Guodian Confucian Literature Literary Concept

In October 1993, a Tomb of Chu State of the Period of Warring State unearthed at Guodian Jinmen of Hubei Province, (which is titled with No.1 Tomb at Guodian,) excavated a lot of bamboo slips written with characters of Chu. The pictures and interpretation of these bamboo slips published in May 1998 by the Relics Press titled with Inscribed Bamboo Slips from Tomb of Chu at Guodian.The article will discuss the art thoughts of Confucian Documents of Chu bamboo slips at Guodian. However, the discussion should be established under the assurance of the production time of Chu bamboo slips. According to estimate and research of Archaeologists and other experts, at present, most scholars accept that the No. 1 Tomb of Chu Tomb at Guodian was interred at 4 B.C. It is deduced that the Confucian Documents are probably the material between Confucian and Mencius.Due to the time and school of Confucian Documents of Chu bamboo slips as well as the features of Chu bamboo slips, the art thoughts of Confucian Documents of Chu bamboo slips have specific characters: the poem, "Yue" and dance are not separated from each other; the "Li" and the "Yue" interact with each other; the thoughts of "Yue" as well as two conceptions above always associates with the thoughts of religion, politics and ethic; the problems of the "Li" and "Yue" are the important content of the Confucian aesthetics thoughts; the theory of the "Li" and the "Yue" of Chu bamboo slips always associates with the specific theory of temperament. According to the grasp of particularity of art thoughts of Chu bamboo slips, we consider that the theory of temperature, the theory of the "Li" and "Yue", the theory of "Yue" are the basic problems, which constitutes the theoretical system of art thoughts of Chu bamboo slips.The theory of temperament of Chu bamboo slips Confucian documents has provided the important theory basis for its view of art. Chu bamboo slips have carried on the rich elaboration to the temperament. Nature comes from fate, which comes from god. God is the root of nature. Nature is neither good nor bad. But habit raises nature, has provided the important theory basis for Confucian education of "Li" and "Yue". Tao begins with emotion, which is produced by nature. The nature is foundation of the emotion. The thing takes the nature to move. The nature gets emotion excited. Nature and emotion consist of the view of temperament. Chu bamboo slips advocate true emotion and extreme emotion, and consider real emotion beautiful. "Li" shows emotion effect. The theory of temperament is the root of the views of "Li" and "Yue". "Li" attributes to emotion clearly and definitely in Chu bamboo slips.The exposition about "Yue" of Confucian Documents of Chu bamboo slips at Guodian is the basic expression of the theory of art and aesthetics. The relationship between "Li" and "Yue" is central content of the thoughts of "Yue". Chu bamboo slips analyse the effect of "Yue" on the emotion carefully, criticize the "Yue" of Zheng and Wei; and they emphasize "Yue" to move people's emotion. It proposes to "Yue" asks the innermost feelings faster. Chu bamboo slips thought "Yue" in essentially has the inner link with "Germany". "Yue" can get achievement morals. These become the important development of the Confucian "Li" and "Yue" education idea.Confucian Documents of Chu bamboo slips at Guodian contain abundant exposition about "Li" and "Yue". "Li" and "Yue" have original connection. "Yue" belongs to "Li", which self is a part of "Li". "Li" and "Yue" influence each other. Chu bamboo slips attach importance to the significance of "Li" as criterion of conduct and the positive effect of "Li" and "Yue" on the education of moral integrity, which emphasize guide people with "Li" and moral. Chu bamboo slips discuss the content and main part of education of "Li" and "Yue", and they take the moral as the aim of the education of "Li" and "Yue".From Chu bamboo slips' analysis about temperament and emphasize on "Li" and "Yue", especially "Yue", we can get the conclusion that the art and esthetic view belongs to the development way from Confucian to Xunzi. On the basis of comprehensive exposition about art's theory of Chu bamboo slips, the article inquires further the position and significance of art thoughts of Chu bamboo slips in the development of Confucian art thoughts before Qin Dynasty.