Sublating, Inheriting and Integrating: The Evolution of Aesthetic Thought of Wang Guowei

Abstract

Abstract: In the development of Wang Guowei's aesthetic theory, his intentions and methods of theoretical construction, the establishment of theoretical structures and levels, and the incorporation of academic principles all exhibit a close and direct relationship with his examination of Kant, Schopenhauer and other Western philosophy and aesthetics. Wang Guowei's journey from Commentary on the Dream of the Red Chamber, A Word on Literature to Preface to the Second Draft of the Poetic Remarks in the Human World, and finally to Poetic Remarks in the Human World illustrates a complex process from reliance on Schopenhauer and integration of Schiller's aesthetics, to reliance on Schopenhauer and integration of Kant's aesthetics, and then to reliance on Kant and integration of Schopenhauer's aesthetics. This process involves both sublation and integration. However, with the writing of A History of the Dramas of Sung and Yuan Dynasties, Wang Guowei began to gradually diminish the traces of Western influence. His transformation reflects his reflection and understanding of Western theories and concepts, the characteristics of Chinese literature and theory, and the compatibility of the two. This reflection encompasses the complexity and innovation of knowledge cognition and choice, thereby constituting an important subject in the study of academic history.

Key words: Wang Guowei, aesthetic thought, evolution, Kant

Shi Wei. Sublating, Inheriting and Integrating: The Evolution of Aesthetic Thought of Wang Guowei[J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2024, 44(2): 126-135.

References

佛雏:《王国维哲学译稿研究》。北京:社会科学文献出版社,2006年。
[Fo, Chu, A Study of Wang Guowei's Philosophical Translations. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2006.]
——:《王国维诗学研究》。北京:北京大学出版社,1987年。
[——. A Study of Wang Guowei's Poetics. Beijing: Peking University Press, 1987.]
康德:《判断力批判》,邓晓芒译,杨祖陶校。北京:人民出版社,2017年。
[Kant, Immanuel. Critique of Judgment. Trans. Deng Xiaomang, ed. Yang Zutao. Beijing: People's Publishing House, 2017. ]
——:《康德三大批判合集》(注释版)(下),李秋零译注。北京:中国人民大学出版社,2016年。
[——. Kant's Three Critiques. Trans. Li Qiuling,Beijing: People's Publishing House, 2016.]
罗钢:《传统的幻象:跨文化语境中的王国维诗学》。北京:人民文学出版社,2017年。
[Luo, Gang. The Illusions of Tradition: Wang Guowei's Poetics in the Cross-Cultural Context. Shanghai: People's Literature Publishing House, 2017.]
彭玉平:《人间词话疏证》。北京:中华书局,2014年。
[Peng, Yuping. Critical Annotations to Poetic Remarks in the Human World. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 2014.]
浦江清:《浦江清文存》,张耀宗选编。南京:江苏人民出版社,2016年。
[Pu, Jiangqing.Selected Essays of Pu Jiangqing. ed.Zhang, Yaozong, Nanjing: Jiangsu People's Publishing House, 2016.]
叔本华:《作为意志和表象的世界》,石冲白译,杨一之校点。北京:商务印书馆,1982年。
[Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation. Trans. Shi Chongbai, Edited by Yang Yizhi. Beijing: The Commercial Press, 1982.]
——:《叔本华美学随笔》,韦启昌译。上海:上海人民出版社,2021年。
[——. Aesthetic Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer. Trans. Wei Qichang. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 2021.]
王国维:《王国维全集》,胡逢祥主编,第1卷、第14卷、第20卷。杭州:浙江教育出版社,广州:广东教育出版社,2010年。
[Wang, Guowei. Complete Works of Wang Guowei. Ed. Hu Fengxiang, Vol.1,14,20. Hangzhou: Zhejiang Education Press, Guangzhou: Guangdong Education Press, 2010.]
叶嘉莹:《王国维及其文学批评》。石家庄:河北教育出版社,1997年。
[Ye, Jiaying. Wang Guowei and His Literary Criticism. Shijiazhuang: Hebei Educational Publishing House, 1997.]
袁英光刘寅生:《王国维年谱长编(1877—1927)》。天津:天津人民出版社,1996年。
[Yuan, Yingguang, and Liu, Yinsheng. A Chronological Biography of Wang Guowei (18771927). Tianjin: Tianjin People's Publishing House, 1996.]
朱光潜:《西方美学史》。北京:商务印书馆,1979年。
[Zhu, Guangqian. A History of Western Aesthetics. Beijing: The Commercial Press, 1979.]

[1]	Si Wei. From Unfortunate Ending to Conscious Will: The Transformation of Wang Guowei’s Tragic Ideas [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2022, 42(5): 129-138.
[2]	Jiang Haowei. The Political Ethics of Aestheticism: “Beauty” and “Virtue” in Wang Guowei’s Early Poetics and Thoughts [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2022, 42(2): 166-174.
[3]	Yang Boling. Wang Guowei’s Theory of Intuition and New Practice of Symbolizing with Affective Image in Ci-poetry [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2021, 41(2): 179-192.
[4]	Xu Yanlin. On the Stylistic Construction of Wang Guowei's History of Traditional Opera in the Song and Yuan Dynasties [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2016, 36(1): 157-165.
[5]	Geng Zhi. Is Wang Guowei's Theory of the Poetic State Focused on Feelings: A Discussion with Mdm. Ye Jiaying [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2014, 34(2): 94-99.
[6]	Tan Haozhe. Benevolent Neighborhood Is Beauty: The Meta-problem of the Aesthetic Thought in Pre-Qin Confucianism [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2013, 33(3): 125-131.
[7]	Luo Gang. "Return What is China’s to China": A Contrapuntal Reading of "the Veiled and the Unveiled" and "Fu, Bi, Xing" [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2013, 33(2): 57-66.
[8]	Zhu Liyuan, Li Ming. Reappraisal of the Aesthetic Thoughts of Giambattista Vico [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2012, 32(4): 86-93.