Ji Kang:Taoism or Confucianism——A critical review of his thoughts of music esthetics

Ji Kang's thought of music esthetics has had an important impact on the study of history of ancient Chinese music for its novelty,originality and uniqueness.Multiple perspectives are reflected in his ideas of music: Taoists' agnosticism and Confucian's knowability;Idealistic orientation and materialistic elements;A positive attitude toward Confucian's traditional ideas and,paradoxically,a negative position when anti-ceremony-doctrines is in need.The self-contradict profile presents the world a two faced Ji Kang,both Confucian and Taoist.In order to identify him to whom he belongs,it is necessary to consider how he influenced and contributed to the field of study so that a reasonable judgment might be reached.