The Embodied image new perspectives on the beauty, offers power, and art of the written word in China. Containing many never-before-published masterpieces from the third century to the modern period, all from the premier John B. Elliott Collection, this volume accompanies the most comprehensive exhibition of Chinese calligraphy ever seen outside China.

Whether brushed on silk, cast on bronze, or engraved in stone, Chinese calligraphy evokes the forces of nature, promotes social ideals, and asserts the creativity of individual artists. Scholarly essays by distinguished Chinese and American scholars examine the complex relationships between calligraphy and religion, poetry, and literature. The Embodied Image makes a landmark contribution to the understanding of Chinese calligraphy and civilization.