What do you think?
Rate this book
Les chats de Kwong Kuen Shan
The Cat and the Tao
The book contains forty original cat paintings, in colour, done by a Chinese artist now living in Britain. Kwong Kuen Shan has combined her exquisite paintings with sayings and quotes from the ancient Chinese masters, from Confucius to Chinese proverbs. The book contains full colour reproductions of the paintings.
86 pages, Hardcover
First published November 19, 2002
4 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 30, 2016
I was browsing through books at the store yesterday and discovered this small but lovely book. I was charmed by the cover right away and since I've decided that I must read more foreign -non english/american/french- books, it was a justified purchase (now was it ? that is another story).
It is a collection of forty watercolours of cats in a myriad of positions and situations. Some of the subjects happen to be the author's cats, others not. The author picked Chinese proverbs and great thinkers quote that fit perfectly with her paintings. I am not sure how to explain why I loved this so much. Something in Kwong Kuen Shan's art really spoke to me and I was utterly and completely transported.
I would very much like to find some of her work in poster form.
It is a collection of forty watercolours of cats in a myriad of positions and situations. Some of the subjects happen to be the author's cats, others not. The author picked Chinese proverbs and great thinkers quote that fit perfectly with her paintings. I am not sure how to explain why I loved this so much. Something in Kwong Kuen Shan's art really spoke to me and I was utterly and completely transported.
I would very much like to find some of her work in poster form.
September 6, 2017
Muito bonitinho, as ilustrações são soberbas e nunca é demais somá-las à sabedoria chinesa clássica.
August 8, 2018
I disegni ad acquarello che accompagnano la piccola collezione di massime di vita di cui si compone questo libriccino (e anche quello che lo segue, assai simile) sono molto soavi.
Un'idea carina per un regalo da dedicare a lettori gattofili.
Un'idea carina per un regalo da dedicare a lettori gattofili.
July 3, 2020
4.5
A beautiful little book, full of wisdom and beauty. A nice little parenthesis in time and a lovely way to pay a tribute to cats.
A beautiful little book, full of wisdom and beauty. A nice little parenthesis in time and a lovely way to pay a tribute to cats.
December 28, 2018
Forty delightful paintings done in the Chinese style accompanied by text chosen from Chinese literature. And the Tao is used in the generic sense, meaning the way to inspiration and wisdom.
Whatever, the author/artist, who had never painted cats before this project, has achieved a remarkable book.
Whatever, the author/artist, who had never painted cats before this project, has achieved a remarkable book.
February 9, 2017
The author uses beautiful watercolors of cats to accompany the Tao sayings of ancient Chinese philosophy masters. An enlightening and refreshing read.
December 28, 2014
Beautiful. I want them all as posters now.
March 25, 2023
apaisant, ce dont j'ai besoin en ce moment.
proverbes qui m'ont fait penser à mon chat:
"Il arrive, ces temps-ci, des évènements étranges dans le monde :
On dit ceci et on dit cela.
Rien ne sert de discuter.
Mieux vaut faire un petit somme." (p14)
"Saisir l'opportunité quand elle se présente,
Une fois manquée, elle est peut-être perdue pour toujours." (p22)
"Les oreilles et les yeux ne sont pas faits pour penser et se laissent facilement affecter par les influences extérieurs
L'esprit pense et, s'il pense, accède à la vérité." (p32)
"L'ami qui te connait vraiment est toujours à tes côté." (p46)
"Le sage échoue rarement, car il anticipe les difficulté." (p50)
"Les gens se mettent en colère, moi pas.
La colère rend malade, la colère peut tuer,
la colère est un gâchis d'énergie, la colère sacrifie la paix." (p54)
"Moins on en sait, plus on a confiance en soi." (p60)
"L'avantage d'être tout petit:
Comme un brin d'herbe qui lève les yeux vers les arbres,
Comme un torrent qui regarde vers l'océan,
Comme une lanterne dans la chaumière qui regarde les étoiles du ciel,
C'est que, étant tout petit,
Je peux voir ce qui est grand." (p72)
"Une personne large d'esprit trouve ses aises
même dans un endroit exigu." (p80)
"Se suffire à soi-même, c'est être heureux,
Être sans désir, c'est être sans soucis." (p84)
proverbes qui m'ont fait penser à mon chat:
"Il arrive, ces temps-ci, des évènements étranges dans le monde :
On dit ceci et on dit cela.
Rien ne sert de discuter.
Mieux vaut faire un petit somme." (p14)
"Saisir l'opportunité quand elle se présente,
Une fois manquée, elle est peut-être perdue pour toujours." (p22)
"Les oreilles et les yeux ne sont pas faits pour penser et se laissent facilement affecter par les influences extérieurs
L'esprit pense et, s'il pense, accède à la vérité." (p32)
"L'ami qui te connait vraiment est toujours à tes côté." (p46)
"Le sage échoue rarement, car il anticipe les difficulté." (p50)
"Les gens se mettent en colère, moi pas.
