An Interpretation On LieZi’s Life Aesthetics

During Wei Jin and the Northern and Southern dynasties, the turbulent social reality has inspired people to reflect on life. Under this background, LieZi was reorganized and commented. Its strong life consciousness reveals the spirit of the age. Firstly, LieZi distinguishes the "the Living" and "the Creator". The former is the detached state of subject and object. In this state,one sets himself against the world and grabs outside world. The latter is the state of combination of subject and object. In this state, one integrates himself with outside world and understand life in an aesthetic way;Secondly, LieZi emphasizes individual value and breaks through the Confucian collectivism concept, which promotes individualized expression in literature and art. LieZi establishes the principle of "Cong Xing Er You", which means one should comply with the desire but not indulge himself stand on the individual life need and not expect too much possession and try to experience satisfaction of life desire in super-utilitarian aesthetic mentality. It encourages people to pursue elegant and interesting life in playing mentality. Finally, LieZi focuses on dream experience and attaining enlightenment. It brings forward the view that we can get rid of reality and enter into freedom. This state is similar to aesthetic experience. Comparing to Lao-tzu’s social ideal "Xiao Guo Gua Min",the Hua Xu Country and Lie Gushe Mountain in LieZi have stronger fantasy color. Which reflects the author’s disappointment toward to real life. Zhang Zhan’s comments about LieZi not only illustrate those viewpoints,but also create a world called "the Domain of Tai Xu" that is similar to the state of Buddhism by combining the Buddhist theory of transmigration. This religious home provides scholars with the ultimate life caring. In a word, LieZi’s life aesthetics is the expression of Wei Jin and the Northern and Southern dynasties people’s self-awareness and reveals strong humanistic spirit. Studying LieZi intensively will help to enrich the resource of contemporary aesthetics of literature and art and realize the modern conversion of ancient literary theory.