The Metaphysics of Beauty-- Wen-Hsin-Del-Lung's "Yuan Tao"
Resource
國立臺灣大學哲學論評, 10, 199-210
Journal
國立臺灣大學哲學論評
Journal Issue
10
Pages
199-210
Date Issued
1987-01
Date
1987-01
Author(s)
Kwan, W.C.
Abstract
The first chapter, “Yuan Tao” (原道), of Wen-Hsin-Del-Lung (文心雕龍) by Liu Hsieh (劉勰) is a classical composition which is highly metaphysical. It maintains that the concept of Tao may be derived through one’s experience of beauty. From one’s perception of beauty in nature, in fine art, in love, and even in human virtues, one may transcend the boundary of concrete particular beautiful things to the source of all beauty－Tao. Tao, as the ontological foundation of all finite ontic beauty, is understood as the Origin of all things, the Ultimate Oneness, the Infinite Being, the Absolute Spirit. Beauty, in turn, can be understood as the attribute of Tao itself. The Tao of Wen-Hsin-Del-Lung conforms to that of the Book of Changes.
This article is divided into three sections:
I. The Discovery of Tao through One’s Awareness of Beauty
II. The Three Levels of Beauty:
A. Ontic Beauty: Finite Objects are Beautiful
B. Perceptive Beauty: the Human Subject has the Ability of Appreciating Beauty.
C. Ontological Beauty: Tao is the Source of All Beauty
III. The Meaning of the Concept of Tao:
A. In the Book of Changes
B. In Wen-Hsin-Del-Lung
Type
journal article