Study On Value Theory Of Chinese Aesthetics Of Modern Life

Aesthetics is recognized as a way of value existence,which concerns the meaning of life and living status of human beings.Chinese aesthetics is characterized by the significance of life and poetical existence,and a profound heritage of human thoughts philosophy.Since the first half of the 20th century,aesthetics scholars such as Wang Guowei and Liang Qichao started to introduce western aesthetic philosophy into Chinese land,with Cai Yuanpei,Zhu Guangqian,and Zong Baihua further inheriting and enriching the philosophy.The integration of Chinese and western cultures provided a vital push to the modern transformation of the traditional Chinese aesthetics of life,which further developed into the Chinese aesthetics of modern life in the sense of values.Under the greater umbrella of value theory,the Chinese aesthetics of modern life is established on the ground of emotions,with diverse dimensions of life including perception,affection,and meaning,and incorporates the broad scope of life into the research field.It starts from the perspective of emotion-values to review the aesthetic phenomenon of individuals with the purpose of revealing the features of aesthetics values of life.This thesis illustrated the connotations of Chinese aesthetics of modern life from the perspectives of aesthetic values,moral values,educational values,cultural values and religious values,and correlated with modern social life to interpret the contemporary implication of Chinese aesthetics of modern life in the context of the dilemma of values.Chapter One introduced the aesthetic values with emotion as the psychological intermediary of Chinese aesthetics of modern life.This chapter summarized the understanding of "image" of integration of object and humans and the value of life proposed by Wang Guowei and Zong Baihua,the "fun" paradigm of life values on civil traditions and essence advocated by Liang Qichao and Zhou Zuoren,and the "individualistic" expression of freedom of soul and individualization of life values led by Lu Xun and Lin Yutang.Chapter Two reviewed the tradition of moral values inherited in Chinese aesthetics of modern life featuring appreciation of beauty and kindness.This chapter focused on the public moral education-driven theory proposed by Cai Yuanpei,and the classic moral thoughts proposed by Liang Shiqiu,which integrates human nature as the foundation,rationality as the restrictions,and morality as the purpose.In Chapter Three,the education value of Chinese aesthetics of modern life is discussed and recognized as the pioneer to enlighten modern rationality.Great scholars such as Wang Guowei,Liang Qichao,and Cai Yuanpei set wonderful examples of building ideal character and ideal society.The Chunhui scholars community represented by Ye Shengtao and the "Four Friends by White Horse Lake" including Xia Mianzun,Zhu Guangqian,Zhu Ziqing,and Feng Zikai did not argue over "questions" or"theorization",but put efforts on education reform and social-cultural education and public enlightenment.Their activities demonstrated the characteristics of populace culture which put public enlightenment as the core value.Chapter Four focused on the practical and rational spirit of the Chinese aesthetics of modern life from the perspective of Confucius,and the unique culture value from the perspective of naturalization of Taoism.Chapter Five illustrated the essence of Chinese aesthetics of modern life and the aesthetic tendency of Zen and Buddhism-to pursue the freedom of life.This chapter concentrated on the serendipity of Buddhism as quoted in "make the ruthless affectionate" by Buddhism Master Hongyi,the philosophical ponderings of Feng Zikai on misfortune and wisdom,the self-awareness of "art stops in beauty and life stops in kindness" as explained by Lv Fengzi.These thoughts reflected the unique religious values of Chinese aesthetics of modern life.Chapter Six depicted the contemporary implication of Chinese aesthetics of modem life against the backdrop of value dilemma.It is explained that the integration of emotional aesthetic values and the moral values is conducive to maintaining the "temperature" of humanity,while the mundane considerations of religious values evoke the subjectivity of human beings,and the cultural values and educational values could enrich people's life by caring of people's wellbeing.The aesthetic values,moral values,educational values,cultural values and religious values brought by Chinese aesthetics of modern life have played an indispensable role that cannot be replaced by other cultural factors.The modern life aesthetics of China have brought out positive influence on stabilizing the social mentality,building up the positive and upward spirit,enhancing social harmony,and provided vital spiritual and cultural resources for Chinese people to regulate and guide the reality and reshape values of Chinese people.