Visualizing Wisdom: The Mindful Brush of Confucian Moral Artistry

Abstract

For more than a decade, 21^st-century organizations have engaged artists and artistic processes in management and leadership strategies. Despite these initiatives the gap between corporate social responsibility and societal well-being has widened exponentially. Taking up Nancy Adlerâs hope for business in the service of humanity, this paper takes the long view by examining self-cultivation practices through the brush arts for regenerating Chinaâs wisdom traditions during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). It argues that lessons learned from the Yuan period can be instructive to the Western business community today on developing fully human, intuitive wise leaders.