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My Paintings

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MY PAINTING ZONE PAINTINGS  BY YEAR   TOPICS UPDATES     1 2009- Bali, China, Pulau Seribu, Galaxy      2   2010   3  2011 & 2012  4 2013    5  2014   6     2015 & 2016   7   2017    8     2018      9     2019   10     2020    11   2021     12      2022   13 2023 14 2024 15 2025                      1     LANDSCAPE AND PERSONAL 2009 Bali- Pura Processions   China impressions   Galaxy Pulau Seribu - Thousand islands off Java Reflections   The 7 apostles   Spring time   Destroyer     Warrior girl   Jabez & Rapha      2     2010 WRSJ in the forest   Jabez fighter jets   4 birds in a family       3     2011 & 2012 At Botanical Garden Goldcoast - Broad beach       4       2013   Eagles at Rainforest Ec before construction     5      2014 The 5 elements -   Generating Interactions The generating interactions of the five elements are like the conception, gestation, birth, and nurture relationship between a mother and a baby. Such element pairs are deeply attached, and together imply success and luck. The five generating interactions are fueling, forming, containing, carrying, and feeding: ·                          Wood fuels fire. ·                          Fire forms earth (volcanoes, ash, etc.). ·                          Earth contains metal. ·                          Metal carries water (buckets, pipes, etc.). ·                          Water feeds wood (trees, plants, etc.). Overcoming Interactions The overcoming interactions of the five elements are like the acts of hostility between two sides in a war. The five overcoming interactions are melting, penetrating, separating, absorbing, and quenching: ·                          Fire melts metal ·                          Metal penetrates wood (chopping, sawing, drilling, nailing, screwing). ·                          Wood separates earth (tree roots breaking up soil/rock). ·                          Earth absorbs water. ·                          Water quenches fire.   Celebrating National Day at Istana     6       2015 & 2016   Horses - the conflict       Jia Jia and Kai kai     WRJ golf at driving range       7      2017 First attempt at portraits           Java - Balemong - Semarang Qi Qi Ha Er - Cranes Burano- Venice Italy Genghis Khan- Hulun Beir Grassland      8        2018   Temple Mount and Western Wall     9       2019   Cesky Krumlov - Czech Hallstatt - Austria    10     2020 Hagia Sophia   CHEERY BLOSSOMS -JAPANMt Fuji              11     2021 coney island Italy impressions Keppel Reflections   Labrador ville Lijang petra Celsius Petra & Celsius 2021 Year of Bull Mid Autumn   Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell’Arca and Andrea Mantegna.   Compianto sul Cristo morto’ (Lamentation over the Dead Christ) by Niccolò dell’Arca The sculptural group of the 'Compianto sul Cristo morto' ('Lamentation over the Dead Christ') by Niccolò dell’Arca is located in the main chapel of the Church of Santa Maria della Vita, Bologna. This dramatic depiction of sorrow and death was commissioned by the Battuti Bianchi around 1463 and consists of a group of life-sized figures – the Madonna and the Three Marys, St John the Apostle and Joseph of Arimathea – weeping over the dead body of Christ, which is laid out between them ready for deposition in the tomb. The Lamentation over the Dead Christ is a c. 1480 painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna.[1] While the dating of the piece is debated, is generally believed to have been completed between 1457 and 1501.[2] It portrays the body Christ supine on a marble slab. He is watched over by the Virgin Mary and St. John, who are weeping for his death. The theme of the Lamentation is common in medieval and Renaissance art, although this treatment, dating back to a subject known as the Anointing of Christ is unusual for the period. Most Lamentations show much more contact between the mourners and the body. Rich contrasts of light and shadow abound, infused by a profound sense of pathos. The realism and tragedy of the scene are enhanced by the violent perspective, which foreshortens and dramatizes the recumbent figure, stressing the anatomical details: in particular, Christ's thorax. The holes in Christ's hands and feet, as well as the faces of the two