Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.1, 2021

The Composition of the Aesthetic Meaning of “Qiyun” and Its Contemporary Value

(Abstract)

Li Jian

Qi and yun are two independent aesthetic categories. From qi and yun to qiyun, there had undergone a complex derivation of meaning. In the ancient Chinese mind, qi was a generative element of everything in the world, a harmonious symbiosis of matter and spirit. Cao Pi introduced the concept of qi into the realm of article writing and literary creation, and gave it a clear aesthetic definition, which was further developed by Liu Xie. Yun was widely used in the critique of literature, painting and calligraphy, and in character assessment. In painting, yun is the personality and expression, or the harmony of brushwork, colors and lines; in poetry, yun is a kind of overtone, or a subtle character and mood. It refers to the artistic image, style, and realm; the force and momentum of beauty, and the lingering charm of art. In the current era of globalization, qiyun is of great value to the construction of literary and artistic theories and aesthetics with national characteristics. Many concepts in the composition of the meaning of qiyun can be connected with current Chinese and Western literary and artistic theories and aesthetics, and form a dialogue, and in the process, new theoretical connotations can be generated to improve the current literary and artistic creation and aesthetic theories.