On Liu Yin’s Idea of “Relaxing in the Study of
Cultural Arts” and Literary Thoughts
Yang Wanli
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the
School of Chinese Language and Literature, Shanxi University
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About authors:
Yang Wanli, Ph. D., is an associate professor at the School of Chinese Language and Literature, Shanxi University. His research interest is the history of Chinese literary thought.
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History+
Published
2021-07-25
Issue Date
2021-07-18
Abstract
Liu Yin (1249—1293), a Neo-Confucian scholar in the early Yuan
dynasty, had achievements not only in the Neo Confucianism, but also in
literature, calligraphy, painting, zither and chess. He proposed the concept that “arts are fundamental
practices”, and for the first time compared literature and arts to the “six
arts” in the ancient times, enhancing the status of arts in Neo-Confucianism.
In his practice of cultural arts, Liu connected the thought of “observing
things” with the spirit of “acquiring knowledge through observations of things”.
Furthermore, he expressed a desire for secluded life in the artistic world, showing
a relaxed attitude towards art. He thought that painting should unite form and
spirit, and calligraphy should follow the example of the ancients. While these embodied
Liu Yin's artistic aesthetics, his ultimate purport pointed to “naturalness”.
Liu Yin’s consciousness of his identity as a Neo-Confucian scholar and an artist
was clearly displayed through his efforts to investigate things and to relax in
arts. It can be seen that the Neo-Confucian scholars in the Yuan dynasty were more
enthusiastic about literature and art. As a result, a large number of literary
and artistic works and theories were reserved. They inculcated the field of
literature and art with Neo-Confucian way of thought and value more deeply, influencing
the trend of literary and artistic thought in the Yuan dynasty. Therefore,
painting and calligraphy should be included in the explorations of the Neo-Confucian
phenomenon of “flowing into literature”.
Yang Wanli.
On Liu Yin’s Idea of “Relaxing in the Study of
Cultural Arts” and Literary Thoughts[J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2021, 41(4): 59-69
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Footnotes
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Funding
This
article is supported by the Youth Project of the National Social Sciences Foundation
(17CZW021).