mourners, are portrayed without any concession to idealism or rhetoric. The sharply drawn drapery which covers the corpse contributes to the dramatic effect. Unique to this painting is a design that places the central focus of the image on Christ's genitals - an artistic choice that is open to a multitude of interpretations. Mantegna managed instead to paint a very specific representation of physical and emotional trauma. Mantegna presented both a harrowing study of a strongly foreshortened cadaver and an intensely poignant depiction of a biblical tragedy. This painting is one of many examples of the artist's mastery of perspective. At first glance, the painting seems to be a strikingly realistic study in foreshortening . However, careful scrutiny reveals that Mantegna reduced the size of the figure's feet, which, as he must have known, would cover much of the body if properly represented.[2] Mantegna probably made this painting for his personal funerary chapel. It was found by his sons in his studio after his death and sold off to pay debts. The painting is in the Pinacoteca di Brera of Milan, Italy. Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Niccolò dell’Arca and Andrea Mantegna. From left to right: Bartholomew, James, son of Alphaeus and Andrew form a group of three, all are surprised.  Judas Iscariot, Peter and John form another group of three. Judas is wearing green and blue and is in shadow, looking rather withdrawn and taken aback by the sudden revelation of his plan. He is clutching a small bag, perhaps signifying the silver given to him as payment to betray Jesus, or perhaps a reference to his role within the 12 disciples as treasurer. He is the only person to have his elbow on the table and his head is also horizontally the lowest of anyone in the painting. Peter looks angry and is holding a knife pointed away from Christ, perhaps foreshadowing his violent reaction in Gethsemane during Jesus' arrest. The youngest apostle, John, appears to swoon.  Jesus Apostle Thomas, James the Greater and Philip are the next group of three. Thomas is clearly upset; James the Greater looks stunned, with his arms in the air. Meanwhile, Philip appears to be requesting some explanation.  Matthew, Jude Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot are the final group of three. Both Jude Thaddeus and Matthew are turned toward Simon, perhaps to find out if he has any answer to their initial questions. Source: Ann Kay - Da Vinci and Wikipedia Last Supper, Italian Cenacolo, one of the most famous artworks in the world, painted by Leonardo da Vinci probably between 1495 and 1498 for the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. It depicts the dramatic scene described in several closely connected moments in the Gospels, including Matthew 26:21–28, in which Jesus declares that one of the Apostles will betray him and later institutes the Eucharist. The Upper Room Trevi Fountain     PAINTINGS RESIZE/soa-raphael-.webp   Plato and Aristotle At the centre of the School of Athens are Plato and Aristotle. The two men had different pursuits, Plato being engaged with such spiritual ideas as truth, beauty, and justice and Aristotle being concerned with worldly reality.2   PAINTINGS RESIZE/school-of-athens-19-638.webp You’ve definitely seen this painting before, but if you haven’t taken the opportunity to study it closely, you’ve also definitely missed some details.  Commissioned by Pope Julius II to adorn his private library in the Vatican’s Stanza della Segnatura (The Signature Room, a reference to the official documents signed by the Pope there), Raphael painted the fresco around 1510 AD, during the height of the Renaissance’s fascination with Classical philosophy.   There are 58 representations of real historical thinkers in Raphael’s School of Athens, few of which have completely undisputed identities but all of which are composed with great care.   