Research On The "Tao-technique" Relationship In Traditional Chinese Art

The relationship between "Tao" and "technique" is an ever-changing topic since ancient times.The view of the relationship between "Tao" and "technique" embodies the deep understanding of artistic creation and aesthetics of ancient Chinese people.Based on the creation practice of traditional Chinese art and the relevant aesthetic theories,this thesis attempts to explain and summarize the view of "Tao-technique" relationship in traditional art,examines its specific performance and role in traditional art in order to construct a Chinese "Tao-technique" relationship theory with rich theoretical implications from different presentation levels of three theories:a unity of opposites of"Tao-technique" relationship,body-function interdependence and advance from "Tao" to"technique".The thesis is divided into five parts:introduction,three chapters of argumentation and conclusion.The introduction part mainly explains the reasons for selecting the topic,analyzes the research status and main viewpoints of "Tao-technique" relationship,examines and reflects on the achievements and defects of "Tao-technique" relationship research,and proposes three logical levels of "Tao-technique" relationship theory.Chapter One examines the first level of "Tao-technique" relationship theory,specifically,"Tao" is inseparable from "technique".Chinese traditional cultural thoughts have always followed the concept of emphasizing "Tao" and looking down upon"techniques".People are accustomed to regarding "Tao" and "technique" as two different notions.However,these two concepts are interdependent and dialectically unified.The subtle "techniques",cannot be achieved without noble insights of "Tao";vice versa,without excellence in "technique",one's artistic achievement cannot reach the realm of"Tao".Chapter Two explores the second level of "Tao-technique" relationship theory,that is,"technique" exists in "Tao".From the perspective of body-function relationship in Chinese ontological philosophy,"Tao-technique" relationship is body-function relationship."Tao" is body and "technique" is function.Just like body and function are inseparable,"Tao" and "technique" are also interdependent."Tao" runs through"technique" in the form of Qi,and Qi plays a very important role in how "Tao" can be transformed into "technique".Judging from the aesthetic meaning of Qi,Qi is the cardinal of leading aesthetic subject,including emotion,meaning,spirit,thought,sentiment,soul and delight and aesthetic object,including object,image,shape,speech and attitude.Qi is the source of impulse for aesthetic creation,the internal basis for the combination of thoughts and talents and also the fundamental for the existence and circulation of the artistic works.Therefore,Qi is closely related to the "technique"conveyed by artistic works.Based on three viewpoints of "Tao being the body and technique being the function",namely,"Tao" being the foundation of art,"techniques"carrying "Tao" and poetry and painting being equal,this thesis clarifies that although"Tao" is metaphysical while "technique" is physical,in terms of mutual connection and unity of body and function,the smallest "Tao" is body,everything is function,and the whole world is just the manifestation of "Tao" as the root and principle.Chapter Three examines the third aspect of "Tao-technique" relationship theory,that is,"technique" advances to "Tao".This chapter turns to focus on the appearance of the creation object,focusing on the manifestation of "'Tao' advancing from technique" in the practice of artistic creation,which means the concept of "'Tao' advancing from technique" penetrates into the artwork from all levels.Through an in-depth analysis of the "Tao-technique" relationship theory,it can be found that the ancient Chinese people's systematic views on the formation of the"Tao-technique" relationship can be divided into three logical levels.These three logical levels have different focuses and involve different aesthetics and artistic creation.To deeply understand the traditional Chinese "Tao-technique" relationship,it is necessary to analyze it logically and carry out research from the above three aspects to construct a Chinese "Tao-technique" relationship with rich theoretical implications.