Content is the soul of an artwork.
Thus, catching the soul of Chinese calligraphy requires understanding the literary contents. To facilitate this, the Calligraphy Meets Philosophy series presents traditional Chinese calligraphy alongside line-by-line translated texts with remarks and footnotes.
Traditional Chinese calligraphy is not just about physical aesthetics. The art is also a reflection of one's temperament, charisma, refinement, and philosophies(1). Literary contents scribed by calligraphers thus play a significant role in the art and should never be overlooked. Indeed, Lanting Xu (《 蘭亭序 》), the most renowned piece of calligraphy in Chinese history, is not only praised for its aesthetics but also for its literary content(2).
Calligraphy Meets Philosophy - Talk 1 (《 尚語∙第一話 》) includes three calligraphic works and their translations: Heart Sutra (《般若波羅蜜多心經》), Great Learning (《大學》), and Zhuangzi - The Secret of Caring for Life (《莊子∙養生主》). It also includes Revisions to "An English Translation and the Correct Interpretation of Laozi's Tao Te Ching".
This book could not have been published without the help of my father, Dr Kwok Kin POON (潘國鍵博士). I sincerely thank his priceless advice in my translations throughout the series. His unwavering support and tutelage have always been the chief drivers of my passion for learning and transmitting traditional Chinese calligraphy and culture.
Knowledge is never pursued alone.
KS Vincent Poon
August 2022, Toronto