The Problem Of Beauty: Aesthetic Thought And Pursuits In Northern Song Dynasty China (harvard East Asian Monographs)

During the Northern Song dynasty (960-1126), new ground was broken in aesthetic thought, particularly in the fields of art collecting, poetry criticism, connoisseurship of flowers, and the song lyric. Collectively these activities constitute much of what was distinctive about Northern Song culture. Yet the subjects treated here were unprecedented when they appeared; consequently, bold exploration was coupled with anxiety about the worth of these interests, especially given the Confucian biases against these pursuits. Despite differences in each area, certain overarching themes surface repeatedly. Together, these interests and choices suggest a logic behind the new directions of literati culture in the Northern Song. By focusing on the "problem of beauty," the author calls attention to the difficulties that Northern Song innovators faced in justifying these new pursuits. During The Northern Song Dynasty (960-1126), New Ground Was Broken In Aesthetic Thought, Particularly In The Fields Of Art Collecting, Poetry Criticism, Connoisseurship Of Flowers, And The Song Lyric. Collectively These Activities Constitute Much Of What Was Distinctive About Northern Song Culture. Yet The Subjects Treated Here Were Unprecedented When They Appeared; Consequently, Bold Exploration Was Coupled With Anxiety About The Worth Of These Interests, Especially Given The Confucian Biases Against These Pursuits. Despite Differences In Each Area, Certain Overarching Themes Surface Repeatedly. Together, These Interests And Choices Suggest A Logic Behind The New Directions Of Literati Culture In The Northern Song. By Focusing On The Problem Of Beauty, Ronald Egan Calls Attention To The Difficulties That Northern Song Innovators Faced In Justifying These New Pursuits.--publisher's Website. Rethinking Traces From The Past: Ouyang Xiu On Stone Inscriptions -- A New Poetry Criticism: The Creation Of Remarks On Poetry -- The Peony's Allure: Botanical Treatises And Floral Beauty -- Art Collecting And Its Discontents In The Lives Of Su Shi, Wang Shen, And Mi Fu -- The Song Lyric, Part One: The Trouble With Love -- The Song Lyric, Part Two: A New Critical Discourse, A New Male Voice -- Conclusion: The Aesthetics Of Social Class, Marketplace, And Gender. Ronald Egan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [385]-396) And Index. 'The intense piety of late T'ang essays on Buddhism by literati has helped earn the T'ang its title of the “golden age of Chinese Buddhism.” In contrast, the Sung is often seen as an age in which the literati distanced themselves from Buddhism. This study of Sung devotional texts shows, however, that many literati participated in intra-Buddhist debates. Others were drawn to Buddhism because of its power, which found expression and reinforcement in its ties with the state. For some, monasteries were extravagant houses of worship that reflected the corruption of the age; for others, the sacrifice and industry demanded by such projects were exemplars worthy of emulation. Finally, Buddhist temples could evoke highly personal feelings of filial piety and nostalgia. This book demonstrates that representations of Buddhism by lay people underwent a major change during the T'ang–Sung transition. These changes built on basic transformations within the Buddhist and classicist traditions and sometimes resulted in the use of Buddhism and Buddhist temples as frames of reference to evaluate aspects of lay society. Buddhism, far from being pushed to the margins of Chinese culture, became even more a part of everyday elite Chinese life.'