Zhuangzi's Notion of"Cosmic Body"and Its Aesthetic Implications:Centering on The Seal of Virtue Complete in Zhuangzi
The chapter The Seal of Virtue Complete in Zhuangzi reflects on problems exposed by Confucian notion of body through images of deformed and ugly bodies.The Confucian perspective on the body emphasizes its ethical role in ritual and music education,giving rise to the aesthetic ideal of refinement and virtue.However,it also raises concerns about the potential for valuing form over substance.The Zhuangzi school considers the human body as an integral part of the universal process of nature.This perspective,known as the notion of"cosmic body",emphasizes authentic emotional expression unconstrained by formalities of etiquette,thereby establishing a tradition that prioritizes substance over form in aesthetics.The notion of the"cosmic body"dissolves the boundary between humansand external entities,while not advocating for the complete abandonment of the physical body.Instead,it seeks to restore bodily freedom by engaging in a gradual process of cultivating sensory organs through artistic techniques.This gradual cultivation process through skill and art is an aesthetic Gongfu theory.
The Seal of Virtue Complete in Zhuangzithe relationship between form and substancecosmic bodyaesthetic Gongfu theory
万方数据
