actions?"

  The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are

seldom associated with true virtue."

 

 

 

 

Seals and Calligraphy on Chinese Paintings

http://www.asia-art.net/chinese_brush.html

http://www.asia-art.net/chinese_ink_s.html

http://www.asia-art.net/calligraphy.html

* * *

The best composer of all is God Himself. He made all of creation.

Jn:1:

1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God: and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made.
4 In him was life: and the life was the light of men.
5 ¶ And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light.
9 That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world.
10 He was in the world: and the world was made by him: and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own: and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name.
13 Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
15 ¶ John beareth witness of him and crieth out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: He that shall come after me is preferred before me: because he was before me.
16 And of his fulness we all have received: and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses: grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Mt:7:14:
14 How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it! (DRV)

Jn:14:6:
6 Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. (DRV)

________________________________________________________________

500 BC

THE DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN

Confucius

What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with

this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is

called Instruction.

The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it

would not be the path. On this account, the superior man does not wait

till he sees things, to be cautious, nor till he hears things, to be

apprehensive.

There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing

more manifest than what is minute. Therefore the superior man is

watchful over himself, when he is alone.

While there are no stirrings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the

mind may be said to be in the state of Equilibrium. When those

feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree, there

ensues what may be called the state of Harmony. This Equilibrium is

the great root from which grow all the human actions in the world, and

this Harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue.

Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a

happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things

will be nourished and flourish.

Chung-ni said, "The superior man embodies the course of the Mean;

the mean man acts contrary to the course of the Mean.

"The superior man's embodying the course of the Mean is because he

is a superior man, and so always maintains the Mean. The mean man's

acting contrary to the course of the Mean is because he is a mean man,

and has no caution."

The Master said, "Perfect is the virtue which is according to the

Mean! Rare have they long been among the people, who could practice

it!

English translation of 300 Selected Poems from Tang Dynasty

http://www.chinapage.com/poem/300poem/t300a.html

* * *

Chen Ziang

ON A GATE-TOWER AT YUZHOU

I think of heaven and earth, without limit, without end,

_________________________________________________________

God’s creation is indeed without end in time although it had it’s beginning at the moment of creation. Although His creation is finite in space, He is not finite but infinite beyond all. Yet He is here with us.

Acts:17:27:
27 That they should seek God, if haply they may feel after him or find him, although he be not far from every one of us. (DRV)

The Gallery of China

http://www.the-gallery-of-china.com/

* * *

Mt:11:25:
25 ¶ At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. (DRV)

________________________________________________________

500 BC

THE GREAT LEARNING

Confucius

WHAT THE GREAT LEARNING teaches, is to illustrate illustrious

virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.

The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then

determined; and, that being determined, a calm unperturbedness may

be attained to. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose.

In that repose there may be careful deliberation, and that

deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end.

Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end

and their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will

lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning.

The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue

throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing

to order well their states, they first regulated their families.

Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their

persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified

their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be

sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts,

they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of

knowledge lay in the investigation of things.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their

knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their

thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts

being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being

cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being

regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being

rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.

From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must

consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.

It cannot be, when the root is neglected, that what should spring

from it will be well ordered. It never has been the case that what was

of great importance has been slightly cared for, and, at the same

time, that what was of slight importance has been greatly cared for.

________________________________________________________

Ps:104:18:
18 (103-18) The high hills are a refuge for the harts, the rock for the irchins. (DRV)

________________________________________________________

Tao Te Ching Chapter 81

True words are not beautiful
Beautiful words are not true
Those who are good do not debate
Those who debate are not good
Those who know are not broad of knowledge
Those who are broad of knowledge do not know
Sages do not accumulate
The more they assist others, the more they possess
The more they give to others, the more they gain
The Tao of heaven
Benefits and does not harm
The Tao of sages
Assists and does not contend

Chinese Poems with English Translation

http://www.chinapage.com/poetry.html

* * *

Ps:9:11:
11 ¶ (9-12) Sing ye to the Lord, who dwelleth in Sion: declare his ways among the peoples.

______________________________________________

To what can our life on earth be likened?
To a flock of geese,
alighting on the snow.
Sometimes leaving a trace of their passage.

Su Shi (Su Dongpo)

______________________________________________

The Way of Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.
- Lao Tzu

The Gallery of China

http://www.the-gallery-of-china.com/chinese-landscape-painting.html

* * *

Ps:115:15:
15 (113-23) Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (DRV)

_____________________________________________________________

You ask me why I dwell in the green mountain;
I smile and make no reply for my heart is free of care.
As the peach-blossom flows down stream and is gone into the unknown,
I have a world apart that is not among men.

Li Po

________________________________________________


Lk:17:21:
21 Neither shall they say: Behold here, or behold there. For lo, the kingdom of God is within you. (DRV)

Classical Chinese Poetry

http://www.chinapage.com/poetry9.html

* * *

Ps:13:6:
6 (12-6) But I have trusted in thy mercy. My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation: I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: yea, I will sing to the name of the Lord, the most high. (DRV)

___________________________________________________

500 BC
CONFUCIAN ANALECTS
Confucius
2

The Master said, "The superior man is catholic and not partisan. The
mean man is partisan and not catholic."

___________________________________________________

Tao Te Ching - Chapter 77

The Tao of Heaven
Is like drawing a bow
Lower that which is high
Raise that which is low
Reduce that which has excess
Add to that which is lacking
The Tao of heaven
Reduces the excessive
And adds to the lacking
The Tao of people is not so
It reduces the lacking
In order to offer to the excessive
Who can offer their excess to the world?
Only those who have the Tao
Therefore sages act without conceit
Achieve without claiming credit
They do not wish to display their virtue!

Landscape Painting in Chinese Art

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/clpg/hd_clpg.htm

* * *

Mt:11:25:
25 ¶ At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. (DRV)

________________________________________________________________

500 BC

THE GREAT LEARNING

Confucius

WHAT THE GREAT LEARNING teaches, is to illustrate illustrious

virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.

The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then

determined; and, that being determined, a calm unperturbedness may

be attained to. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there may be careful deliberation, and that
deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end.
Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end
and their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will
lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning.
The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue
throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing
to order well their states, they first regulated their families.
Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their
persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified
their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be
sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts,
they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of
knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their
knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their
thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts
being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being
cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being
regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being
rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.
From the Son of Heaven {the King of Heaven, God 王 and the son of the King of heaven, Immortal Son who is Jesus Christ, represented by a very close form with the same brush strokes with a slight elongation is the original in Chinese language} down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.

It cannot be, when the root is neglected, that what should spring
from it will be well ordered. It never has been the case that what was
of great importance has been slightly cared for, and, at the same
time, that what was of slight importance has been greatly cared for.

Classical Gardens

http://www.chinavista.com/suzhou/tour/garden.html

* * *

Mt:11:7:
7 ¶ And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? (DRV)

Mt:13:23:
23 But he that received the seed upon good ground, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth, and beareth fruit, and yieldeth the one an hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty. (DRV)

____________________________________________________________


500 BC
CONFUCIAN ANALECTS
Confucius
2

The Master said, "The superior man is catholic and not partisan. The
mean man is partisan and not catholic."

____________________________________________________________

Jn:14:6:
6 Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. (DRV)

Jn:3:16:
16 For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. (DRV)

Jn:3:19:
19 And this is the judgment: Because the light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil. (DRV)

Jn:3:21:
21 But he that doth truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest: because they are done in God. (DRV)

____________________________________________________________

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be
- Lao Tzu