Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.This is the second of the biblical commandments. God forbids the creation of his likeness or of anything in the heavenly realm.
~ King James version ~
Tao doesn't care if we make artworks of Tao or not.
~ possible Taoist alternative ~
Art is an expression of sentient beings. It is our way of trying to represent that which is indefinable. Tao is neither moved nor unmoved. Tao could care less.
If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.
This verse in Exodus is not talking about art. The literal translation of this verse is: "Thou shall not make for thyself a graven image; and any form which [is] in the heavens (from) above, and which [is] in the earth (from) beneath, and which [is] in the water (from) under (to) the earth- thou shalt not prostrate thyself to them, and not thou shalt serve them..."
ReplyDeleteSo it's really not about making art it is about worshiping the things in nature. In fact, they can almost be separated into two commandments: Thou shall not make grave images. AND Thou shall not worship any form found within nature.
:)
Isn't the Tao formless, though? How then are we supposed to make images of it? If we make things and call them images of the Tao, are we not misrepresenting it, and thus misleading others?
ReplyDeleteThe Tao may not care what I do, but I care what I do, and that is enough.