The Ways of Tao Conditioned by Nature: The Interpretation and Translation of Su Shi’s Art Spirit in American Art History

Su Shi’ s proposition of “creative ideas go beyond the law” （出新意于法度） and “permanent principle being superior to constant form”（无常形而有常理） is the embodiment of the principle of “Tao conditioned by Nature”（道法自然） in artistic creations. The translation and interpretation of Su Shi’ s art spirit in American art history is based on the principle in the painting practice. Scholars such as Osvald Siren, Susan Bush, Driscoll, George Rowley, etc. have all tried to translate and interpret the empirical and perceptive theories of Chinese art. Their research not only involved the understanding and interpretation of the fundamental similarities between art creation and the natural world, but different opinions were put forward on the translation of the core concepts, such as 势(shi, literally force), 生动(shengdong, life movement) , which provided a reference for the promotion of western art theory, contributing to the development of Chinese art theory in foreign lands.