La colère rend malade, la colère peut tuer,
la colère est un gâchis d'énergie, la colère sacrifie la paix." (p54)
"Moins on en sait, plus on a confiance en soi." (p60)
"L'avantage d'être tout petit:
Comme un brin d'herbe qui lève les yeux vers les arbres,
Comme un torrent qui regarde vers l'océan,
Comme une lanterne dans la chaumière qui regarde les étoiles du ciel,
C'est que, étant tout petit,
Je peux voir ce qui est grand." (p72)
"Une personne large d'esprit trouve ses aises
même dans un endroit exigu." (p80)
"Se suffire à soi-même, c'est être heureux,
Être sans désir, c'est être sans soucis." (p84)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2022
The "author" painted her (and other people's) cats to illustrate sayings from ancient Chinese masters.
As far as I can tell, the sayings are not arranged in any particularly meaningful order.
Some paintings are beautiful, with realistic renderings achieved via the deft use of a brush (pp. 13, 57).
But more often, the paintings feature animals that don't even look like cats: some are wolf-like (p. 19), some have rodent profiles (pp. 25, 41, 77), and some have cartoon-y human eyes (pp. 43, 73) or other distortions (pp. 55, 69, 75). The author writes that she had cat phobia and "no knowledge of cats" until a cat adopted her, just six years before the date of publication; unfortunately, this really shows. I don't know cats either, but I know when I don't see one.
Upon closer examination, I realize that what the successful paintings all have in common is that they either show cats with their eyes closed or--better yet--do not show the cats' faces at all.
As far as I can tell, the sayings are not arranged in any particularly meaningful order.
Some paintings are beautiful, with realistic renderings achieved via the deft use of a brush (pp. 13, 57).
But more often, the paintings feature animals that don't even look like cats: some are wolf-like (p. 19), some have rodent profiles (pp. 25, 41, 77), and some have cartoon-y human eyes (pp. 43, 73) or other distortions (pp. 55, 69, 75). The author writes that she had cat phobia and "no knowledge of cats" until a cat adopted her, just six years before the date of publication; unfortunately, this really shows. I don't know cats either, but I know when I don't see one.
Upon closer examination, I realize that what the successful paintings all have in common is that they either show cats with their eyes closed or--better yet--do not show the cats' faces at all.
May 23, 2018
Recueil de poésies, de pensées, de proverbes, de sentences philosophiques chinoise assorti d'aquarelles félines.
J'ai adoré l'aspect épuré ce recueil ainsi que sa présentation : page de droite avec le poème et ses références, l'explication des sceaux reproduits sur l'aquarelle et en page de gauche l'aquarelle en pleine page.
Contemplatif et apaisant, Le chat zen porte bien son titre puisque l'on prend le temps d'absorber chaque phrase, chaque pensée et de l'associer au dessin en contre.
L'univers de plénitude qui ressort de cette œuvre détend l'esprit et le corps et l'on entendrait presque le ronronnement des chats imagés.
A tous les amoureux de philosophie zen et à ceux des chats, vous trouverez votre compte avec ce super petit livre qui est, par ailleurs, un très bel objet-livre à compulser à l'envi.
J'ai adoré l'aspect épuré ce recueil ainsi que sa présentation : page de droite avec le poème et ses références, l'explication des sceaux reproduits sur l'aquarelle et en page de gauche l'aquarelle en pleine page.
Contemplatif et apaisant, Le chat zen porte bien son titre puisque l'on prend le temps d'absorber chaque phrase, chaque pensée et de l'associer au dessin en contre.
L'univers de plénitude qui ressort de cette œuvre détend l'esprit et le corps et l'on entendrait presque le ronronnement des chats imagés.
A tous les amoureux de philosophie zen et à ceux des chats, vous trouverez votre compte avec ce super petit livre qui est, par ailleurs, un très bel objet-livre à compulser à l'envi.
January 9, 2021
Recueil sympathique et méditatif. Des proverbes traditionnels chinois sélectionnés sont parfois un peu moralisateurs, mais leur association aux aquarelles de l'autrice porte à la réflexion plus libre. Les aquarelles sont magnifiques et plairont aux amoureux des félins.
June 12, 2022
les proverbes que j’ai préféré ci dessous:
page 14. rêves printaniers
page 26. l’atelier
page 44. face a face
page 48. la mangeoire à oiseaux
page 80. la cour
page 82. les trois amis
page 84. ne pas déranger
page 14. rêves printaniers
page 26. l’atelier
page 44. face a face
page 48. la mangeoire à oiseaux
page 80. la cour
page 82. les trois amis
page 84. ne pas déranger
June 5, 2017
Máximas breves e poemas de "sábios chineses" e lindas aquarelas de gatos - o que há para não gostar?
