Theoretical Analysis Of Mo-tse’s Non-music From The Perspective Of Populism

Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking represents the artistic view of Mohism. With a close looking into the connotation of Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking, we will find out that it contains basic principles of Mohism, such as "Universal love"、"Non-attack"、"Respected sages"、"God’s will"、"Ghost"、"Save economy" etc. After reading his basic ideas, we will find out that Mo-tse’s idea has similarities with Populism in19th century. To be more specific, they made their best to represent common people’s needs and uphold productive labor. In addition, both of them criticize elite group’s oppressive behavior under the current government policy, hold the view of abolishing exploitation and polarization, and appeal for the equality and justice of society. On this basis, it is of great theoretical significance to combine Mohism and Populism to research.When interpreting Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking, we probe into the characteristics of Populism reflected from the aspect of Mo-tse’s musical arts in the view of Populism.At the very beginning, this article introduces the basic ideas of Populism, then builds the viewpoints of Populism.In that case,we can analyze Mo-tse’s basic opinions and dig into the standard of the civilians, pointing out the birth of Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking is the criticism of current nation’s "rite and music". And then we will discuss Populism reflected from "non-music" thinking.Then, this article will focus on discussing Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking with the influence of Populism.In other words, it points out that Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking manifests upholding productive labor, maintaining labor’s human rights, and some other common people’s political views, in accordance with Populism’s views of upholding people, maintaining people’s interests and propagating equality. It is further noted that both of Mohism and Populism hold the view that the essence of people is labor, people should respect labor, social activities should guarantee people’s interests, and social elites should put emphasis on people’s survival, government’s policies should adopt the thought of humanism. It also explains that the reason of Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking is that musical activities waste labor and government management fees and the etiquette system and indulging in creature comforts of nobility encroach on labors’humanism.At last, this article analyzes the theoretical value and limits of Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking from the point of Populism. It hold the view that as a unique idea in the musical history of China, Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking is common people’s rebellion against elites’ privilege in terms of social economy, politics, culture and education, starts the labor’s demanding for musical aesthetics, accelerate the reform about the research of musical theories. However, some limitations come with this theory, for instance, ignoring the inspiration from musical arts to humans, regarding people’s acknowledgement about musical arts generic conceptual,and containing extreme religious culture.Generally speaking, it thoroughly analyzes Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking from Populism’s point of view, so that we can have a better understanding of the contingency of "non-music" history and the necessity of history that cannot form a trend. During the research of Mo-tse’s "non-music" thinking, it uncovers contradictions and paradox inherent Populism and inevitability of Mo-tse and Populism not being taken by the history.