Bologna, St Peter Vatican and Florence   Sagrada Familia The World's Oldest Construction Project | Sagrada Familia God's Architect: Antoni Gaudi's glorious vision Cryptocurrency     12     2022 Churches in Kyiv  - St Cyril, , Volodtymyr ' Cathedral,St Nicholas  St Sophia Cathedral  , St Andrew, St Michael Golden Domed Monastry,, Pechersk Larva,   Milan Duomo 2022 - Year of Tiger    13     2023 2023 Year of Rabbit           David is a masterpiece[1][2] of Italian Renaissance sculpture, created from 1501 to 1504 by Michelangelo. With a height of 5.17 metres (17 ft 0 in David (Michelangelo)   Statue of St. Peter by Giuseppe De Fabris, 1840 .The statue of St. Peter is 5.55m in height, on a pedestal 4.91m high. In his right hand the apostle is holding the keys, symbol of the power promised to him by Christ in Caesarea of Philippi; In his left hand is the scroll bearing the words "ET TIBI DABO CLAVES REGNI CAELORUM' (Mt. 16, 19). One key is silver-plated, while the other is gold plated. Michelangelo’s Moses, Church of St. Peter-in-Chains, Rome, 1513–1515. Jörg Bittner Unna, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.     PROPPHETS OF THE BIBLE         Obadiah   Joel Amos Hosea Isaiah Micah Nahum   Zephania   Jeremiah   Habakkuk   Haggai   Ezekeil   Zechariah   Malachi   Jonah                      Guadalupe  Guadalupe: The hidden message in her eyes Our Lady of Guadalupe -Dan Bruski  The Signs and symbols Music on Mantle Messenger of stars Here are a 10 incredible facts about the Our Lady of Guadalupe image: 1: The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe should have deteriorated, faded, and turned to dust years ago. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appears on a tilma made of cactus fibers. The natural life span of a cloak made with fiber from the agave plant is only about 30 years. Despite this the image has remained intact with all its original color and vibrancy for over 475 years. Dr. Aldofo Orozco, a physicist, said that the remarkable preservation of the cloak of St. Juan Diego on which Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared 478 years ago, “is completely beyond any scientific explanation.” 2: Our Lady of Guadalupe's eyes reflect the figures in the room when the image appeared. Satellite imaging expert Dr. Aste Tonsman studied the image using image digitization and made a startling discovery! He saw in the corneas of the eyes of the image a series of people and objects: an Indian unfurling a tilma before a priest, another young man, a half-naked Indian with his lips open and his hands together, pieces of furniture, a ceiling arch, and other details. 3: Our Lady of Guadalupe survived a bomb blast which obliterated everything around the image. In 1921 an anti-clerical radical detonated twenty-nine sticks of dynamite in a pot of roses beneath the tilma. The blast destroyed a marble rail, twisted a metal crucifix and shattered windows throughout the old Basilica but the tilma itself was untouched. 4 : Our Lady of Guadalupe has a heart beat ... and Another, second heart beat for the child depicted in her womb. Carlos Fernandez del Castillo, a gynecologist, examined Our Lady of Guadalupe and listened to her using a stethoscope. Placing his stethoscope below the black band at the waist of Our Lady, he heard rhythmic heartbeats at 115 beats per minute. This is the same beats per minute as that of a baby in the womb. 5: Our Lady of Guadalupe maintains a body temperature Dr. Philip Callahan's 1979 infrared examination discovered that the tilma maintains a constant temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, Our Lady's image maintains its own body temperature! 6: Our Lady of Guadalupe is not of this earth? In 1936, Our Lady of Guadalupe was analyzed by a Nobel prize-winning chemist, Dr. Richard Kuhn. He analyzed the fibers and coloring of St. Juan Diego's tilma. Dr. Kuhn discovered that the color was not of vegetable, mineral, or animal origin and was not of any known earthly element. The coloring of Our Lady of Guadalupe is, literally, not of nature. It is super-natural. 7: Mary appears as different ethnicities depending on one's vantage point. This miraculous feature is meant to show the unity of the two peoples and cultures in light of the true faith of Christ. There was intense strife between the Spaniards and the native peoples when the Virgin Mary decided to appear to a native man, St. Juan Diego. Mary, thus, implored the peoples of the New World to live as one. Dr. Philip Callahan explains how Our Lady of Guadalupe is able to achieve the effect of varying colors at different distances. It is a trait that is seen only in nature, not paintings: 8: Guadalupe The Tilma remind us of the woman of Revelation 12 who is clothed with celestial bodies. The stars of Our Lady of Guadalupe's mantle should remind us of the crown of stars worn by Our Lady in Revelation, as the Queen of Heaven. 