Contemporary Famous Artists Art -- Jia Youfu (Teaching Section, Creation Section)

Author: Jia Youfu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-05-01
Features: Learning a bit of philosophy is extremely beneficial for spiritual civilization. For literary and artistic workers, spiritual civilization first means self-transformation and purifying the heart and mind, so that they can create works embodying the spirit of the times. Start with the small things in life and practice through learning. In recent years, I have set myself three principles:
1. The beauty of character;
2. The beauty of nature;
3. The beauty of wisdom.
Character refers to the cultivation of the spirit, morality, integrity, and emotions. Nature means not putting on airs, not forcing things, and keeping the subjective aligned with the objective. Nature is not naturalism; it is free of deliberate decoration or artifice, natural and composed, following the way of nature. Wisdom, on the other hand, is the "enjoyment of the Dao" and "perception of the way." When insights spark, wisdom elevates, and art follows suit. I admire a poem by Song Dynasty philosopher Cheng Yichuan, and every time I recite it, I find it deeply enriching. The poem goes:
"When idle, there is nothing in the world that disturbs my composure,
The eastern window glows red when I wake from sleep.
All things, when observed in stillness, are attainable,
The joys of the four seasons are shared with others.
The Dao connects to the world beyond form,
Thoughts delve into the transformations of wind and clouds.
Riches do not corrupt, and poverty does not grieve,
A man who reaches this point is truly heroic."
From this, one can easily grasp the breadth of a great philosopher's mind. "Idle" does not mean laziness; "awake" is near sleep—composed and steady, enjoying the Dao with an open perspective. Thoughts connect beyond the realms of wind and clouds, and wisdom transforms the four seasons and all things. Wind and clouds, all things—what changes swiftly, what differs even in the shortest distance—is in fact tranquil, wise, and free of clutter, harmonious with the great Dao. As a great scholar of his generation, Cheng was influenced by the prevalence of Zen Buddhism in the Song Dynasty, absorbing its beneficial nourishment and enriching his own philosophy. Reflecting on the ancients can help us examine ourselves and benefit our cultivation of spiritual civilization today.
-- Jia Youfu