Chinese Art and Poetry

The Lord is the Lord of the garden of peace

2011-10-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

024

Chang Jian

AT WANG CHANGLIN' S RETREAT

Here, beside a clear deep lake,
You live accompanied by clouds;
Or soft through the pine the moon arrives
To be your own pure-hearted friend.
You rest under thatch in the shadow of your flowers,
Your dewy herbs flourish in their bed of moss.
Let me leave the world. Let me alight, like you,
On your western mountain with phoenixes and cranes.

allChinanet

Surah 10 - Yunus JONAH

010.025 But God doth call to the Home of Peace: He doth guide whom He pleaseth to a way that is straight.

010.026 To those who do right is a goodly - Yea, more! No darkness nor shame shall cover their faces! they are companions of the garden; they will abide therein!

Luke 1:46 And Mary said:

My soul doth magnify the Lord. 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:

Prophecy Of Ezechiel (Ezeckiel, Chapter One, The time of Ezechiel's prophecy: he sees a glorious vision of the Son of God, 'Isa al-Maseeh prior to his incarnation.

[1] Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, when I was in the midst of the captives by the river Chobar, the heavens were opened, and I saw the visions of God. [2] On the fifth day of the month, the same was the fifth year of the captivity of king Joachin, [3] The word of the Lord came to Ezechiel the priest the son of Buzi in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the hand of the Lord was there upon him. [4] And I saw, and behold a whirlwind came out of the north: and a great cloud, and a fire infolding it, and brightness was about it: and out of the midst thereof, that is, out of the midst of the fire, as it were the resemblance of amber: [5] And in the midst thereof the likeness of four living creatures: and this was their appearance: there was the likeness of a man in them.

Gospel According to Luke, Chapter Two, The birth of Christ.

[6] And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Gospel According to Matthew, chapter Five, Christ's sermon upon the mount. The eight beatitudes.

[1] And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. [2] And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: [3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. [5] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

[6] Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. [7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. [10] Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[11] Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: [12] Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

Tao Te Ching Tao and Virtue Classic - Chapter 13

Favor and disgrace make one fearful
The greatest misfortune is the self
What does "favor and disgrace make one fearful" mean?
Favor is high; disgrace is low
Having it makes one fearful
Losing it makes one fearful
This is "favor and disgrace make one fearful"
What does "the greatest misfortune is the self" mean?
The reason I have great misfortune
Is that I have the self
If I have no self
What misfortune do I have?
So one who values the self [conscience directed to and in submission to God] as the world
Can be given the world
One who loves the self as the world
Can be entrusted with the world

From Christ's Sermon on the Mount: The poor in spirit: That is, the humble; and they whose spirit is not set upon riches. When humble before God, Allah swt, then the spirit of a person is one with the Holy Spirit of God and open by one's conscience, al Damir, conscientia, synteresis, to the will of God and submission, as perfectly exemplified by the virgin of God Maryam, makes one in union with God and His will and blessings.

Luke 12:31
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Then shall all the trees of the forest rejoice at the presence of the Lord

2011-10-28T14:14:00.001-07:00

A Canticle Praise. David’s When the House Was Built After the Captivity. Without Superscription among the Hebrews, 95.

O sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless His name; proclaim from day to day the good tidings of His salvation. Declare among the nations His glory, and among all peoples His wonders. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are demons, but the Lord made the heavens. Praise and beauty are before Him, holiness and majesty are in His sanctuary. Bring to the Lord, ye kindreds of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honour; bring to the Lord the glory due unto His name. Bring sacrifices, and go into His courts; worship the Lord in His holy court. Let the earth be shaken at His presence; say among the nations that the Lord is king. For He hath established the world which shall not be shaken; He shall judge the people in uprightness. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; let the sea be shaken, and the fullness thereof. The plains shall be joyful, and all the things therein. Then shall all the trees of the forest rejoice at the presence of the Lord, for He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.

David’s. When the Land Was Restored to Him. Without Superscription among the Hebrews, 96.

The Lord is king, let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about Him; righteousness and judgement are the establishment of His throne. Fire shall go before Him, and shall burn up His enemies round about. His lightnings have shone forth throughout the world; the earth saw it and was shaken. The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. The heavens declared His righteousness, and all the peoples saw His glory. Let all be put to shame that worship graven things, that boast themselves of their idols. Worship Him, all ye His angels; Sion heard and was glad, And the daughters of Judea rejoiced because of Thy judgements, O Lord. For Thou art Lord Most High over all the earth, Thou art exalted far above all the gods. Ye that love the Lord, see to it that ye hate evil. The Lord preserveth the souls of His saints; from the hand of the sinner shall He deliver them. A light hath dawned forth for the righteous man, and gladness for the upright of heart. Be glad in the Lord, O ye righteous, and give thanks for the remembrance of His holiness.
Glory.

