The Concept of Nothingness in Dao's Wisdom and Its Manifestation in Chinese Landscape Painting and the Study of Mayoan’s Artworks

Abstract

If the word “contemplation” was studied in its full sense, that is, thoughtfulness with fear and trepidation, no notion such as nothingness and non-existence would have trembled the human soul. It is less a cultural and epistemological system that, in the foundation of its semantic structure, does not seek an answer to the question of nothingness. In the religion of Daoism, nothingness has become a fundamental concept. Daoism sees contemplation in the realm of nothingness as a way to understand existence. Daoist thinkers are constantly attempting to comprehend life and existence in relation to emptiness and non-existence; In fact, in this religion, non-existence is a prerequisite for those who are delayed in the concept of existence. The ideas of dualism and the concept of nothingness have been able to permeate various cultural forms throughout Chinese history. Clearly, traces of this notion is perceived in the schools of Chinese painting, and one can find a reflection of Daoist thoughts in their artworks. Our aim in this study is to follow the signs of the nothingness theory in the works of one of the greatest painters of the era of the rule of the South Song dynasty (1279-1127 AD) by the name of Mayoan (1225-1160 AD). In this study, ten artworks of Mayoan are selected and examined using a descriptive-analytical method. The results of the research indicate that the theory of nothingness has penetrated deeply into South Song's periodic painting and have been transferred to later periods in the form of a significant artistic tradition. Research aims: 1. Examining the concept of nothingness and emptiness in Daoism and its effect on Chinese painting. 2. Examining the concept of nothingness and emptiness during Mayoan's work. Research questions: 1. What effect has the concept of Daoist nothingness had on the art of Chinese painting? 2. How is the concept of nothingness manifested in Mayoan works?

Keywords

• nothingness
• emptiness
• mayoanism
• daoism
• painting