HEAVEN AND EARTH In high antiquity, a unique kind of relationship developed between humans and nature, gradually creating a major change in perspective that marked the rise of Chinese culture. A painting by the Ming dynasty - TAASA Review December 2018

HEAVEN AND EARTH In high antiquity, a unique kind of relationship developed between humans and nature, gradually creating a major change in perspective that marked the rise of Chinese culture. A painting by the Ming dynasty – TAASA Review December 2018

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This article was originally found in the December 2018 edition of TAASA Review (Volume 27, Issue 4, Page 9).

The full article is available for free to TAASA Members.

master Qiu Ying (c1494ï¿½1552) illustrates the legend of the mythological sage ruler Fuxi looking up to have witnessed forms in the heaven, looking down to have seen patterns on the earth, and to have observed the decoration of birds and beasts' (NPM 2016: 14).

Based on these observations, he created the Eight Trigrams, combinations of broken and unbroken lines that symbolise and sum up all aspects of natural phenomena.

In Chinese culture, achieving a harmonious relationship among thethree powers’ of heaven, earth and humans is an important cornerstone for sustainable development...