Leisure Culture In Southern Song Dynasty And Its Aesthetic Significance

The highly developed backgrounds in politics, economy, culture and urbanization in the Southern Song Dynasty, create good conditions for the prosperity of its leisure culture. The society of the Southern Song Dynasty has highly grumous recreational atmosphere, complete developed leisure facilities, abundant recreational activities, and has a preliminary leisure service industry as well. Leisure thoughts consciously produced among the Southern Song literati are spiritual pioneers which leads the leisure culture at that time. In the voices of encouraging leisure, pursuing leisure, cherishing leisure and showing off leisure, the Southern Song literati realize the identification of historical leisure figures and self positioning, and their sense of worth also change directions. In the meditation on leisure, the Southern Song literati have touched the speculation on the essence of leisure, and have recognized the essential value of leisure. The Kongfu (philosophical item:spiritual efforts) for attaining leisure in the Southern Song dynasty mainly involve three aspects:control in mind, selection in environment, and reliance in carrier. This "control in mind" is a law of "comply with human nature" which encourages "better adapt to your heart", and also is a law of "restore human nature" which resorts to ideal states of "no secular minds"and "no business entangled". This "selection in environment" longs for escaping worldly environment, stepping into reclusive states, wandering around beautiful places, and integrate into communities with human touch. Based on the theory of "comply with human nature by enjoy playing", this "reliance in carrier" regards these as leisure carriers:playing musical instruments, playing chess, calligraphy, painting, reading and writing poems, reading books, burning incense, drinking tea, appreciating antiquities, etc.-which shows an elegant taste. According to the degree of freedom which people get from the world, the gradations in the Southern Song Dynasty can be classified as three:the gradation of retiracy, the gradation of harmonious life and the gradation of transcendence. The aesthetic categories at this time are mainly related to the beauty of personality which includes Yanxian(leisurely and carefree). Xiankuang(leisurely and open-minded), Xianfang(free and easy). Xiandan(Tranquil), Youxian(gentle and refined), Ziyou(free). Zizai(carefree), Congrong(unhurried), Yongrong(graceful and poised). Youran(carefree and leisurely), Saluo(free and openhearted). Xiaosan(leisurely and carefree). Xiaoyao(free and unfettered), and also related to the beauty of art which includes Xianya(free and refined). Xiandan(leisurely and light). Xianyuan(leisurely and meaningful). Xianxia(leisurely and free), Xianshi(leisurely and comfortable), Xiaosan(free and unfettered). Youyou(leisurely and carefree). Saluo(free and openhearted).Therefore, my core point of view is:the highly developed leisure culture in the Southern Song Dynasty is rich in aesthetic significance. In sum. this aesthetic significance is lies on the aesthetic consciousness in leisure thoughts, on the pursuit of beauty in leisure Kongfu, and on the artistry and beauty of personality exist in leisure practice. Its concrete manifestations are the following:From the angle of consciousness of the essence of leisure, people in the Southern Song Dynasty show there mediation about leisure and aesthetic time and space, leisure and aesthetic attitude, leisure and aesthetic discovery, and leisure and beauty in form and beauty in personality. From the angle of the leisure Kongfu(control in mind), they appear a kind of beauty in personality which is indifferent to fame and wealth. From the angle of the leisure Kongfu(selection in environment), their "farming seclusion" appear a kind of Confucianism beauty in personality and their "fishing seclusion" appear a kind of Taoism beauty in personality. Besides, people in the Southern Song Dynasty also deliberately create beautiful leisure environment, which makes their garden recreation contain a multidimensional connotation of beauty of art and beauty in personality. At the same time, the leisure Kongfu "integrate into communities with human touch" also let them attain the beautiful enjoyments in human emotion. From the angle of the leisure Kongfu(reliance in carrier), the Southern Song literati tend to choose activities which are rich in artistic tastes. so their "playing"also become a time of artistic creations and aesthetic enjoyment. As the three gradations of leisure is talking about, in the "realm of retiracy". people at that time present us a kind of beauty in personality by their aloofness from politics and material pursuits. in the "gradation of harmonious life", they present us a kind of Confucianism beauty in personality-Zhonghe(the beauty of neutralization). and in the "gradation of transcendence", people present us a transcendent beauty in personality respectfully originate from Confucianism morality and justice. Taoism philosophy of Wudai(reliance on nothing), and Buddhism philosophy of death. People in the Southern Song Dynasty also use subcategories and related categories of "Xian(leisure)" to value beauty in arts and beauty in personality, as well.To unearth the leisure culture in Southern Song Dynasty and its aesthetic significance will help the alienation phenomenon in modern leisure life and promote the construction of harmonious society...