June 16, 2019
De jolies aquarelles accompagnées de citations pour réfléchir.
Très rafraîchissant pour une demi-heure hors du temps.
Très rafraîchissant pour une demi-heure hors du temps.
July 1, 2020
I love this little book. Its illustrations are simple and endearing, and the proverbs are nice.
January 14, 2024
Les dessins <33
September 30, 2024
Ładne obrazki, ale w sumie to tyle.
Read
October 6, 2024❤️
November 12, 2011
An intriguing title, but the thing about this book that I find really captivating are the paintings. Unlike the author, I have always liked cats. This delightful book by Kwong Kuen Shan illustrates all the elements of a cat's personality.
Kwong Kuen Shan grew up in Hong Kong. She has studied classical Chinese, Chinese calligraphy and Chinese brush paintings. She now paints, exhibits and teaches art. In the prologue of this book, the author relates her former phobia of cats and tells of the cat who "quietly and patiently" changed all that. She describes being inspired by her cat, Healey, while he was relaxing in the garden. This was the beginning of her cat paintings.
I often feel inspired by the simple beauty and wonder that I see in my cat, but not being an artist, I grab my camera. And, not being a photographer, I never seem to be able to capture the moment as perfectly as it appears.
In her studies of classical Chinese literature, Kwong Kuen Shan found sayings and texts that she felt cried out to be linked with a painting, something she has achieved successfully in the book. The Taoist and Confucian texts she has included are selected from ancient Chinese proverbs, poems and sayings of great teachers: Confucius, Lao Tse, Chong Tse and Sun Tzu. What better way to illustrate these sayings than with cats? They are elegant, agile, resilient and independent. Within the paintings you will also find Chinese characters and seals that have different meanings, including the artist's signature.
As a child, we always had cats, and as an adult I have had 5 different cats. The first, Spike, was a loyal companion for 15 years. "A friend who truly knows you is always with you." (Chinese Proverb) During the "Spike years", we also had Dinah. Dinah was the independent soul, who took off to live in the ceiling of the neighbor's shed with the wild cats. "To be self-sufficient is to be happy, to have no demands is to have no worry." (Anon) We also had Tia, a long haired gray beauty who disappeared around the time that my daughter graduated from high school. We never found out what became of her. "The roughest roads are not found across rivers and mountains, but in people's hearts." (Bai Juyi) While all of my cats have been special, the one most dear to my heart was Freddy. I rescued him from a junk pile in the late fall of 1994. He was a faithful friend with a great personality. He disappeared in January of this year while my son was away at Marine boot camp. Funny how our "cat events" correspond so intimately with the major events in our lives.
I've learned a lot from loving my cats. While they are independent, they are also very eager to show appreciation and love to their owners. When they want to. Mysterious in their actions, they seem to abandon us just when we think they are enjoying our attention. "Do not exhaust a friend's kindness and loyalty - this way friendship is sustained." (Chinese Proverb)
I read "The Cat and the Tao" for the first time on a Friday afternoon. The next morning I was lying on the couch watching my new cat, Benny, as he stood on a table, gazing out the window listening to the birds. His lean body stood next to an antique pitcher, which he never disturbed. He was silent and still. With the curious tilt of his head,
I thought of the words of Confucius, "To know is to recognize what you understand and what you do not understand." Thus is the curiosity of the cat. I would have loved to capture that moment with water color and ink, the way that Kwong Kuen Shan does so vividly. Instead, I will keep the image in my mind and look to "The Cat and the Tao" for more tangible evidence of their amazing traits.
I will continue to watch cats, and learn from them the lessons that Kwong Kuen Shan is trying to impart in her book. "The Cat and the Tao" was extremely uplifting. Anyone who loves cats will enjoy it and those who don't, need only look at one of Kwong Kuen Shan's paintings to find some appreciation of the many qualities they possess.
Kwong Kuen Shan grew up in Hong Kong. She has studied classical Chinese, Chinese calligraphy and Chinese brush paintings. She now paints, exhibits and teaches art. In the prologue of this book, the author relates her former phobia of cats and tells of the cat who "quietly and patiently" changed all that. She describes being inspired by her cat, Healey, while he was relaxing in the garden. This was the beginning of her cat paintings.
I often feel inspired by the simple beauty and wonder that I see in my cat, but not being an artist, I grab my camera. And, not being a photographer, I never seem to be able to capture the moment as perfectly as it appears.
