Liang Qichao, "the Art Of Living" Theory Study

Liang Qichao's theory of artistic life was based on the conclusion and introspection of the probe into Chinese way of modernization. The recommendation of it made clear that Liang Qichao's idea on human beings shifted from rational enlightenment to emotional education.This discourse is mainly composed of three parts: the background, connotation and the way of popularization of the theory of artistic life. There are two reasons that Liang Qichao shifted from political publicity to literature and put forward the theory of artistic life. For one thing, it was his disappointment at the current political situation that forced him to quit political circles and went in for research of academy and inquiry of life philosophy. For another thing, after world war I , his journey to the European countries renewed his thoughts. He began to lose his belief on the western thoughts, had new realization of the western civilization and science and suspected the theory of evolution. Under such kind of backdrop, Liang Qichao researched deeply into the Chinese ancient culture and put forward the theory of artistic life. The mental connotation of artistic life is "doing for nothing". The spirit infiltrates through interest, freedom, happiness, and emotion. Artistic life is a life guided by interest which is full of vitality and initiative. Therefore, one is never pessimistic and world-weary. However, Liang Qichao's theory does not mean to make life completely aesthetic, and always be determined by the sense of...