Study On The Play Theory Of Huizinga

Johan Huizinga is a famous cultural historian in the twentieth century, and also a master of cultural historian after Jacob Burckhardt. He inherited the play theory of predecessors, studied cultural phenomenon from the perspective of the play using the unique history thought and research methods, and then put forward the play theory which is different from the previous historian. This thesis analyzes the Play Theory of Huizinga, aiming at giving right orientation of the historical value of the Play Theory, and hoping it can lead to more scholars concerned about Huizinga’s Play Theory.Huizinga’s Play Theory is based on defining the play and analyzing the characteristics of play. Huizinga thinks the play is an activities which expands in a particular time and space. It follows the widely accepted rules, without the required of times and the utilitarian of substance. The play has four characteristics named the voluntary of the play, the virtual and non-utilitarian of the play, the isolation and limitations of the play, the absolute rules of the play and the aesthetic forms of the play. On this basis, Huizinga analyzes the different forms of culture and the civilization of different historical periods, finally works out the relation between play and civilization:the play existed earlier than civilization, the play bred civilization, and the development of civilization is related to the play.Huizinga’s Play Theory provides a new direction for historians to study cultural history, it has epoch-making significance. First, Huizinga confirmed the value of play, he thinks play is itself. Second, Huizinga’s Play Theory studies on the forms of play, on the play features and the play factors of culture. Third, Huizinga elevated play to the height of essence of civilization. Fourth, Huizinga used the vision of General History to combine various disciplines together to synthetically and generally study cultural history. He breaked the traditional research methods of cultural history, providing a new idea for the study of cultural history. Huizinga has made a huge contribution to the prosperity for today’s play theory. His historical thought and research methods can set an example for today’s historical research.