Figure of Bodhidharma
17th century Ming Dynasty

Other people have what they need;
I alone possess nothing.
I alone drift about,
like someone without a home.
I am like an idiot, my mind is so empty.

























Wooded Mountains at Dusk
1666 Qing Dynasty
Kuncan

Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place.













The Sixteen Luohans
1591 Ming Dynasty
Wu Bin

The ancient Masters were profound and subtle.
Their wisdom was unfathomable.
There is no way to describe it;
all we can describe is their appearance.
























Dish with Scalloped Rim
early 15th century
Ming Dynasty

Know the white,
yet keep to the black:
be a pattern for the world.
If you are a pattern for the world,
the Tao will be strong inside you
and there will be nothing you can't do.
























"Garden of the Unsuccessful politician"
1551 Ming Dynasty
Wen Zhengming

The Master never reaches for the great;
thus she achieves greatness.
When she runs into a difficulty,
she stops and gives herself to it.
She doesn't cling to her own comfort;
thus problems are no problem for her.



















Plate
Mid 14th century
Yuan Dynasty

Act without doing;
work without effort.
Think of the small as large
and the few as many.
Confront the difficult
while it is still easy;
accomplish the great task
by a series of small acts

























"Seven-lobed platter with scene of children at play"
14th century Yuan Dynasty

If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.







"Twin Pines, Level Distance"
ca. 1300 Yuan Dynasty
Zhao Mengfu

Seeing into darkness is clarity.
Knowing how to yield is strength.
Use your own light
and return to the source of light.
This is called practicing eternity.



















"Scholar by a Waterfall"
late 12th- early 13th century
Ma Yuan
Southern Song Dynasty

The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.


"Dragon Pine"
ca. 1400
Wu Boli

When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.