Chinese Talk - Chapter 1 of Dao De Jing [道可道非常道] (Artist 李善單Lee Sun Don's Work: Bodhi/Mind Talk)

 

Artist: Lee Sun Don

Title: Bodhi • Mind Talk 

Year: 2015

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 60x150cm (45F)

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When a sense is practicable, it must be an remarkable one; (道可道，非常道) when a name is namable, it must be an outstanding one. （名可名，非常名）
Void is the name of start for universe (無，名天地之始）; Existence is the name of origin for nature.  （有，名萬物之母）

Accordingly, to return Void is to see the wonder, and to recall Existence is to see the wishes. （故常無，欲以觀其妙；常有，欲以觀其徼）

                 Void and Existence are both differently named silk threads which combine together into 
                   one string. （此兩者，同出而異其名，同謂之玄。）
                 
                  The performance of the string by string sews a gate to enjoy various 
                  wonders. （玄之又玄，眾妙之門）

Reference: 
Who is Laozi??  (Reference: wikipedia)


"Laozi (also Lao-Tzu or Lao-Tze) was a philosopher and poet of ancient China. He is known as the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching[1] and the founder of philosophical Taoism, and as a deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions. Although a legendary figure, he is usually dated to around the 6th century BCE and reckoned a contemporary of Confucius, but some historians contend that he actually lived during the Warring States period of the 5th or 4th century BCE. 
A central figure in Chinese culture, Laozi is claimed by both the emperors of the Tang dynasty and modern people of the Li surname as a founder of their lineage. Throughout history, Laozi's work has been embraced by various anti-authoritarian movements. "

Laozi, depicted as Daode Tianzun Born 5th–6th Century BCE Zhou Dynasty