Aesthetics Stroll: Illustrated Edition

Author: Zong Baihua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: Professor Zong Baihua is a towering figure in modern Chinese aesthetics. His aesthetic writings are lyrical and artistic, imbued with the poetic and painterly essence of classical Chinese culture. They integrate the philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi, the tradition of Qu Yuan, and the thought of Liu Zongyao and Confucianism. From a single hill or depression, a single flower or bird, he discovers the infinite, embodying vastness within a confined space. His works reveal the keen sensitivity of a poet and the perceptions of a modern individual, firmly and vividly grasping the essence and soul of Chinese aesthetics. This book collects 22 of Professor Zong’s finest aesthetic essays, the cream of his works on aesthetics, which have influenced generations of scholars. The reissue now includes authentic photographs and inscriptions from each period of his life, enhancing its elegance, simplicity, and refinement. Professor Zong wrote relatively little throughout his life, yet A Stroll in Aesthetics nearly compiles the essence of his aesthetic writings. It is also the only book on aesthetics published during his lifetime. First published in 1981, this reissue, apart from adding several photographs and correcting some typographical errors, largely retains its original form. For such a master deeply rooted in traditional culture, brimming with artistic spirit and poetic sensibility, and who embodied the soul of Chinese aesthetics, as well as the soft footsteps of his strolls, it may be increasingly difficult to recreate in the face of the growing clamor of modernization. Yet, in an increasingly alienated world, how can we preserve the poetry of life and the aspirations of humanity? Isn’t this a global issue of concern for modern people? And A Stroll in Aesthetics offers us just such inspiration.