Study Of Cai Yuanpei’s "Substituting Aesthetic Education For Religion"

Cai Yuanpei, an outstanding democratic revolutionist, educationalist and aesthetic (?)ioneer in China’s modern and contemporary history. His moral character and academic (?)rticles have been respected and praised by the world. The ideology of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" was an important theoretical proposition which was proposed by him n the early20th century. The proposition advocating aesthetic education against religion;(?)dvocating the scientific against foolishness; advocating freedom against the autocratic, not only has an important position in Cai Yuanpei’s academic thought, but also has a particularly (?)ositive sense in the specific social background. Therefore, once was proposed, it evoked a strong response at the time of ideological and cultural, academic started the research on it in succession. But due to historical reasons, the academic research on it was stopped in the1950s, then after1980s back on track. Compared with the study achievements on Cai Yuanpei’s other ideas or claim, the study on the ideology of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" seemed rather backward. Although some writings of the aesthetic education, religion and other aspects have given a certain degree of attention on Cai Yuanpei’s thought of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion", some papers also have a certain degree of analysis on it, but on the whole, the research is still relatively weak, not systematic and comprehensive, to date there is no monograph with the theme of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" appearing, such a result is obviously not match with its position in Cai Yuanpei’s academic thought, so it is in urgent need of improvement. In addition, the study of Cai Yuanpei’s "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" also helps us to inherit and carry forward the outstanding traditional ideological and educational resources. Comrade Jiang Zemin once said,"Our cultural construction cannot cut off the history. On the national traditional culture to take its essence, goes to its dregs, and combining the characteristics of the times to develop, bring forth the new through the old, make it continue to carry forward.’ It is no doubt that Cai Yuanpei’s thought of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" is an important part of Chinese national traditional ideological and cultural resources, so if we want to inherit and develop the national tradition, Yuanpei’s thought of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" can not be ignored. More importantly, many ideas and views of Cai Yuanpei’s "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" can give us some reference to the implementation of quality education, the elimination of moral crisis as well as the solution to the problem of "religious fanaticism". It is in view of the above reason, the author determines to write a doctoral thesis with Cai Yuanpei’s "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" as the theme and wants to do some efforts to solve the above problems.The thesis consists of three parts including an introduction, body and conclusion.Chapter One is the introduction part, it describes the significance of this topic in contemporary China, combs the history and present situation of academic research on the topic and points out the basic ideas, content, methods and possible innovation of this thesis research.The section, from Chapter Two to Chapter Seven, is the body part, also the focus of this thesis. Chapter Two discusses the background of the theory of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion". Through the research, this paper holds that Cai Yuanpei’s thought of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" firstly is the product of the times, the danger of national subjugation and belief crisis were its social background, and the proliferation of religious redemption theory, the heating movement of Confucianism and the expansion of parochial education were its direct opportunity. Second, it is also the product of common influence on the western and Chinese ideology and culture. Chinese long tradition of aesthetic and non-religious sprit already lay a deep imprint in Cai Yuanpei’s thought, while the western aesthetic thought of Kant, Schiller’s aesthetic views and Kong De’s view of evolution are also given him huge impact, the ideas of joint action constitute the thought origin of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion". Chapter Three discusses the basis of the theory of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion". Through the research, this paper holds that the theoretical basis of Cai Yuanpei’s "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" mainly includes his educational philosophy with color of liberalism, religious views with criticism of the spirit and aesthetic thought with the essence of emotional education. Chapter Four discusses the main content of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion". Through the research, this paper holds that the main content of Cai Yuanpei’s "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" includes fighting against to make "Confucianism" as a "state religion", advocating substitute aesthetic education for religion and substitute philosophy for religious belief. Chapter Five discusses the spiritual essence of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion". Through the research, this paper holds that the spiritual essence of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" is to save the nation in peril, to rebuild the society belief, to realize the independent education and cultivate perfect personality. The content of Chapter Six is to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion". Through the research, this paper believes that Cai Yuanpei’s "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" not only contain a unique ideological characteristics, play a positive historical influence on the specific social context, but also have many defects and deficiencies. Chapter Seven mainly discusses the contemporary values of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion". Through the research, this paper holds that many thoughts and ideas of "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" have the significant worth for us to learn in promoting the implementation of quality education, eliminating the moral crisis and solving the problem of religious fanaticism.The last part is the conclusion. On the basis of summing up the study content, the author clearly points out that although Cai Yuanpei’s "Substituting Aesthetic Education for Religion" has many defects and shortcomings, but as long as we can take the essence and discard its dross, it will play a greater role for contemporary China.