China Social Science Review

No.3, 2024

Western Sinologists’ Cross-Cultural Interpretations of Chinese Aesthetics over the Past Century

(Abstract)

Li Qingben

Based on the research characteristics, we divide the cross-cultural interpretations of Chinese aesthetics by European and American sinologists over the past century into three stages. The first half of the 20th century was a pioneering stage dominated by European Sinology with a focus on revealing the aesthetic consciousness of ancient Chinese literature and art. The second half of the 20th century is a transitional stage where North American Sinology took the spotlight and characterized by the emergence of research on modern Chinese aesthetic thought. Since the 1990s, the global landscape has significantly changed, and the participation of Chinese scholars has greatly promoted Chinese aesthetic research of Western Sinology in a disciplinary sense. There have been many solid achievements covering various aspects of Chinese aesthetics, which can be regarded as a developmental period. Discussing the study of Chinese aesthetics by European and American sinologists in various stages and layers can enrich the research content of Chinese aesthetics and break through Chinese scholars’ limitations of own cultural context, which is of important academic value.