The Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Chinese Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art

Description

For anyone working in aesthetics interested in understanding the richness of the Chinese aesthetic tradition this handbook is the place to start. Comprised of general introductory overviews, critical reflections and contextual analysis, it covers everything from the origins of aesthetics in China to the role of aesthetics in philosophy today. Beginning in early China (1st millennium BCE), it traces the Chinese aesthetic tradition, exploring the import of the term aesthetics into Chinese thought via Japan around the end of the 19th century. It looks back to early practices of art and craftsmanship, showing how the history of Chinese thought provides a multitude of artifacts and texts that give rise to a wide range of aesthetic creations and notions. Introducing various perspectives on traditional arts in China, including painting, ceramics, calligraphy, poetry, music and theatre, it explores those aesthetic traditions not included in “canonic” art forms, such as martial arts, rock gardening, and ritual performance. Written by Chinese, European, and American theoreticians and practitioners, this authoritative research resource enhances contemporary aesthetics by revealing the possibilities of a Chinese philosophy of art. Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Dedication CONTENTS FIGURES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Introduction On Art, Philosophy, and Aesthetics in the Chinese Context NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY PART ONE Aesthetic Theories Editors’ Introduction to Part One CHAPTER ONE A Sketch of Chinese Aesthetics 1. THE CONFUCIAN WAY 2. THE DAOIST ALTERNATIVE 3. THE MOHIST UTILITARIANISM 4. THE PURSUIT OF CHAN BUDDHISM 5. THE RISE OF MODERN CHINESE AESTHETICS NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER TWO Beauty Lies in the Image: Endowing Fundamental Theories of Aesthetics with Chinese Characteristics NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER THREE A Cosmological Aestheticism: The Interpretive Context for Confucian Role Ethics COORDINATING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND ITS NATURAL CONTEXT TO OPTIMAL AESTHETIC EFFECT A RATIONALIZING TELEOLOGY VERSUS THE AESTHETICS OF AN OPTIMIZINGS YMBIOSIS ( HE 􀪼 ) CONFUCIAN ROLE ETHICS AS AN ETHICAL AESTHETICISM NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER FOUR “Living and Dead Rules”: The Role of Rules in Chinese Aesthetics 1. SOCIO-HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 2. DISCUSSION OF METHODS AND RULES 3. RULE AND ENLIGHTENMENT 4. RULE AND IDEA 5. THE RULE OF NON-RULE NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY PART TWO Aesthetic Concepts Editors’ Introduction to Part Two CHAPTER FIVE Defining Mindscape (yijing 􁜿􀺳): Extension, Intension, and Beyond 1. INTRODUCTION 2. EXTENSIONAL APPROACH 3. INTENSIONAL APPROACH 4. YIJING AND ONTOLOGY OF ART 5. TENTATIVE TRANSLATION NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER SIX On the Notion of Xiang 􄊑 (“Image-Phenomenon”) in Landscape Ink Painting REPRESENTATION OR FIGURATION ARTISTIC CREATION AND ARTISTIC TRANSFORMATION NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER SEVEN Nature as Not-yetexisting Beauty: Infra-thin Poetic Art of Enchorial-topia 1 2 3 4 5 NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER EIGHT Some Aesthetic and Artistic Categories in Chinese Painting and Calligraphy 1. THE PHYSIOLOGICAL VOCABULARY 2. THE CHARACTEROLOGICAL VOCABULARY NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER NINE What is “The Aestheticization of Everyday Life”? CONSUMER CULTURE IN THE “POST-REVOLUTIONARY ERA” “EXPERIENCE” AND “TASTE”: WHAT IS AESTHETICIZED? MIDDLE CLASSES AS AESTHETICIZED SUBJECTS CONCLUSION: A FEW MORE QUESTIONS NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY PART THREE Aesthetic Practices and Exercises Editors’ Introduction to Part Three CHAPTER TEN The Aesthetics of Music in the Ethical Discussion in Early China INTRODUCTION MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AND RITUALS MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AND ETHICAL THOUGHT CONCLUDING REMARKS NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER ELEVEN The Mechanics of Change: The Aesthetics of Chinese Ceramics in the Northern Song (960–1127) and Early Jin (1127–1234) Dynasties NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER TWELVE New Theater and New Drama: Chinese Aesthetic Modernity Through the Drama Activities in the Early Twentieth Century INTRODUCTION: RISE AND FALL OF THE NEW DRAMA THE NOVEL DREAMS IN NEW THEATER NATIONAL IDENTITY IN THE NEW OPERA THE NEW MYTH OF MODERNITY NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER THIRTEEN The Aesthetics of the Grotesque in Modern Chinese Narrative INTRODUCTION: AN ENDURING TRADITION REALITY IS AN ALIEN MADMEN, “HUMANIMALS” AND MISFITS MEANINGLESS, FRAGMENTED PLOTS: WHEN TIME DEVOURS SPACE THE GRAMMAR OF GROTESQUE NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Role of Stone in the Chinese Rock Garden A WORLD OF QI ENERGIES HISTORICAL CONTEXT MOUNTAINS AND WATERS MOUNTAINS AND ROCKS MOUNTAINS OF ROCKS THE GARDEN AS TONIC NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER FIFTEEN Aesthetics in Asian Martial Arts THE AESTHETIC IN ASIAN MARTIAL ARTS PRACTICE MARTIAL ARTS CINEMA NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY GLOSSARY ANNOTATED ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS INDEX