Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.2, 2024

“The Art of Nature” and “Creation”: A Comparison of the Profound Concepts of Chinese and Western Art

(Abstract)

Sun Tao

Praising “creation” in artistic activities is a modern concept that has emerged only recently. In the West, the work of art is regarded as the result of creation, and the evolution of artistic concepts is deeply influenced by the scientific revolution. The anxiety of “innovation” arises in Western artworks due to the inherent contradictions of modern culture. The ancient Chinese art tradition did not flaunt the “originality,” but regarded zaohua, the art of nature, as the source and model of art, and scholars pursued the “Dao” in the balance between “old” and “new,” “constant” and “change,” and “teacher” and “I” in art.