Liangzhi Brightness Aesthetics

The subject of this thesis is Wang Yang ming’s aesthetic thought. Methodologically, this is a textual study based on the naturalistic pattern of Chinese thought, combining traditional Chinese philology and philosophical speculation. In terms of perspective, instead of a from-above-to-below way of study, this thesis starts from a certain part and proceeds from below to above. Wang compares "Liangzhi (conscience)" to the sun, which forms the departing point of this thesis and which I will analyze and investigate in detail to discuss Wang’s aesthetics.Wang compares "liangzhi" to the sun, not only as a convenient expression, but containing in it a far-reaching philosophical and aesthetical implication. Aesthetical approach is desirable method to reveal this implication fully and deeply.The core of Wang’s aesthetical thought is "guangming(luminosity)". According to Wang, "liangzhi(conscience)"is the original principle of beauty,which is luminous. Beauty is the occurrence of "Guangming(luminosity)";the awareness of beauty means the removal of darkness and the arrival of "guangming(luminosity)";a beautiful world is a luminous world.Wang’s aesthetical thought as above is embodied in his central doctrine of "zhi liangzhi(the realization of conscience)".Firs of all, "liangzhi(conscience)" itself is luminous, working as the ground and origin of beauty; secondly, "zhi liangzhi(the realization of conscience)" is a process removing the shade of desires and opinions over conscience and giving out the "guangming(luminosity or light)";finally, after the removal of the shade over it. "liangzhi(conscience)" will illuminate the world revealing the world and man as luminous beings.Behind Wang’s aesthetical thought, there is the question of the being of man, which forms the central problem of Wang’s thought. Wang’s ultimate intention is to discuss the being of man. According to him,the nature of man consists in the revelation and awareness of "liangzhi(conscience)".When "liangzhi(conscience)" of man is concealed,a man is degraded into a beast and kept in darkness; when "liangzhi(conscience)" is revealed,a man is a man and comes into the light. Therefore the being of man is the departing point and basis of this thesis,."Liangzhi(conscience)" is compared to the sun,but the latter is at any rate, a sensible being. Through this sensible characteristic,on the one hand, Wang’s aesthetical thought breaks away with the abstractness and sternness of Zhu Xi Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao’s metaphysics, paving the way for the individual liberation of the his followers; however, on the other hand,it also leads this individual liberation to excess,that is,indulgence and vulgarity. Meanwhile, as a propelling force to the independence of individual personality, the effect of "Liangzhi(conscience)" is great but in the final analysis, limited by nature.