| Zhong Rong was the most prominent poetry critic in the Qi Dynasty and the Liang Dynasty in China's Six Dynasties Period. His famous work Grades of Poetry is the first book on critique of poetry in ancient China and was renowned, together with The Literary Mind and the Carving of the Dragon, classic work of literary by Liu Xie of the Liang Dynasty, as "Two Jades" in China's ancient literature criticism history. As the first Chinese work on poetic theory, Grades of Poetry systematically developed the theory of poetry, created the commentary method of Nine Grades to criticize poems and poets and established a poetry system centered on aesthetics. There are many original creations in Zhong Rong's theory compared with the poetic theories developed in pre-Qin and the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties and had an immense influence on the theories on art and literature of later ages.Rich in aesthetic quality, Zhong Rong's poetry established some aesthetic categories with many contents of aesthetic thoughts contained. Speaking One's Mind Plainly— his art creation rules, Taste and Fun—his aesthetic standard, and Nature-Orientation—his aesthetic idealism, are all rich in aesthetic connotation and theoretical sense. His aesthetics theory still has profound importance in the present aesthetic creation and appreciation.This paper consists of five chapters. In terms of aesthetics, taking Grades of Poetry as the research subject, it has carefully combed Zhong Rong's aesthetic theory and made intensive analysis with the aim to expose the rich value of the connotation and theory contained in Zhong Rong aesthetics.Chapter I deals with the origins of Zhong Rong's aesthetic theory. This chapter focuses on the influence of Zhou Yi, Confucianism and Dark Learning on the formation of Zhong Rong aesthetics.Chapter II focuses on poetry ontology. In this chapter, the author illuminates Zhong Rong's contemplation on the nature of poetry in the setting of literature... |
