Song Aesthetics, In The Song Dynasty Context

In the development of Chinese aesthetics, Song Dynasty is a vital turning period, for aesthetics in that period contains new aesthetics consciousness, aesthetics practice and aesthetics idea of late Chinese feudal period society. The main trend of philosophy in Song Dynasty is Song-Confucianism, which has an overall impact on cultures and civilizations of various areas including aesthetics. The thesis focuses on how and to what extent Song-Confucianism has influenced aesthetics development. From the perspective of the overall theory of Song-Confucianism, we are engaged in the study on aesthetics under the influence of Song-Confucianism, adopting a combinative method of history and logic. We hope that the research will be certain value and significance in how to treat the relations between Chinese ancient aesthetics and philosophy.Song-Confucianism influences aesthetics in Song Dynasty in the following three respects.Absorbing the essences of Buddhism and Taoism, Song-Confucianism has formed a precise theoretical system of reasoning, exerting profound influence on aesthetics. From then on, scholars and officials began to consciously explore the rational and metaphysical world, not limiting themselves to perceptual world any more. It brought about unprecedented popularity of rational aesthetics spirit of Song-Confucianism.Since Song-Confucianism explores Li, which is too vague to be verified, so Song-Confucians emphasizes cultivating their minds and self-meditation. Correspondingly, aesthetics in Song Dynasty doesn't lay much stress on imitating aesthetic objects. Instead, it stress spirit and essence, in pursuit of resemblance in spirit.Ya has always been admired by scholars and officials in Chinese history, especially by scholars in Song Dynasty. According to Chinese classical aesthetics, Ya contains two internal trends: Ya Zheng and Dan Ya. In Song Dynasty, the two trends existed concurrently, and even were reflected by the same aesthetician. In Song-Confucianism, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are mutually integrated. The spirit influences scholars and officials in the whole period of Song Dynasty. For this reason, scholars in that period own both the spirit of entering society which is characterizes by positively benefiting mankind, being loyal to the sovereignty and devoted to the country, establishing merits and careers, and the spirit of renouncing society which features being leisure and indifference to fame and fortune. They are able to live in harmonious with the two life philosophies. Therefore, scholars in Song Dynasty are thirst for aesthetic ideal of Dan Ya while pursuing Ya Zheng.In a word, Song-Confucianism exerts a far-reaching influence on Song Dynasty aesthetics.