Chinese perspective on creativity

Creativity is often associated with the idea of a lone creative genius, an individual who not only excels at what they do, but also transforms the world in the process. Further, even if we don’t limit ourselves to romantic or heroic perspectives on the nature and value of creativity, it’s commonly thought that creativity at least aims at novelty or originality. This way of thinking about creativity, however, isn’t universal. On one Chinese interpretation, creativity isn’t conceived as aiming at novelty or originality, but rather integration. Instead of aiming at something new, it aims at something that combines well with the situation of which it’s a part. An example is the craftsperson. This kind of creativity isn’t taken to aim at novelty or originality as such. The craftsperson is presented as creative not because of anything to do with their projects’, novelty or originality, but instead because of their ability to create wheels in a sensitive, responsive and – crucially – well-integrated manner: one not learned by rote, but rather via engaging in sustained, spontaneous activity. This alternative perspective on creativity might help us to see it as an everyday phenomenon in which we all participate – rather than an extraordinary talent or gift that only a few enjoy. And it might also allow us to make sense of the idea of living creatively: of an integrated life, lived spontaneously, in which all of life’s contrasting aspects can be arranged to form a rich and variegated whole. Source: https://psyche.co/ideas/to-be-creative-chinese-philosophy-teaches-us-to-abandon-originality?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB