A Study On The Emergence And Development Of The Category Of Yi Before Tang Dynasty

This paper researches on the category of Yi, combining theories of Linguistics, Philosophy and Aesthetic and focuses on the emergence and development of the category of Yi before Tang Dynasty.With three chapters, this paper discusses from the perspective of Yan, Xin and Xiang concepts that are most closely related to the emergence and development of the category of Yi.The first chapter discusses in the perspective of Yan. Firstly this chapter proves that Yi is born in the differentiate network of Yan in the aspects of the character structure and grammar. Secondly, it comprehends Yi as a language symbol with judging and regulatory function in virtue of metaphor theory of linguistics. The theory “Yan Bu Jin Yi” put forward in Xi Ci expressed the profound understanding of inherent limitation of language as a thought carrier and full distrust of its ability to express Yi. In order to settle the dilemma, Xi Ci and Zhuang Zi have come up with their own strategy of expressing from different point of views. The development of literature theory in Wei and Jin dynasty has enriched the thinking of “Yan Yi” in the perspective of literature and art. Similarly, “Yan Bu Jin Yi” theory has deeply influenced the history of literature theory in Wei and Jin Dynasties.The second chapter discusses in the perspective of Xin. Early concept of Yi has been influenced by the image radical of Xin, thus expressed specific mental substances. Yi, used to express the mentality of bodies, often appears in the form of compound word “Zhi Yi”, was introduced into Confucian context intentionally. In the view of Confucian, the moral mentality character of Yi as cognitive and ethic subject was explained through investigation on “Xin Xing” theory of Confucian and “Yi Yi Ni Zhi” theory of Menci. However, in the eyes of Taoism, Yi has participated into the theory buiding of Taoism. The character of Yi as mental and aesthetic subject was explained through investigation on “Dao Xin” and “De Yi Wang Yan” theories of Zhuang Zi.The third chapter discusses from the perspective of Xiang. In this chapter, we think that seeing from the development history of the concept “Xiang”, there is a developing process from Xiang to “Yi Xiang” and to “Xiang Wai”. Originally as a special way of thinking, Xiang was reflected in early literature practices of “Guan Wu Qu Xiang” and “Li Xiang Jin Yi”. From pre-Qin period to Wei and Jin Dynasties, the conceptual character of Xiang started to be differentiated in the perspective of moral principle. The concepts “Yi Xiang” and “Xiang Wai" were both generated from the differentiation of Yan Yi in Wei and Jin dynasties. “Yi Xiang” was a separated “Yi-Xiang” sequence in the metaphysics of Wang Bi. The domain of Yi can only be entered through the way of “Wang Xiang”. However, in Madhyamika, “Yi Xiang” was deemed as a complete concept and was the direct reflection of mentality subject through indistinctive direct way of thinking. This reflection abandoned the thinking tradition of “Li Xiang”, and generated the concept of “Xiang Wai". The aesthetic surpassing character of “Xiang Wai" was caught by painting theorists, thus exerted profound influence on the development of painting theory in Wei, Jin, South and North Dynasties.These three parts give different category features to the category of Yi from different dimensions, and played important role in the emergence and development of Yi as an independent aesthetic category.