Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

The art of calligraphy embodies the essence of the Tao Te Ching written by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. The art of calligraphy continues to transmediate it’s presence throughout various cultures even in today’s modern world. The nature of calligraphy as not only a work of art, but also the embodiment of the creative force in the individual strikes a deep chord with people today in all cultures. Calligraphy’s blending of ritual and continuity with personality and innovation reflect the Taoist ideal and the sacred text of the Tao Te Ching in finding the way, the path, or the true “Tao”, the search to define ourselves both as individuals and within a larger spiritual and historical context. Transmediation can be defined as a process of moving information from one communication system to another (Harste, Burke, & Short, 1988). This process encourages learners to generate new meanings and to expand existing ones. Through the art of calligraphy, the ancient words of Lao Tzu and his belief in Taoism continue to transcend cultural and generational differences. Lao Tzu writes in the Tao Te Ching, “The Tao is hidden deeply in all things. It is the treasure of the good And the refuge of the not-so-good. With ski