9: Within 8 years of Our Lady's miraculous appearance, 9 million of the native people of Mexico converted to Catholicism ... The crazy thing ..This almost exactly counter-balanced the number of people who fell away from the Church during the Protestant Reformation/Revolution. The Protestants were rebelling against the Church in Europe. Ironically, the Protestant schisms were partly a response to the great respect and veneration that Catholics paid to the Virgin Mary. 10: The miraculous preservation of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been confirmed by NASA! The Tilma remains a source of mystery and fascination for people around the world. I have my thoughts on the authenticity, but what are yours? Did God leave this behind to help ignite non believers or was this created by man and science can prove it? God Bless!! WITNESS OF THE STARS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOHlZom5kj8 The Gospel In The Stars: What the Stars Names Mean & What the Constellations Signify The Mazzaroth - The Gospel in the Stars - Act I     Act2   Act3                14     2024       2024 Year of Dragon     The Cardo Jerusalem’s street plan included a Cardo. It was a paved, 22.5 meter-wide road running southward from the Damascus Gate. The Main Street The central street of the Cardo is 40 feet (12 m) wide and is lined on both sides with columns. The total width of the street and shopping areas on either side is 70 feet (22 m), the equivalent of a 4-lane highway today. This street was the main thoroughfare of Byzantine Jerusalem and served both residents and pilgrims. Large churches flanked the Cardo in several places.Uncovered by Nahman Avigad’s team in the 1970s, the Cardo in the Jewish Quarter was excavated for about 650 feet (200 m). This portion dates to the time of Emperor Justinian in the first half of the 6th century AD. An earlier portion of the Cardo was constructed in the Roman period beginning at the modern Damascus Gate in the north, but it didn’t stretch this far south until centuries later.   Cardo                       Taroko Gorge  太魯閣 登山- 砂卡礑步道，走進神祕谷｜記得先去走小錐麓 / CP值最高的太魯閣的步道。   Many miracles in our lives I  would have died in aceh pulau weh due to tsunami in dec 2004 as i was diving there in Jun holidays- 6 mths before instead of Dec holidays. I would have died in Kota Kinabalu hike as i book for climb on 5 Jul 2015 1 mth after earthquake happen on 5 Jun 2015. Of the course the recent 2024 Hualien earthquake - we hike on 2 April just 1 day before 3 April 2024, earthquake at 07:58:11 am Mw 7.4 earthquake struck 15 km (9.3 mi)[5] south of Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan- when we were on our way out of Hualien . At least 19 people were killed and over 1,100 were injured in the earthquake. Trust that miracles are never ending           Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron Holy Monastery of Varlaam Holy Monastery of Rousanou Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas   Holy Monastery of Holy Trinity   Holy Monastery of St. Stephen      15     2025 my new PAINTINGS are coming   Corypha umbraculifera, TalipotPalm 棕搁科，贝叶棕属，贝叶棕 原产． 斯里兰卡，印度。 •       约30-80年才开花—次。 •       开花结果后，就结束生命。 •       早期寺院的僧侣，用经过处理后的叶子来撰写经文，称为贝叶经。 •       果实可以加工做成纽扣。 •       为佛教界的五树六花中的—种。 Growth Form Corypha umbraculifera has a solitary trunk, which can grow up to 27 m high with a trunk diameter up to 90 cm. Trunk is ringed with fallen leaf base scar. It can live up to 80 years. Foliage Leaves are large (up to 2.1 m long and 6 m wide), fan-shaped with petiole (up to 4m long) armed with black teeth. There is a large hastula at the juncture of leaf blade and leaf stalk. Flowers It produce one inflorescence at the terminal end. The inflorescence is about 9 m tall and 12 m wide, making the largest inflorescence in the world. Inflorescence comprises roughly of 24 million tiny yellowish-white flowers. Corypha umbraculifera flowers just once in its lifetime and dies afterwards. Fruit Fruit is round (3 – 8 cm diameter) and ripens from green to brown. Cultivation It grows well on well drained and fertile soil. It also requires a lot of space to grow and reach its maximum height. Fresh seeds germinate within 120 days. Etymology The genus name Corypha is greek for summit, referring to the giant terminal inflorescence. The epithet umbraculifera is latin for shade bearing, an allusion to the giant leaves and huge crown. Ethnobotanical Uses Food (Fruit or Vegetable) Others: Starchy pith are harvested to make alcoholic beverages and palm heart is eaten as a vegetable. Leaves are used for thatching .    