Reasearch On Tang Xianzu’s Aesthetics From The Perspective Of Theory Of Mind

The purpose of this paper is that, through the study between Tang Xianzu’s philosophy and aesthetics relations, we can see the complete connotation of Tang Xianzu’s aesthetic thoughts, from the perspective of theory of mind.Tang Xianzu was a leader in the late Ming trend of thought. He raised the flag of "qing"(emotions), so scholars will summarize Tang Xianzu’s aesthetics as "Qing-Ontologyaesthetics" or "Qing-only theory" aesthetic thoughts. It gradually posted a labe of "Qing against Li(Justice)" on his thoughts. However, research on the aesthetic thoughts of Tang Xianzu should not be limited just as the social and political level of "Qing against Li". We still ought to explore the "Qing-Li together"side, from perspective of Theory of mind.First chapter focuses on Tang Xianzu’s relationship with people from school of Wang Yangming. There are two main factors that have influences on Tang Xianzu’s thoughts. From objective factors, Tang Xianzu lived in the late Ming Dynasty which have a great improvement on theory of mind. From the subjective factors, he had very close idea communication with theory of mind of that time.These helped him form his theory of mind of, called "Mind-ontology". This thought contains the arguments between "Qing" and "Li", "nature"and "emotion", "body" and "mind", which helped Tang Xianzu’s "Qing-Li"thought, "Mingfu"thought and "Guisheng" thought come into being. During the debate, Tang Xianzu cleared the "Mind-ontology" thoery, developed the "Qing-Li" thoughts,and brought about "Mingfu" and "Guisheng"thoughts. Under the guidance of Tang Xianzu’s theory of mind, his aesthetics of Literature-Art and Education’s characteristics are gradually revealed.Second section talks about Tang Xianzu’s aesthetics of Literature-Art. His ides contain two sides:"start from Qing" and "base on Li". The complementary and dialectical unity of the two aspects reflected in the literature thought. So Tang Xianzu’s literature and art thoughts are based on emotion’s expressing and imagination, in respect of the rules of literature. He gave birth to the understanding of the relationship between the "law" and "change", and formed "changing" thoughts of literature and art. Tang Xianzu also put his thoughts to "Dream State", in order to free of emotion through the soaring coincide with the heaven, and create reasonable blend of the aesthetic realm. Because the influences of Luo Rufang and Li Zhi’s thoughts on people daily, human desires and Conscience, Tang Xianzu’s taste of beauty tend to popularization, secularization, which talked about the truth and pay attention to the preservation of individual nature.Third chapter is about Tang Xianzu’s thoughts of aesthetic education. He not only want to teach people to "anti-Li", but also to "obey-Li", in order to achieve the free development of nature and emotion. So his thoughts of aesthetic education not only payed attention to the emotional education, but also the affirmation of moralizing education which have positive influences on the individual moral promotion and social stability. In the relationship between emotion education and moralizing education, Tang Xianzu thought "Emotion" as the foundation, the "Righteousness" as seed, "Courtesy" as a tool. He also lay stress on "Li-Yi"to show the emotion of people’s mind is the key factor that can help people go back to the original station. Tang Xianzu also put the beauty of education in practice and had good effect.In conclusion, from the perspective of Theory of mind, we can see the close link among Tang Xianzu’s philosophy, aesthetics of literature and art and aesthetic education. This kind of research will help greatly enriched the connotation of his thoughts, and also have a comprehensive understanding of Tang Xianzu’s aesthetics.