Taoist immortals and Chinese Characters

The video explores how the iconic karst landscapes of Guilin inspired the creation of early Chinese pictographic characters. It explains how the characters 山 shan (mountain) and 人rn (man) combine to form 仙 xian, meaning “immortal,” a key concept in ancient Chinese religion and Taoism. The shorthand version of xian, first used in the early Han period, reflects the symbolism of humans ascending sacred mountains in search of wisdom. Taoist paintings reinforce this idea through vertical compositions, cloud “barriers,” and towering peaks that represent the cosmic hierarchy and the abodes of 仙 xian "immortals". Ultimately, the video reveals how Chinese characters and Taoist imagery share deep historical and symbolic connections.

Premiere on the 3rd of December. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SV0qIuDpSRU