Abstract
In Confucianism, there are two primary sentimental stages: At the initiative stage, emotions are not stirred up yet and therefore remain in the state of equilibrium; at the second stage, emotions are stirred up already but are moderated to the due degree by means of such cardinal virtues as benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom. He who can be self-disciplined when confronted with emotional stirrings is most liable to attain the realm of harmony par excellence. He will then be able to follow the universal path and produce a positive impact on others. Aesthetic cultivation is part of inner accomplishment and grounded on moral cultivation in principle.
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- 1.
James Legge (trans.), The Doctrine of the Mean, in The Four Books (Changsha: Hunan Chubanshe, 1995), pp. 25–27.
- 2.
Confucius, The Analects (trans. D. C. Lau), 8:8, p. 93.
- 3.
Ibid., 17:9, p. 145.
- 4.
Wang Keping, Spirit of Chinese Poetics (Beijing: Foreign languages Press, 2008), p. 10.
- 5.
Confucius, The Analects (trans. D. C. Lau), 3:25, p. 71.
- 6.
Ibid., 7:14, p. 87.
- 7.
Ibid., 11:26, p. 111.
- 8.
Confucius, The Confucian Analects (trans. James Legge), 2:2, p. 71. D. C. Lau renders the phrase into “swerving not from the right path.” Cf. Confucius, The Analects (trans. D. C. Lau), 2:2, p. 63.
- 9.
Zhu Xi, “Lunyü jizhu” [The Commentary on the Confucian Analects], Vol. 1, in Sishu zhangju jizhu [The Four Books with Annotations] (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1983), pp. 53–54. Also see Kang Xiaocheng, Xianqin rujia shijiao sixiang yanjiu [A Study of the Pre-Qin Confucian Ideas of Education through Poetry] (Taipei: Wenshizhe Press, 1988), pp. 159–160.
- 10.
Xiong Shili, “Shi jing lüe shuo” [A Rambling Talk on The Book of Poetry], in Du jing shi yao [A Basic Approach to Reading the Chinese Classics], quoted from Huang Kejian (ed.), Xiong Shili ji [Selected Writings by Xiong Shili] (Beijing: Qunyan Press, 1993), p. 269.
- 11.
Wang keeping, Spirit of Chinese Poetics, pp. 116–117.
- 12.
Confucius, The Analects (trans. D. C. Lau), 3:20, p. 70.
- 13.
Li Zehou and Liu Gangji (eds.), Zhongguo meixueshi [A History of Chinese Aesthetics] (Beijing: China Social Science Press, 1984), Vol. 1, p. 150.
- 14.
Confucius, The Confucian Analects (trans. James Legge), 11:17.
- 15.
Wang Keping, Spirit of Chinese Poetics, p. 20.
- 16.
Confucius, The Analects (trans. D. C. Lau), 3:23, p. 71.
- 17.
James Legge (trans.), Record of Music (Yue ji/Yo ki), in Book of Rites (Li ji/Li chi) (New York: University Books, 1967), pp. 118–119.
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Wang, K. (2019). The Sentimental Mode. In: Harmonism as an Alternative. Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture. Palgrave Pivot, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3564-8_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3564-8_9
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