Heart-mind and Hand Acting in Harmony: An Interpretation of the Creation of Chinese Calligraphy

This paper explores the roles of the heart-mind (xin) and the hand (shou) in Chinese calligraphy, proposing that calligraphic creation is a psychosomatic process in which the artist’s psychological states and bodily movements unify through the flow of qi. The dynamic interplay between xin and shou is examined through the lens of Chinese philosophical aesthetics, which rejects mind-body dualism in favor of a holistic approach to human experience. The paper positions the calligrapher as the focal point from which both the aesthetic and moral dimensions of the calligraphic work emerge.