A Primary Research On Wu Yun's Taoist Aesthetic Thoughts

Taoism reached its peak in Tang Dynasty, which was also an era of prosperous aesthetical culture. Therefore the study of Taoist aesthetic thoughts of that era is important to the over-all research of the history of Taoist aesthetic thoughts. However, as such a research area has never been touched until very recent years, a lot of blanks are waiting to be filled. This essay fixes its attention upon Wu Yun - a gifted Taoist scholar of Tang dynasty, with an expectation to get an general idea of the Taoist aesthetic thoughts and culture of the time.The essay makes a detailed study into two aesthetic viewpoints of Wu Yun: 1. Life is to be valued; 2. Immortality can be learned on his Taoism philosophy basis. The study is based on the analysis of the fundamental concept of Wu Yun's Taoist aesthetic thoughts - Tao beauty. His idea of Self-Cultivation, which is quite different to other popular ideas in the period of Wei-Jin and Tang dynasty, advocated the simultaneous cultivation of the physical body and the spirit, however, the latter should be especially favored. All these thoughts not only enriched the Taoist aesthetic thoughts of Tang dynasty, but also became a sound foundation of their development in Song dynasty.The essay, trying to put Wu Yun's thoughts in a historical background, first analyzed the epochal atmosphere and social reality of the time. It then developed its discussion in three aspects:Chapter I. The introduction of the fundamental concept of his whole Taoistaesthetic thoughts - Tao-Beauty. This part discusses the characteristic of Tao-Beauty and its expressions - true, good and beauty, and emphasized that "good" is both the core of the religious ethical aesthetics and the standard of aesthetic judgments.Chapter II. The analysis of the key idea of Wu Yun's Taoist aesthetic thoughts - Life is to be valued. This part analyses not only the origin and currents of the immortal holy beings, but also the different attitudes required in pursuing the Life-valuing beauty. The impact of his idea is also introduced.Chapter III. Wu Yun's understanding to Freedom-Beauty. This part developed surrounding two poems on immortality written by Wu Yun.