On The Theory Of Image In Liu Xizai's Art Summary

The image has developed into a mature aesthetic category.until the Qing Dynasty.As a ‘terminator of classical aesthetics',Liu Xizai's theory of image is systematic and in-depth and has an outstanding position in the development history of the theory of Chinese classic aesthetic image.From the three aspects of the match between Xing(?)and image,the harmonious blending between object and subject,and mutualism of blankness and fullness,Liu Xizai's theory of the generation of the image has been more systematic.His view that ‘Attaches great importance to the image,and especially more to pay attention to Xing' emphasizes the necessity of Xing as the original motive force in the generation of the image.Precisely,this point reflects the emphasis on the thinking pattern of regenerating through metaphor,thus highlighting the infiniteness of image generation.The integration of subject and object presents a dynamic process of image generation,which takes ‘observation of object' and ‘observation of subject' as the basic method to realize the ‘no-self' state of harmony between man and nature.The theory of creating images through imagination emphasizes the important role of fiction and imagination in the generation of images and points to the aesthetic pursuit of ‘meaningful and ethereal' image.Furthermore,in terms of ontology,Liu Xizai explained the multi-dimensional interaction between ‘object',‘ideals',‘vital force(Qi/?)',and ‘Tao',thus presenting the deep structure of imageries quite deeply.The relationship between ‘ideal' as the noumenon and ‘object' as the function constitutes the basic regulations of the ontology structure of the image.Using ‘vital force' as an intermediary,‘Object',‘Ideal' and ‘Tao' can be merged into a lively and profound image,thus presenting a dynamic process in which the image fits the ‘Tao' in the ontological form.He regards ‘vital force' as the ontology of image,and puts forward the viewpoint of ‘Art is the manifestation of Tao',which has made outstanding contributions to the art ontology of classical aesthetics.Finally,Liu Xizai takes ‘artistic conception' as the transcendental form of the image to show the overall aesthetic effect of the image world.Liu's description of the ‘transcendent' artistic conception and the ‘natural' artistic conception further strengthens the ontological characteristics of the image perceiving Tao and makes the image tend to be infinite and transcendent.‘Perceiving Tao' is internalized in the soul,and the subject reaches the state of ‘Tao' through self-perception,to achieve the transcendence of the self's soul.