Yun, The Superlative Beauty

Yun, is the superlative beauty. Yun and Beauty not only have connection, but also have differences. Yun is the highest level of beauty. That "beauty" defined in western aesthetics is not enough to appraise Chinese ideal art, in which Yun is the final aim. Chinese artistic aesthetics consciousness has experienced a history of evolution from "beauty" to "Yun". In accordance with the evolution of Chinese artistic esthetics consciousness , Yun has also experienced an evolution process from "rhyme of musical" to "personal charm" and to "artistic Yun" ultimately. Its aesthetic implication has been confirmed and expounded continuously in the history. Under the particular times of Song Dynasty, Yun was brought forward as an ideal of aesthetics. It not only became the superlative beauty ,but also applicated in all kinds of arts and became the highest aesthetic evaluating standard .The aesthetic implication of Yun embodys the aesthetic characteristic of Chinese art vividly .The spirit character of Yun and Chinese art are consistent, namely "benevolence", "you", "ingenious apprehension", which constitutes their spirit. By comparion between the Chinese and Western ideal of artistic aesthetic, we will make it clear that Yun is the highest ideal of Chinese art. Its "sub-religion" is the national characteristic of Chinese art, which provides a wealth of apocalypse on establishment and development of the system of artistic aesthetics:the real art aesthetics should keep beauty and Yun in harmony.