On Leisure Culture In The Pre-qin Dynasty

Leisure refers to a superior way of existence and attitude of life. Whether ancient or modern, according to physical activity, leisure activities can be divided into two forms, namely, static and dynamic leisure. Dynamic leisure's origin should be early, which is closely related to human's instinct needs of physical exercise. The dynamic leisure is not just a physical activity, but a cultural activity, which is based on physical activity. The "You(游) "in Chinese ancient contexts has the implication of dynamic leisure, and " You Xian(游闲)" and "Xian You(闲游)" almost refer to "dynamic leisure".Leisure culture refers to all human activities and their performance involved leisure, whose core is the cultural significance of this phenomenon. Many aristocrats in the Pre-Qin Dynasty built leisure space like "Yuan You(苑囿)" ,in which they can leisure. Leisure in Yuan You is very common ways of leisure. In a male dominated traditional society, men's leisure activities were more than women's and women played attaching roles. Shaping gender roles had a certain influence for leisure activities of both men and women.Some politicians and thinkers in the Pre-Qin Dynasty xpress their views on leisure in varying degrees. Confucian views on leisure may be called "cautious leisure views (慎闲观) ", which contain "considering pleasures (乐) cautiously", "considering filial piety(孝) cautiously","considering interpersonal communication(交) cautiously" and "considering harmony(和) cautiously". Basically, Confucian views on leisure are based on benevolence(仁). Taoistic views on leisure can be summarized as "free leisure views (任闲观) ", which contain "free in time-space(任时空)", "carefree(任逍遥)" and "free in nature(任自然)". Basically, Taoistic views on leisure are based on Taoism(道). Legalists'views on leisure can be called "suppressing leisure views(抑闲观)", which reflected in suppressing both monarch and the people. Leisure have interactive relationship with the model political system, life experience and seclusion culture, which are reflected in the Pre-Qin views on leisure to different degrees .