猴面包树区  boabat Adansonia spp 锦葵科猴面包树属猴面包树 • 共包括8种，非洲大陆(1种）、马达加斯加(6种）和澳洲(1种）。猴面包树高达5至 30米。其树枝长得像树根—样，树干非常粗，直径可以到达7至11米粗，需要几十个人手拉肴手才能合抱一圈。通常可活500年，但一般相信有些树已有5000年的寿命。 • 叶子在旱季时俞掉光，树枝很像插入天空的树根，故也被称为倒栽树＇。 • 树干有储存水的作用，储存量可达12万公升。在沙漠氛候旱季的峙候，它的叶子含掉光，以减少水份的蒸发，靠储存的水份，等待下一佪雨季。 • 嫩叶可以煮来当蔬菜吃。花可以作欴料和糖果。果实能当主食食用。 • 树干纤维可以作绳索或手工艺品。     GOPURAM- MARIAMAM 马里安曼兴都庙的印度宝塔             SULTAN MOSQUE 苏丹回教堂   THIEN HOCK KENG 天福宫   哼哈二将 This is an excellent question that gets to the heart of the visual symbolism found in Chinese folk religion. The pair you're referring to are not actually a "hen" and a deity named "Ha," but rather two powerful mythological guardians. The common names for them are: Héng (哼) - The "Ha" (Snorter) Hā (哈) - The "Hen" (Blower) Together, they are known as Héng Hā Èr Jiàng (哼哈二将) - The Two Generals Heng and Ha. They are almost always the first figures you encounter, standing guard on either side of the main entrance gate (the Shānmén 山门) of a Chinese Buddhist or Taoist temple. The Background Story and Origin The story of Heng and Ha originates from the classic Chinese novel "The Investiture of the Gods" (Fēng Shén Yǎnyì 封神演义). This 16th-century text is a foundational work of Chinese mythology, blending history, fantasy, and theology to explain the origins of many deities. In the novel, they were originally two mortal generals fighting on the side of the Shang Dynasty (the corrupt side the heroes are fighting against): General Zheng Lun (郑伦) - Later became Heng: He was a commander under the cruel King Zhou of Shang. He had a magical ability: he could snort (hēng) two beams of white light from his nostrils. This white light would capture the enemy's soul, causing them to fall into a stupor, making them easy to defeat. General Chen Qi (陈奇) - Later became Ha: He was another formidable general of the Shang forces. His power was similar but different: he could open his mouth and bellow (hā) a jet of yellow gas. This yellow gas would also capture the enemy's soul, causing them to fall unconscious. The two generals were fated enemies, and in the story, they eventually fought each other to a standstill and both died. After the cosmic conflict was over, Jiang Ziya, the orchestrator of the new divine order, performed the "Investiture of the Gods." He posthumously enfeoffed them as divine guardians, granting them the titles: General Heng of the Divine Nose General Ha of the Open Mouth Their function was to guard the gates of Buddhist temples, a role they have filled ever since. Symbolism and Role in the Temple Guardians of the Dharma: In Buddhism, they are seen as Dvarapalas (guardian kings). They protect the sacred temple grounds (Sangharama) from evil spirits, demons, and negative influences. They are the first line of defense, ensuring the purity of the space within. Symbolic Postures and Powers: Their fierce, muscular appearances and aggressive stances are meant to intimidate malevolent forces. Their powers are deeply symbolic. The breath (qi 气) is the fundamental energy of life. Heng and Ha represent the control over this vital energy, with one expelling it through the nose and the other through the mouth. Together, they symbolize the control over all aspects of breath and spirit, able to subdue any spiritual threat. A Warning and a Welcome: For worshippers, they serve as a reminder to leave behind worldly desires and evil thoughts before entering the sacred space. They are not meant to be frightening to devout humans but are a warning to negative intentions. Passing between them symbolizes leaving the profane world and entering a sacred one. How to Identify Them at the Temple When you visit a temple, you can tell them apart by their signature gestures: General Heng (哼 - The "Ha" / Snorter): He is usually on the left side as you face the gate. His mouth is closed or grimacing, and he often holds a vajra (a diamond club) or a weapon. He is the one who "snorts" through his nose. General Ha (哈 - The "Hen" / Blower): He is usually on the right side as you face the gate. His mouth is wide open, as if in the act of bellowing his yellow gas. He often holds a ring or another type of weapon. In summary, the "hen and ha" deities are not a chicken and a god, but a powerful pair of guardian generals, Heng and Ha. Their story comes from Chinese mythological fiction, and their role is to protect the temple, symbolizing the power to subdue evil spirits and guard the threshold between the mundane and the sacred.       