On Aesthetics In Value Of Life Of Mencius

Aesthetics in value of life of Mencius, based on the"theory of goodness of man's nature", seen from the viewpoint of value of life, makes an aesthetic view on subject's perceptual life and social life. On the one hand, aesthetic value of life of Mencius attaches importance to subject's perceptual life foundation; on the other hand, it emphasizes upon acquired supreme state of life—aesthetic state of life. Innate perceptual life and acquired aesthetic life are combined together through subject's self-cultivation. Therefore, goodness of human nature is extended and externalized into a kind of everywhere-and-in-all-respects beauty.The common aesthetic theory of Mencius bases common aesthetics on perceptual life which possesses common physiological sense organs. It clearly advocates that all men are equipped with equal aesthetic ability and aesthetic right, which shows its special value on perceptual life and affirmation on subject's common aesthetic need.The view of"happiness with people"of Mencius lays its foundation on common aesthetic senses, objectively reflecting the social and historical development tendency and the subjective need of humankind. With its emphasis on the socialization and popularization of appreciation of the beauty, the connotation of common aesthetics is further enriched.His theory of subject's self-cultivation of aesthetics, through"fullness is beauty", extends innate good ends to portray a perfect character in such subject and achieves aesthetic life state. Closely associated with"fullness is beauty","good at cultivating Qi"answers how beauty is enriched, and this"enrichment"sincerely has a meaning of life beauty appreciation. It manifests a series of life characteristics, a creation process of original life power existing in individual life. It is the construction process of a new life state, declaring a life full of smoothness, motion and harmony. The development process concealed in the overall process corresponds to the natural life rhythm.To apply Mencius'subject's self-cultivation theory—"fullness is beauty"—to literary activities, is to shift one's spiritual temperament to his creative words. Therefore, it is advisable to have literary appreciation by using literary critical methods like"understanding man and studying society"and"the reader realizing the intent of a writer according to the meaning of his works". Mencius'works, typical of majestic and dynamic manner, are the good examples of using subject's self-cultivation to have literary creation.