Study On The System Of Zhouyi Aesthetics

Zhouyi(The Book of Change) is not only a book on philosophy which outlines the universal law of the nature and society, but also an encyclopedia that covers kinds of experiences of production, life, society of the ancient times. Zhouyi(The Book of Change) provides a universe pattern in use of permutation and combination of symbols to symbolize the relationship among the heaven, earth and human beings; provides a thinking model, by using excess and deficiency of yin and yang to summarize the movement and transformation of things, which are in a dynamic balance. In brief, Zhouyi(The Book of Change) shows us the harmony between the Heaven and human, temper force with grace, and the interaction between Being and Nothingness. This pattern has made a profound impact on many fields of the Chinese culture, generating abundant aesthetic categories with Chinese characters, so as to establish the Chinese traditional aesthetic standards.This essay makes analysis and illustration on such philosophy categories contained in Zhouyi(The Book of Change) as Qi, Shi, Taiji, Yin and Yang and etc, and discusses on its aesthetical expressions, the beauty of tolerance and kindness, the beauty of change, the beauty of force, the beauty of soft and so on. By illustrating the profound influence they have made on the aesthetic research and art of the ancient Chinese, the essay tries to establish the aesthetic ideological system of Zhouyi(The Book of Change). The essay is divided into five parts, with its main contents as follows:The first chapter illustrates the Zhouyi(The Book of Change) philosophy theory, viz. the theoretical foundation of its aesthetics. In this part, it points out that while Zhouyi(The Book of Change) makes philosophy explanations to universe, nature and etc, it also provides solutions for many aesthetic problems, as well as the prerequisite basis, guideline and principle for its aesthetic thoughts.The second chapter discusses Taiji, the logic starting point of Zhouyi aesthetics. The Taiji pattern, though simple, is the brief expression of the whole culture wisdom of Zhouyi(The Book of Change), including Taiji wisdom. While the diagram of Taiji as its best symbol, it makes the summary of Zhouyi(The Book of Change) in brief and shows us the Zhouyi aesthetics to an extreme extent. The universe ontology revealed in Taiji wisdom should be the ontology of Beauty.The third chapter makes analysis and illustration of Yin-yang, the fundamental category of Zhouyi Aesthetics. Yin and Yang in Zhouyi(The Book of Change), is a dual category. It contains much profound philosophy. It has a wide range of wisdom, from climate and geography to men and women, and has become a symbol of the opposite of things in view of philosophy and aesthetics.The fourth chapter mainly makes analysis of Zhong, He and Tai-he in Zhouyi(The Book of Change), especially in Zhouyi Remarks. They are supposed to be the main reflection of the unique aesthetic wisdom of Zhouyi(The Book of Change). The basic and important feature of "Zhong-he" is the harmony of the Heaven and human, which is also the soul of Chinese aesthetic culture.The fifth chapter discusses the life aesthetics of Zhouyi(The Book of Change). It is based on the primitive culture of reproduction worship. The harmony of the Heaven and human is deemed as the supreme harmony by Zhouyi(The Book of Change)This essay tries to establish the aesthetic ideology system of Zhouyi(The Book of Change) through aesthetic connotations contained in hexagrams and lines, remarks and etc, with "Zhong-he" as its principal line.