PADANG- NATIONAL GALLERY 大草场 新加坡国家美术馆 政府大厦 和 前高等法院     KAMCHENGS 土生华人           LIVING THE LIGHT      Being a faithful community We take family seriously, even extended family and outside the family to include others, to build a God’s worshipping people, bound together as the people of God obedient in the present and responsible to the future. Always ready to hear, ready to do and respond to God’s call and direction, acting in God’s name, even to stand up to persecution on God’s behalf. We need wisdom and we trust God’s wisdom to guide our daily behavior walk and in making our choices. Life is a gift, both physical and spiritual, and death is part of life and life’s mystery of eternal life expecting God’s victory in the future and God’s sovereignty give us a sense of awe. God is in control. We praise God, pray and lament and take God’s word with us into pain and trouble, knowing God ‘s presence are in whatever our life situation. Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God ,the living bread and the light of Christ. we abide in Christ believing as diligent and bold witnesses of the selfless love of God in Christ shown on the cross and our resurrected Christ. The universal struggle to love one another and use of our tongue to speak life and bear the fruit and also listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to our congregation and strive to be faithful rather than fearful towards the promise of God’s new heaven and new earth.   Momentum”   Singapore Soul Painted with bright colors, this metal symbolic sculpture is one that is hard to miss. Standing at 18.5 metres tall, it is Singapore’s tallest public sculpture. “Momentum” is made up of human-shaped figures side by side, depicting the upward spiral of progress, energy and momentum, very much like the precinct it is located in and the people who work in it.       This sculpture signifies the unity, harmony and multiculturalism of Singapore and its people, and features the words, “equality”, “justice”, “happiness” and “prosperity” from Singapore’s National Pledge. The mixture of words and alphabets in various languages form the entire structure and serves as an expression of how essential and powerful communication can be in uniting a community. Plensa explained that the different languages and diverse cultures in Singapore encompasses the very ‘soul’ of the country. Shaped like a seated human figure with knees tucked in, the Singapore Soul Sculpture glows white at night. Do walk inside and be embraced by its words.             Sarawak by the promenade Hiking and climbing in June 2024       Reflections of the moon   镜花水月, 圆月如镜     When doing this piece,while the moon relfects our physical attributes.  I was also focus on how the moon can reflect our mind , heart and soul. Here are the key scriptures and their spiritual significance, categorized by theme. 1. The Imperfect Mirror: Our Current Understanding The most direct reference to a mirror comes from the Apostle Paul, who uses it as a metaphor for our limited understanding in this life. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV) "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." Context: This is the climax of Paul's famous "Love Chapter." After extolling the eternal nature of love, he contrasts our current earthly perspective with our future heavenly one. Meaning: In the first century, mirrors were made of polished bronze, yielding a blurred, distorted, and imperfect reflection. Paul says this is like our current knowledge of God and spiritual realities—genuine but incomplete and unclear. The "then" refers to the eternal state when we will see God "face to face," with perfect clarity and intimacy. James 1:23-24 "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." Context: James is discussing the importance of not just listening to God's word but actively obeying it. Meaning: The mirror here represents the Word of God.  