Art work (Number 2 at linked site in title)

Art, Pastoral Landscape, Chinese Art, Chen YuLian Chinese Painting works. Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. Traditional painting involves essentially the same techniques as calligraphy and is done with a brush dipped in black or colored ink; oils are not used. As with calligraphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made of are paper and silk. The finished work is then mounted on scrolls, which can be hung or rolled up. Traditional painting also is done in albums and on walls, lacquerwork, and other media.

Jesus Christ the way, and the truth, and the life - the vine

2011-10-28T14:13:00.001-07:00

Gospel According to Saint John
Chapter 14

[6] Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.

Chapter 15

Jesus speaking

[1] I am the true vine; and my Father is the husbandman. [2] Every branch in me, that beareth not fruit, he will take away: and every one that beareth fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now you are clean by reason of the word, which I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine: you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

[6] If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you. [8] In this is my Father glorified; that you bring forth very much fruit, and become my disciples. [9] As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father's commandments, and do abide in his love.

[11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. [12] This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. [13] Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you. [15] I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.

[16] You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. [17] These things I command you, that you love one another. [18] If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you. [19] If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

[21] But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake: because they know not him who sent me. [22] If I had not come, and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. [23] He that hateth me, hateth my Father also. [24] If I had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. [25] But that the word may be fulfilled which is written in their law: They hated me without cause.

[26] But when the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me. [27] And you shall give testimony, because you are with me from the beginning.

Number 1

Testimony for Asaph; a Psalm Concerning the Assyrian, 79.

O Shepherd of Israel, attend, Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Thou that sittest on the cherubim, manifest Thyself before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasses. Stir up Thy might and come to save us. O God, make us to return and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt Thou be wroth against the prayer of Thy servants? Wilt Thou feed us with the bread of tears, and wilt Thou give us for drink tears in measure? Thou hast made us a gainsaying among our neighbours, and our enemies have scoffed at us. O Lord of hosts, make us to return and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. A vine hast Thou brought out of Egypt, Thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it. Thou hast prepared the way before it, and Thou hast planted the roots thereof, and it filled the earth. The shadows thereof covered the mountains, and the boughs thereof the cedars of God. It stretched forth its shoots unto the sea, and its branches unto the rivers. Why hast Thou broken down the hedge thereof, and all that pass along the way do pluck the fruit? The boar of the forest hath laid it to waste, and the wild beast hath devoured it. O God of hosts, return again; and look down from heaven and behold, and visit this vine, And perfect that which Thy right hand hath planted, and look upon the son of man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself. It is burned with fire and is dug up; at the rebuke of Thy face they shall perish. Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, and upon the son of man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself. And we will not depart from Thee; Thou shalt quicken us, and we will call upon Thy name. O Lord God of hosts, make us to return and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

For the End: A Canticle Psalm for Asaph Concerning the Winepresses, 80.

Rejoice in God our helper, shout with joy to the God of Jacob. Take up a psalm, and bring the timbrel, the pleasant psaltery with the harp. Sound the trumpet at the new moon, in the notable day of our feast. For this is an ordinance for Israel and a judgement of the God of Jacob. He ordained it for a testimony in Joseph when he went out from the land of Egypt; a tongue which he knew not did he hear. He removed his back from burdens; his hands had slaved at the basket. Thou didst call upon Me in affliction, and I delivered thee; I heard thee in the secret place of the tempest, I made trial of thee at the water of gainsaying. Hear, O My people, and I will speak unto thee, O Israel, and I will testify unto thee; if thou hearest Me, there shall be in thee no new god, nor shalt thou worship an alien god, For I am the Lord thy God Who led thee out of the land of Egypt. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But My people heard not My voice, and Israel gave no heed unto Me. And I let them go according to the ways of their hearts; they shall walk in their own ways. If My people had heard of Me, if Israel had walked in My ways, Quickly would I have humbled their enemies, and upon their oppressors would I have laid My hand. The enemies of the Lord have lied unto Him, but in that age their time shall come. And He fed them with the fat of the wheat, and with honey out of the rock He satisfied them.

Glory be to the Father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit.
As is was before all time and now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

" ...and the fish of the sea"

2011-10-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

For the End: A Psalm of David Concerning the Winepresses, 8.

O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth! For Thy magnificence is lifted high above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast Thou perfected praise, because of Thine enemies, to destroy the enemy and avenger. For I will behold the heavens, the works of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast founded. What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels; with glory and honour hast Thou crowned him, and Thou hast set him over the works of Thy hands. All things hast Thou subjected under his feet, sheep, and all oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, the things that pass through the paths of the sea. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth!

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
who takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
who are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For you alone are Holy, you alone are Lord, you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen

and the fish of the sea

Art, Liang YanSheng Chinese Art Painting, flowers, birds, animals. Works of Chinese painting. In the painting a great breakthrough creation, formed its own artistic style of painting. Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. Traditional painting involves essentially the same techniques as calligraphy and is done with a brush dipped in black or colored ink; oils are not used. As with calligraphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made of are paper and silk. The finished work is then mounted on scrolls, which can be hung or rolled up. Traditional painting also is done in albums and on walls, lacquerwork, and other media.

