Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.4, 2020

“Establishing Great Virtue,” “Building Great Man” and “Creating Great Beauty”: On the Spirit of Chinese Traditional Aesthetic Education and the Goal of Contemporary Chinese Aesthetic Education

(Abstract)

Zhao Kuiying

Moral education is not only the fundamental task of education, but also the fundamental goal of contemporary Chinese aesthetic education. This goal has its foundation in the spirit of Chinese traditional aesthetic education. Chinese traditional culture attaches great importance to the establishment of “great virtue,” and generally regards “becoming a saint” as the highest ideal personality pursuit. “Establishing great virtue,” and “fostering great beauty” can be described as the core content of Chinese traditional aesthetic education spirit. Among them, “establishing great virtue” is the foundation, “building great men” is the core, and “creating great beauty” is the expression.