A person who listens to a sermon or reads the Bible sees a true reflection of themselves—their spiritual condition, their sins, their need for grace. But if they don't act on what they've seen, they are like someone who looks in a mirror, sees dirt on their face, and walks away without washing it. The reflection was accurate, but it was useless because it didn't lead to change.   ++++++++++++++++++     心境如然 , 知思于心,   感思于行,   心境如意 The mind is as it is, knowing and thinking in the mind, feeling and thinking in action, the mind is as it is. 这句话的意境非常优美，充满了中国传统文化的哲思。它描述的是一种内外和谐、知行合一的精神状态。 直接逐字翻译会失去其神韵，所以我为您提供几种不同风格和侧重的英文表达，您可以根据具体语境选择。 This phrase is beautifully expressed, imbued with the philosophical essence of traditional Chinese culture. It describes a state of mind characterized by inner and outer harmony, the unity of knowledge and action. A direct, word-for-word translation would lose its essence, so I've provided several different English expressions with varying styles and emphases, allowing you to choose according to the specific context. 1. 哲学意译版 这个版本侧重传递核心哲学思想，使用“Serene”和“Aligned”等词，表达内心的宁静与知行合一。 The heart is serene, thoughts are mindful, actions are heartfelt, and thus, the spirit is aligned. 2. 优雅通用版 这个版本用词优雅通用，通过“At Peace”、“Known to the Heart”等表达，流畅地勾勒出从心到行的完整过程。 With a heart at peace, knowledge is known to the heart, gratitude is felt through action, and thus, all is as the heart desires. 3. 简洁现代版 这个版本最为简洁现代，采用“Calm Mind”等表达，并以“Everything aligns with the heart's wish”作结，清晰直白。 Calm mind, conscious thoughts, heartfelt actions—everything aligns with the heart's wish. 您可以根据具体场合选择最合适的版本。如果需要进一步调整，请随时告诉我。 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Of course. "心境如意" is a different, though similarly positive, concept compared to "心境如然." While "心境如然" is about acceptance of reality, "心境如意" is about fulfillment of desires. The core meaning of "心境如意" is a state of mind where all your wishes are satisfied and your heart is content. It describes a feeling that everything is going exactly as you hoped it would. --- Most Accurate Translations • A state of complete satisfaction. (This is a very direct and accurate translation). • A heart perfectly content. (This is more poetic). • A mind at peace, with all wishes fulfilled. • Having a contented and gratified heart. Breakdown of the Meaning • 心境 (xīnjìng): "Heart-state" or "state of mind." • 如意 (rúyì): "As desired" or "according to one's wishes." This is a very common word for satisfaction and good fortune (e.g., the Ruyi scepter 如意 in Chinese culture is a symbol of power and wish-fulfillment). So, together, 心境如意 means your inner world (心境) is in a state where everything is happening (如) according to your wishes (意). It implies happiness, contentment, and the absence of unmet desires. --- Key Difference from "心境如然" • 心境如然 (xīnjìng rúrán): Peace found by accepting the world as it is, without needing to change it. (Reality-focused). • 心境如意 (xīnjìng rúyì): Happiness found when the world aligns with your personal desires. (Desire-focused). Example in Context Imagine you received exactly the job offer you wanted, in the city you wanted, with the salary you wanted. Your mental state could be described as 心境如意. In a sentence: • Chinese: 他退休后，过着种花、读书的生活，感到心境如意。 • English: After retirement, he lived a life of gardening and reading, feeling completely and utterly satisfied. In summary, the best way to express "心境如意" in English is "a state of complete satisfaction" or "a heart perfectly content." Of course! "心境如然" is a beautiful and profound term from Chinese philosophy and aesthetics. There isn't a single, direct English word that captures its full meaning, but it can be explained with several nuanced phrases. The core idea is a state of mind that is calm, accepting, and at peace with reality exactly as it is. Here are the best ways to translate and explain it, depending on the context: 1. Most Accurate Philosophical Translations These translations capture the Taoist/Buddhist roots of the term, which emphasize non-resistance and naturalness. • A mind at peace with the way things are. (This is the most comprehensive and accurate translation). • A state of serene acceptance. • An undisturbed mind, accepting reality as it is. • Equanimity. (This is a excellent single-word equivalent from Western philosophy and psychology, meaning mental calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation). 