In her studies of classical Chinese literature, Kwong Kuen Shan found sayings and texts that she felt cried out to be linked with a painting, something she has achieved successfully in the book. The Taoist and Confucian texts she has included are selected from ancient Chinese proverbs, poems and sayings of great teachers: Confucius, Lao Tse, Chong Tse and Sun Tzu. What better way to illustrate these sayings than with cats? They are elegant, agile, resilient and independent. Within the paintings you will also find Chinese characters and seals that have different meanings, including the artist's signature.
As a child, we always had cats, and as an adult I have had 5 different cats. The first, Spike, was a loyal companion for 15 years. "A friend who truly knows you is always with you." (Chinese Proverb) During the "Spike years", we also had Dinah. Dinah was the independent soul, who took off to live in the ceiling of the neighbor's shed with the wild cats. "To be self-sufficient is to be happy, to have no demands is to have no worry." (Anon) We also had Tia, a long haired gray beauty who disappeared around the time that my daughter graduated from high school. We never found out what became of her. "The roughest roads are not found across rivers and mountains, but in people's hearts." (Bai Juyi) While all of my cats have been special, the one most dear to my heart was Freddy. I rescued him from a junk pile in the late fall of 1994. He was a faithful friend with a great personality. He disappeared in January of this year while my son was away at Marine boot camp. Funny how our "cat events" correspond so intimately with the major events in our lives.
I've learned a lot from loving my cats. While they are independent, they are also very eager to show appreciation and love to their owners. When they want to. Mysterious in their actions, they seem to abandon us just when we think they are enjoying our attention. "Do not exhaust a friend's kindness and loyalty - this way friendship is sustained." (Chinese Proverb)
I read "The Cat and the Tao" for the first time on a Friday afternoon. The next morning I was lying on the couch watching my new cat, Benny, as he stood on a table, gazing out the window listening to the birds. His lean body stood next to an antique pitcher, which he never disturbed. He was silent and still. With the curious tilt of his head,
I thought of the words of Confucius, "To know is to recognize what you understand and what you do not understand." Thus is the curiosity of the cat. I would have loved to capture that moment with water color and ink, the way that Kwong Kuen Shan does so vividly. Instead, I will keep the image in my mind and look to "The Cat and the Tao" for more tangible evidence of their amazing traits.
I will continue to watch cats, and learn from them the lessons that Kwong Kuen Shan is trying to impart in her book. "The Cat and the Tao" was extremely uplifting. Anyone who loves cats will enjoy it and those who don't, need only look at one of Kwong Kuen Shan's paintings to find some appreciation of the many qualities they possess.
August 27, 2014
Le livre (en papier glacé) est composée de quarante aquarelles (peintes par l'auteur), chacune est associée à un proverbe ou une maxime chinoise (Confucius pour nombre d'entre eux).
Ce recueil précède Le Chat Philosophe.
En comparaison:
- Les dessins sont moins aboutis (malgré quelques très jolis dessins de vase).
- La liste des sceaux en fin d'ouvrage est très mal mise en page.
L'esprit des deux livres est identique, les textes correspondent bien aux peintures.
Ce recueil précède Le Chat Philosophe.
En comparaison:
- Les dessins sont moins aboutis (malgré quelques très jolis dessins de vase).
- La liste des sceaux en fin d'ouvrage est très mal mise en page.
L'esprit des deux livres est identique, les textes correspondent bien aux peintures.
March 20, 2017
3 words review : wise, cat, life
feeling : this is a book you pick up with pleasure, write down a quote every now and then, think and maybe change.
word to the author : thank you for this book full of wisdom and lovely pictures to get lost into.
quote :
" Cheminant avec deux compagnons,
tous deux seront mes maitres :
Je choisis leurs bons cotes et les imite,
et je m'efforce de corriger en moi
les défauts que j'observe en eux. " Confucius
feeling : this is a book you pick up with pleasure, write down a quote every now and then, think and maybe change.
word to the author : thank you for this book full of wisdom and lovely pictures to get lost into.
quote :
" Cheminant avec deux compagnons,
tous deux seront mes maitres :
Je choisis leurs bons cotes et les imite,
et je m'efforce de corriger en moi
les défauts que j'observe en eux. " Confucius
Read
April 27, 2011Love and jealousy
September 8, 2012
Un livre agréable, qui invite à l'admirer et reflechir.
November 13, 2013
A really beautiful little book for cat lovers with what I think is charming artwork.
November 6, 2019
Wonderful idea and continuation of the series. Well put together, along with touching and masterful paintings with cats that go extremely well with the short sayings....
December 6, 2023
★★★★★✩✩✩✩✩
5/10 Nem bom, nem ruim
5/10 Nem bom, nem ruim
August 7, 2024
Très mignon
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews