Q: Who said the circle represents heaven and the square represents earth?
"The concept that the circle represents heaven and the square represents earth has been attributed to Carl Jung. Jung suggested that the circle symbolizes the processes of nature or the cosmos as a whole, while the square refers to the universe as conceived and projected by man."
(Q: What is the meaning of the circle and square in art and architecture?
"The circle and square hold symbolic meanings in art and architecture. In Renaissance art, the circle is considered a perfect shape, representing holiness and divinity due to its symmetry and lack of corners. On the other hand, the square symbolizes stability, order, honesty, and solidity in design, often associated with structure and earthbound qualities. When the square is placed inside a circle, it signifies the connection between the human and eternal wholeness, blending stability with the eternal whole. This combination of shapes can represent the union of heaven and earth or the convergence of divine and earthly elements in artistic and architectural contexts."
Q: Does this relate to a squared circle?
"Based on the information provided in the search results, the concept of the circle representing heaven and the square representing earth does seem to relate to the idea of the 'squared circle' in art and architecture. The key points are:
- The circle is seen as a perfect, divine shape, representing heaven, spirituality, and the cosmos.
- The square is associated with earthly, human constructions, representing stability, order, and the material world.
- The combination of the circle and square, such as a square within a circle, symbolizes the union of the divine and earthly, or the connection between heaven and earth.
This idea of reconciling the perfect, divine circle with the earthly, human square is the essence of the 'squared circle' concept in art and architecture. It represents the attempt to marry the spiritual and material realms through symbolic geometric forms. The search results indicate this symbolism has deep roots in Chinese, Greek, and Judeo-Christian cosmologies, and has been expressed through various artistic and architectural motifs over centuries.
So the circle and square imagery is directly relevant to the concept of the 'squared circle' as a way of visually depicting the relationship between the heavenly and earthly realms."
Note: This response seems focused on the square within circle concept - not Quadrature's squared circle with the square resting on 8 points of the circle's circumference (foundation of the Py Day geometry). However, the response confirms that "squared circle" is a good term for this marriage of the spiritual and material realms. Incidentally, the 8 points highlights that the infinite number of points on a circumference are immaterial to Quadrature.
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