Liang Qichao Interesting Aesthetic Theory

As an unique aesthetic category of ancient China– taste, becomes the bridge and link connected with aesthetics and life in the interpretation of Liang Qichao who is famous as Master of Chinese modern culture .By his own unique academic methods,he proposes the assertion that"Taste is the first motive force of the life". He makes a modern and rational explain of taste while the category is characterized with ancient philosophical thinking from the aspects of perceptual life, so that taste is implanted in the secular life of ordinary people from the elegant aesthetic palace. Liang Qichao combines and integrates theories on taste of all Chinese and foreign aesthetes after exploring the essence of Chinese traditional culture deeply and pondering the differences between Chinese and western civilization seriously together with his own experience getting from aesthetic practice. Thus his tasteful aesthetics is compatible and inclusive adhering to the academic principle and tradition of Chinese traditional culture. In the theoretical framework of tasteful aesthetics,Liang Qichao places taste in the core to be dominant and explains the hierarchy, the formation, the characteristics and the practical way of taste systematically and focuses on the nurturing role of emotion, advocating emotional education to cultivate aesthetic taste and attain the ultimate goal of improving personal character accomplishment and remolding the ideal people. Though Liang Qichao's theory of tasteful aesthetics is not perfect, it surpasses the contemporary era and has a leading value and realistic significance comparing with the age in which it generated. It offers important and profound inspiration for continuators'further researches such as the related topics of "artistic survival" as well as analyses of academic origin and character of Chinese aesthetics in twentieth century .The advocated spirit of tasteful aesthetics played an enlightening role in inspiring the spirit and enlightening the intelligence of people at that time, for example"moving person"and"remolding ideal people".Meanwhile in the background of new era, it remains the realistic significance for guiding us to resist the material desires and transcend the secular life.This paper is to study Liang Qichao's thought of tasteful aesthetics. In order to reproduce the historic look and excavate the central idea of the theory in depth,the paper is divided into the following five parts in the structural design:The part of introduction begins with a brief overview and interpretation of the ontological update, evolution and breakthrough regarding modern aesthetic significance of taste -the unique aesthetic category in China-in the development process of Chinese literature and art .Liang Qichao's thought of tasteful aesthetics manifests the distinct features and academic style in the history of aesthetics' development throughout the twentieth century. And then derivate the theoretical value of putting Liang Qichao's thought into perspective today.In the first chapter, the social and historical background, personal experience and theoretical origin which boost the thought of tasteful aesthetics is elaborated as detailed as possible relying on sociological research methods. Grasp the social and cultural environment in which the theory of tasteful aesthetics generates from the macroscopic angle. Conclusion comes out that liang's aesthetic theory is the product of specific era background and individual ideological trait and that it is the pioneering integration of Chinese and western aesthetics.The second chapter generalizes and analyzes the basic theories of tasteful aesthetics from the perspective of artistic essence. By systemizing the research results in relating books and papers about Liang's thought of tasteful aesthetics, it is clear that the concrete practical means and research approaches are weak underlying his rich theory. This part raises a new definition and analyses theoretically of the taste. Taste is not merely comprised of emotion, creation and life which were summarized by ancestors, its inner essence should be a way of understanding the world and knowing the value of life thoroughly, and the unity of simply perceptual forms and generatively rational implications. Liang's aesthetic theory inspire people to the practice of operating tasteful life and design for artful survival in dimensions of nature, art and life,finding approaches and breakthroughs to realize the aesthetic design and implement for tasteful life.The third chapter is the overall evaluation of Liang's life aesthetic. Sum up and summarize the theoretical achievements and features, realizing of the weakness of ideal means and aesthetic idealism for lacking of realistic basement dialectically at the same time. For the extension of the theoretical significance, further arguments and interpretations are made about enlightenments of tasting aesthetics for improving contemporary survival state.The end of this paper indicates that as the product of a specific time, Liang Qichao's thought of tasteful aesthetics can't avoid the limitations of the time and personal mind invariably, but it has transcended the cultural scales of an era. Basing on reading the traditional culture of ancient China, Liang Qichao explores a way to China's modernization and gives us a few brand and practical enlightenments to aesthetic survival which is demanding in our modern life.