The Historical Context of the Aesthetics of Ming Dynasty

As an advanced form of classical Chinese aesthetics,the aesthetics of Ming dynasty,contains the aesthetic trend that emphasizes the supreme importance of feelings,based on self-expression.In the traditional movement of classical Chinese aesthetics,nature transcends self in Taoism,etiquette and propriety constraints self in Confucianism,and emptiness replaces self in Buddhism.This essay clarifies the historical context of the aesthetics of Ming dynasty,discusses how the literati,who are the subject of the aesthetical activity at that time,changed from the traditional scholar-bureaucrats who pursued benevolence,to the self ignoring benevolence,and discusses the establishment of the theme that accentuates self in the aesthetics of Ming dynasty.