Taoism And The Arts of China Introduction

Taoism And The Arts of China Introduction The first significant conference on the subject of Taoism and its influence on Chinese art has given rise to Taoism and the Arts of China. The exhibition and this catalog are based on several decades of groundbreaking Taoist research conducted by Chinese religious experts in Japan, Europe, and America. Both examine how Taoism has been central to traditional Chinese thought, where change is viewed as a necessary component of reality. The value of taoism is paramount. The exhibition is based on the notion that knowing Taoism in traditional Monai China can help us better understand modern China, namely in the context of Chinese social and political history. This objective appears especially pertinent given the current resurgence of Taoism in China and the growing popularity of Asian-based faiths in the West. The Arts of China examines two complementary modes of Taoist practice: Taoism that serves the spiritual needs of the individual and Taoism that serves the spiritual needs of the community. Throughout Taoism history, the highest caliber artworks have been produced for didactic and ritual purposes. We are able to examine important creative and intellectual developments in Taoist history through the more than 150 artworks on display. The Art Institute extends its sincere gratitude to the several people and organizations whose kind loans, financial assistance, and insightful advice made this exhibition possible. More specific gratitude is expressed in the acknowledgements. I can only name a handful here. First and foremost, I would like to thank Dr. Emily Sano, Director of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, which is the only other location for this exhibition. It is very satisfying to have this cooperation with this museum because of its exceptional collections and the significance of Chinese culture in northern California. I was given the concept for this groundbreaking show five years ago by Stephen Little, the Art Institute of Chicago's Pritzker Curator of Asian Art. Dr. Little assembled eminent experts in Chinese religion, history, and art to help arrange the show and contribute to this publication, all in the aim of providing a strong intellectual and historical backdrop for the artworks on display. He traveled the world, visiting Asia and Europe on multiple occasions, seeking out and arranging the import of the most important Taoist art pieces. In all regions, he was welcomed with open arms and learned essential lessons. We are grateful to Dr. 1 for his accomplishment, which would have looked unattainable without his expertise as a curator, art historian, historian, linguist, and generalist. Ultimately, this kind of project needed a significant amount of funding, which was given by kind grants from several foundations and cultural organizations. We extend our sincere gratitude to the following organizations for their invaluable assistance in making this project a reality: the W. L. S. Spencer Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, the Freeman Family Foundation, the Estate of William Bronson Mitchell and Grayce Slovet Mitchell, and the E. Rhodes and Lewis 6. Carpenter Foundation. Major grants to our initiative were given by the federal cultural agencies, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, which is a significant support of our work. We offer this publication and the exhibition that goes with it in the hope that visitors and readers will leave with a new appreciation for one of the most influential philosophical and religious traditions in the world, as well as a new understanding of the role the visual arts have played in Taoist belief and practice over the last two millennia and new paths of communication and evolution that are being forged between China and the United States.