Book Circle Recap: January 31, 2026
- USCCA Digital Communications Coordinator
- 29 minutes ago
- 2 min read
On January 31, 2026, the US-Catholic China Association Book Circle discussed Terri McNichol's article, "Re-attuning to Nature's Rhythms: The Chinese Art of Being, Relating, Acting."
Terri, a prior Book Circle participant as well as art historian and founder of Ren Associates, led our discussion with an informative and insightful exploration of painting's connection with the natural world, especially as it has historically been understood in Confucian thought. As Terri's mentor, Henry Rosemont Jr., once explained:
The problem of using the ru (Chinese Confucian scholars) as background 'students' is that for all of them the 3 Perfections (calligraphy, poetry and painting) were all part of a spiritual discipline, not merely means to become cultivated persons."
Through landscape paintings like the one shown above and through beautiful depictions of the "Four Gentlemen" — the plum, the orchid, the chrysanthemum, and the bamboo — Terri taught us about deep meanings of historic Chinese painting on individual, social, environmental, and spiritual levels.
Our next Book Circle discussion will be held on February 21, 2026, at 6 AM PT / 7 AM MT / 8 AM CT / 9 AM ET / 10 PM Chinese Standard Time. Terri has generously volunteered to lead that upcoming discussion, as well! We will be discussing her article entitled "Leadership Lessons from Landscape Painting East and West: Cultivating a Spiritual Eco-Imagination."
If you know anyone who might be interested in our Book Circle discussions, we invite you to sign up for Book Circle email updates today! For in-person opportunities to learn about theology, history, and the life of the Church in China, we invite you to read about our upcoming 30th International Conference.
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