A Study Of Aesthetic Philosophy Of Kaii Higashiyama Paintings

It is almost a formality to study Kaii Higashiyama Paintings from the perspective of fine art. As a matter of fact, the aesthetic philosophy revealed in Kaii Higashiyama Paintings and essays is almost neglected. It can be reflected in four aspects:the natural aesthetic awareness, western aesthetics of form, mono-no-aware aesthetics, Zen aesthetic philosophy and ink and water artistic spirit.On natural aesthetic awareness, Kaii Higashiyama's Painting aesthetics advocates closeness to the nature and a natural philosophy of understanding nature, following nature, returning to nature and integrating with nature. Such a philosophy differs from Chinese natural philosophy of "man and nature are one" which embodies "Tao", because it is an innate and original harmony. It is even fundamentally distinct from western philosophy extolling man's control and conquest of the nature.In his youth, Kaii Higashiyama studied in Germany and was influenced by Western aesthetics of form. Therefore, all his works value the form. Inspired by Western aesthetics of form, his works applied Clive Bell's formal aesthetics of art into specific painting creation. In his works, sketches and colors are combined specially to form some relationship of forms to evoke our aesthetic emotions. The combination of sketches and colors, and those inspiring aesthetic forms, are of significance.The aesthetic philosophy of Kaii Higashiyama Paintings represents mono-no-aware aesthetics and Zen aesthetics. His paintings convey an image of emptiness and tranquility. Different from Chinese paintings which stress understanding of Taoism, Japanese paintings draw themselves close to people and are better at revealing the fickleness and grief of nature. If Chinese landscape paintings which express nature are the art of recognition of "Tao", Kaii Higashiyama Paintings which depict nature are the art of elegance. The cultural core of its elegant art is mono-no-aware aesthetics and Zen aesthetics. As his artistic destination, ink and wash constitutes all of Kaii Higashiyama's art works in his declining years. From true mountains and rivers to abstract ones, his ink and wash works represent the art of both elegance and recognition. His artistic style not only features elegance and tranquility, but also signifies Chinese artistic aspiration for "man and heaven are one." It reveals Kaii Higashiyama's unceasing pursuit for beauty of Japanese nation. He turned to the western world for inspiration first and then returned to review the Japanese art, tilting towards one side and later seeking a balance. Although his artistic style is deemed as both western and Chinese, his art works directed to China. That charts his art career and changes in his aesthetic philosophy.