Zhuangzi Literary Studies

Author: Sun Keqiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Zhuangzi's attitude towards life is to appear conventional on the surface but to be transcendent in spirit, forming the idea of "conventional transcendence." This had a profound influence on later generations, giving rise to the artistic concept of "making the ordinary elegant." In this context, "the ordinary" refers to the commonplace or popular, while "elegant" refers to refinement. This proposition is not only closely linked to the idea of "conventional transcendence" but also aligns with the principles of artistic dialectics. "Making the ordinary elegant" is a universal literary phenomenon, encompassing the use of genres, expression of language, selection of themes, organization of structure, and creation of artistic conception—all of which can be approached through this lens.