2. Breakdown of the Meaning To understand it better, let's look at the words: • 心境 (xīnjìng): "Heart-state" or "state of mind." It refers to one's inner emotional and mental landscape. • 如 (rú): "As" or "like." It implies following or being in accordance with. • 然 (rán): "So," "thus," or "in that manner." It refers to the natural state of things, reality as it is. So, together, 心境如然 means your inner world (心境) is in harmony with (如) the true, natural state of the external world (然). There is no struggle, no forced change, no denial—only peaceful coexistence. 3. Example in Context Imagine you are in a stressful situation, like being stuck in traffic. A person with a "心境如然" mindset would not get angry or frustrated. They would accept that this is the current reality and remain calm, perhaps using the time to listen to music or simply be with their thoughts. In a sentence: • Chinese: 尽管外面风雨交加，他依然保持着一份心境如然的平静。 • English: Despite the storm raging outside, he maintained an inner peace, perfectly accepting of the circumstances. In summary, while there's no perfect one-to-one translation, "A mind at peace with the way things are" or "Serene acceptance" are the best ways to convey the meaning of 心境如然 in English.         The  Esplanade in the 1800s/ The Esplanade from Scandal Point (1851) This is an oil painting by John Turnbull Thomson, who served as the first government surveyor in Singapore from 1841 to 1853. A self-trained artist, he produced a number of paintings which have become an important record of the early settlement. This painting shows a view of the Padang (open square or field) from Scandal Point, the Saluting Battery (a small knoll above the original shoreline since levelled) situated at the edge of Connaught Drive, southeast of St. Andrew's Church (St. Andrew's Cathedral today). The Padang was the heart of social life in 19th century Singapore and is depicted here in its most bustling state in the late afternoon with different communities dressed in their respective costumes. The painting creates the impression that Singapore was an idyllic multicultural society. However, the representation of Europeans on an elevated plane— on horseback or in horse-drawn carriages—while Asians are either standing or seated on the field, subtly suggests that it was the Europeans who held the authority in the settlement. John Turnbull Thomson’s painting now lies today in modern Singapore’s National Museum called The Esplanade from Scandal Point (1851). The painting was previously displayed at Raffles Museum which has now closed down. It depicts a story about that period of time when John Turnbull Thomson (1821-1884) was the Government Surveyor for the Eastern Settlements. His painting represents the residents of Singapore relaxing at the Padang, a Malay word for ‘flat field’. Singapore’s founder under the British was Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826). It was Raffles who wanted this padang to be reserved for recreational use. The painting also shows what the colonial part of Singapore town looked like during British rule in 1851. Scandal Point is a small hill at the edge of the Padang and most likely acquired its name over many years in part due to it being a news gathering place for the local gossip. The painting also shows a family group with the man holding a spear representing the orang laut or sea gypsies, some say maybe the original inhabitants of the island. The term Orang Laut in the literally sense means "Sea People", sea nomads and even sea gypsies. They were one of the earlier immigrants who settled along the coastline of Singapore island during pre-colonial days. The orang laut community typically lived off a long dwelling boat, known colloquially as sampan panjang, or "long boat". The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest museum in Singapore, with its history dating back to 1849, when it was started as a section of a library at Singapore Institution originally called the Raffles Library and Museum. After several relocations, in 1887 it moved to its permanent site at Stamford Road in the Museum Planning Area. Between 1993 and March 2006, it was known as the Singapore History Museum; it was given its present name in 1965.