Aesthetic Life of Suiting Your Temperament: Seclusion Culture and Leisure

Author: Wu Xiaolong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The hermit is a very unique cultural phenomenon in Chinese history. Among the numerous groups of hermits throughout the ages, although there were also many followers of Buddhism and Taoism, they were not primarily hermits out of religious belief. Their seclusion was mainly to achieve self-realization and live their lives according to their own preferences. Their hermitage may have initially been driven by a political attitude and political choice, but gradually transformed and developed into a way of life and a pursuit of life values, ultimately trending toward an aesthetic realm and cultural pursuit. In this process, the hermits greatly influenced the traditional Chinese cultural and historical heritage with their various value judgments, life practices, and cultural creations. This book provides a serious review and exploration of ancient Chinese hermit culture, discussing the ideals and value pursuits, as well as the spiritual essence of Chinese hermit culture.