Daoism and Art: 

A Journey through Aesthetics, Philosophy, and Practice

"Daoism and Art: A Journey through Aesthetics, Philosophy, and Practice." This is suitable for an undergraduate or graduate level, and can be adapted for online or in-person delivery.


📘 Course Title: Daoism and Art: A Journey through Aesthetics, Philosophy, and Practice


🎯 Course Overview:

This course explores the profound relationship between Daoist philosophy and artistic expression in traditional and contemporary contexts. Through critical readings, visual analysis, hands-on practice, and interdisciplinary exploration, students will understand how Daoist thought has influenced Chinese and global art traditions in form, technique, and metaphysical insight.


📚 Course Structure:

  • Duration: 14 Weeks
  • Level: Upper-level undergraduate / Introductory graduate
  • Credits: 3
  • Prerequisites: Intro to Philosophy or Intro to Asian Religions (recommended, not required)


🧭 Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the fundamental principles of Daoism.
  2. Analyze Daoist aesthetics in visual and literary arts.
  3. Interpret the influence of Daoism in traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, poetry, architecture, and performance.
  4. Examine the relationship between spontaneity, nature, and technique.
  5. Practice artistic techniques rooted in Daoist principles (e.g., brushwork, meditative drawing).
  6. Compare Daoist influence across global art movements and contemporary practices.


🧾 Weekly Breakdown

Week 1: Introduction to Daoism

  • Topics: Origins of Daoism, Laozi, Zhuangzi, basic cosmology
  • Readings: Dao De Jing (Selections), Zhuangzi (Selections)
  • Activity: Group discussion on the Dao and wu wei
  • Assignment: Reflection paper: "What is Art in Daoism?"

Week 2: Daoist Cosmology and Aesthetics

  • Topics: Yin-Yang, the Five Elements, Qi, Emptiness and Fullness
  • Readings: Robinet’s Taoism: Growth of a Religion
  • Visuals: Daoist cosmological diagrams and talismans
  • Activity: Analyze a landscape painting through a cosmological lens

Week 3: The Way of the Brush – Calligraphy and Dao

  • Topics: Calligraphy as a spiritual practice
  • Readings: Essays by Tsung Bing and Shen Tsung-ch’ien
  • Practice: Introduction to brush techniques
  • Assignment: Calligraphic composition inspired by a Daoist aphorism

Week 4: Daoism in Chinese Landscape Painting (山水)

  • Topics: Nature, emptiness, and spontaneity in art
  • Visuals: Works by Fan Kuan, Guo Xi, Ma Yuan
  • Readings: James Cahill, The Lyric Journey
  • Assignment: Analytical essay on landscape and the Dao

Week 5: Poetry and the Dao

  • Topics: Nature, ineffability, and meditation in Chinese poetry
  • Readings: Wang Wei, Li Bai, Du Fu (Selected poems)
  • Activity: Write a poem using Daoist imagery and style

Week 6: Zhuangzi and the Playfulness of Art

  • Topics: Humor, paradox, and liberation through art
  • Readings: Zhuangzi (Butterfly dream, Cook Ding)
  • Visuals: Comic scrolls and Zen parodies
  • Assignment: Creative visual project (draw, collage, or comic)

Week 7: Daoist Temples and Sacred Space

  • Topics: Architecture and symbolism in Daoist temples
  • Visuals: Temple plans, altars, sacred mountains
  • Activity: Design a floorplan or symbolic map of a Daoist temple

Week 8: Daoism, Alchemy, and Ritual Art

  • Topics: Internal/external alchemy, talismans, diagrams
  • Readings: Fabrizio Pregadio (on Daoist alchemy)
  • Visuals: Spirit-writing, charts, Daoist liturgy
  • Assignment: Annotated presentation on a ritual object or art

Week 9: Daoism and Martial Arts as Performance Art

  • Topics: Tai Chi, Kung Fu, bodily flow and qi
  • Activity: Demonstration and movement workshop
  • Assignment: Journal reflection on embodiment and flow

Week 10: Daoism and Contemporary Art

  • Topics: Daoist thought in modern Chinese and Western art
  • Case Studies: Xu Bing, Ai Weiwei, Agnes Martin, John Cage
  • Assignment: Comparative essay: traditional vs. contemporary Daoist-influenced art

Week 11: The Art of Non-Doing: Wu Wei in Practice

  • Topics: Spontaneity, minimalism, improvisation
  • Practice: Free-drawing or movement session
  • Assignment: Create an art piece (any medium) based on wu wei

Week 12: Daoism and Ecology in Art

  • Topics: Harmony with nature, eco-aesthetics, biophilic design
  • Readings: David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous (excerpts)
  • Assignment: Group project: propose an eco-art installation

Week 13: Student Project Presentations

  • Activity: Present final projects (artwork, essays, multimedia)
  • Peer review: Reflect and give feedback

Week 14: Integration and Reflection

  • Topics: What does it mean to “live artfully” in the Daoist sense?
  • Discussion: Synthesis of learning
  • Final Submission: Portfolio with written reflection


🧑‍🎓 Evaluation Criteria

  • Participation & Engagement – 20%
  • Weekly Assignments & Reflections – 30%
  • Midterm Essay/Project – 20%
  • Final Project & Presentation – 30%


📖 Required Texts:

  • Dao De Jing, tr. D.C. Lau or Roger Ames
  • Zhuangzi, tr. Burton Watson
  • The Tao of Chinese Landscape Painting, by Michael Sullivan
  • The Way of the Brush, by Fritz van Briessen
  • Selected journal articles and PDFs (provided digitally)


🛠️ Suggested Tools & Materials:

  • Chinese calligraphy set (brush, ink, paper)
  • Sketchpad or journal
  • Access to digital art tools or camera (optional)