God creator of all

2011-08-01T22:53:00.001-07:00

Surah 10 - Yunus JONAH
010.003 Verily your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne, regulating and governing all things. No intercessor except after His leave. This is God your Lord; Him therefore serve ye: will ye not receive admonition?

Psalms 89:2
Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world was formed; from eternity and to eternity thou art God.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shitao02.jpg

Clambering up the Cold Mountain path,

The Cold Mountain trail goes on and on:

The long gorge choked with scree and boulders,

The wide creek, the mist-blurred grass.

The moss is slippery, though there's been no rain

The pine sings, but there's no wind.

Who can leap the world's ties

And sit with me among the white clouds?

Han Shan

Psalms 96:5
The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

Surah 10
010.018 They serve, besides God, things that hurt them not nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with God." Say: "Do ye indeed inform God of something He knows not, in the heavens or on earth?- Glory to Him! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!"

2 Kings (2 Samuel) 22:2
And he said: The Lord is my rock, and my strength, and my saviour.

Matthew 17:19

Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief. For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

Apocalypse (Revelation) 21:10
And he took me up in spirit to a great and high mountain: and he shewed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

2 Timothy 1:10

But is now made manifest by the illumination of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath destroyed death, and hath brought to light life and incorruption by the gospel:

Matthew 16:15
Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?

John 10:14
[Jesus said] I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me.

John 12:46
[Jesus said] I am come a light into the world; that whosoever believeth in me, may not remain in darkness.

Christ's Kenosis

Tao Te Ching and Virtue Classic - Chapter 16
Attain the ultimate emptiness
Hold on to the truest tranquility
The myriad things are all active
I therefore watch their return
Everything flourishes; each returns to its root
Returning to the root is called tranquility
Tranquility is called returning to one's nature
Returning to one's nature is called constancy
Knowing constancy is called clarity
Not knowing constancy, one recklessly causes trouble
Knowing constancy is acceptance
Acceptance is impartiality
Impartiality is sovereign
Sovereign is Heaven
Heaven is Tao
Tao is eternal
The self is no more, without danger

Chinese Gardens

2010-09-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Chinese Gardens

Especially see these beautiful gardens and scroll paintings.

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. But it needed to be real and not feigned, as Confucius notes below.

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."

God said:

Wisdom 10:10
He, Wisdom, conducted the just, when he fled from his brother's wrath, through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, and accomplished his labours.

Luke 17
20 And being asked ..., when the kingdom of God should come? he answered them, and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say: Behold here, or behold there. For lo, the kingdom of God is within you.

Christ is the Crocus of Eternal and New Life

2008-11-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

The Chinese use plants: bamboo, plum blossoms, chrysanthemums and the orchid as symbols which speak about life and virtue.

The significance of the plum blossom runs deep in Chinese history - it signifies feminine beauty and the ideal of chosen seclusion and moral rectitude.
The story is told that Meifei had become the favorite concubine of the Emperor. She surrounded herself with plum blossom trees and at blooming time lingered among them into the night. Meifei was retiring, cultivated and compliant. In time, she lost favor with the Emperor to Yang Gifei who was aggressive, vulgar, vindictive and shrewd.

Now Meifei spent her lonely hours writing about plum blossoms, comparing her fleeting happiness to the short life of the plum petals that soon fell to the ground. At her death, she was buried beneath the flowering plums, and so, the plum tree came to symbolize feminine inner beauty of soul.

In the Song Period, the plum became an enduring emblem of the high minded scholar. Li Bu lived a life of modest retirement on Gushan ("Lone Mountain"). He devoted himself to calligraphy, poetry, planting plum trees and raising cranes. Although he was poor, he did not seek fame. He never married and so the people said the flowering plum was his wife and cranes his children and so, the flowering plum became associated with chosen seclusion and moral pre-eminence.
________________________________________________________________________

Also, note that what is sometimes called the Lotus flower is actually the Crocus and in the ancient world a symbol of the Resurrection (not reincarnation). The crocus we refer to here are the ones growing from earth (not swamps like reincarnation lotuses) especially the snow crocus for its early bloom while snow is on the ground. Jesus Christ is the First born of Mary (the blessed virgin who is the Christmas rose of pure white), He is also the First born from the dead in the flesh – the first one resurrected – who will resurrect us. The snow crocus is deep blue just like the traditional color associated with nativity scenes.

"All Wisdom comes from the LORD...
He poured it forth upon all his creatures." (Sir 1:1,8)
Mary is the spikenard (fragrance of incense before the Lord) of whom was the Christ, Who is the Word Wisdom and Power of the Father in the Unity and Power and Bond of love of the Holy Spirit, may the Holy God especially by the prayer of Mary bless you.

He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with the empire.
- Lao Tzu

Christ gave Himself on the Cross for our salvation

CHINESE PAINTING

2007-05-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

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

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

2007-05-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

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

* * *

________________________________________________________________

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

2007-05-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

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