The Inheritance of the Notion of Elegance of the Periods of Wei and Jin and Its Transcendence by the Intellectuals of Song Dynasty

The intellectuals of Song Dynasty admire the elegant lifestyles of Wei and Jin periods and aspire to emulate them.It reflects notion of Elegance as a central point in the cultural character and group identity as men of letters in Song Dynasty perceive themselves.Along with the changes in social ideology and group identities of the intelligentsia,the intellectuals of Song Dynasty develop the concept of Elegance by introducing and stressing such elements as literary skills,knowledge and morality.With the notion of Elegance at the core,the intellectuals of Song Dynasty develop an esthetics that honors the Elegant and rejects the vulgar,which helps define a set of lifestyle that is rich in humanitarian connotations.The gathering of the intellectuals becomes an emblem of the practice of Elegant lifestyle.