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XU FUGUAN’S INTERPRETATION OF ZHUANGZI’S AESTHETIC THOUGHT: SOME METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF HIS COMPARATIVE APPROACH.

The present article deals with Xu Fuguan’s analysis and interpretation of some of the central concepts of Zhuangzi’s philosophy, which constitute his aesthetic thought. In Xu’s view, Zhuangzi’s aesthetic thought relates to the aesthetic way of human life, where beauty applies to the realm of dao in...

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Published in:Problems / Problemos pp. 94 - 109
Main Author: Sernelj, Téa
Format: Article
Published: Vilnius University 2016 Supplement
Subjects:
Chinese philosophy
Aesthetics
Cross-cultural communication
Consciousness
Zhuangzi, ca. 365 B.C.-ca. 290 B.C.
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The present article deals with Xu Fuguan’s analysis and interpretation of some of the central concepts of Zhuangzi’s philosophy, which constitute his aesthetic thought. In Xu’s view, Zhuangzi’s aesthetic thought relates to the aesthetic way of human life, where beauty applies to the realm of dao in which human beings are able to liberate their spirit and enjoy a way of life denoted as “free and easy wandering” (xiaoyaoyou 逍遙遊). In Xu’s view, this is the highest and the most beautiful sphere of human existence, and is as such expressed in art. Xu found in Zhuangzi’s concepts of xinzhai心齋and zuowang 坐忘, as methods for achieving this highest level of being, some similarities with certain concepts of late 19 and early 20 century Western phenomenology. Although Xu was trying to be careful in drawing parallels between certain Western philosophies and Zhuangzi’s thought, he believed that there is some resemblance between them, especially regarding the question of why and in which way human consciousness (or the human heart-mind) is able to perceive the world aesthetically. The article aims to show some methodological problems and inconsistencies in this comparative approach, which underlies Xu’s aesthetic theory.
Straipsnyje aptariama, kaip Xu Fuguan interpretuoja keletą pagrindinių Zuangzi estetinės minties sąvokų. Xu nuomone, Zhuangzi estetinė mintis susijusi su estetiniu žmogaus gyvenimo būdu, kur grožis taikomas dao sričiai, kurioje žmonės gali išlaisvinti savo sielą ir džiaugtis „laisvu ir lengvu klajojimu“ (xiaoyaoyou 逍遙遊). Pasak Xu, tai yra aukščiausia ir gražiausia žmogaus egzistencijos sfera, įgaunanti išraišką mene. Zhuangzi sąvokas xinzhai心齋 ir zuowang 坐忘, kaip šio aukščiausio būties lygmens pasiekimo metodą, Xu laikė panašiomis į kai kurias XIX ir XX a. Vakarų fenomenologijos sąvokas. Nors Xu stengėsi atsargiai vesti paraleles tarp Vakarų filosofijos ir Zhuangzi mąstymo, jis manė esant jų panašumų, ypač klausimu, kodėl žmogaus sąmonė gali estetiškai suvokti pasaulį. Šio straipsnio tikslas yra atskleisti tokios lyginamosios prieigos, glūdinčios Xu estetinėje mintyje, metodologinius keblumus ir prieštaravimus.