Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.1, 2022 

A Comparison of the Aesthetic Sacredness of “Xing” and “Madness”: Based on Semir Zeki’s Neuroaesthetics

(Abstract)

Sun Tao

Both Confucius’ theory of “xing” and Plato’s theory of “madness” contain religious origins and sense of spiritual uplifting, and embody in-depth cultural differences of aesthetic sacredness issue. Semir Zeki’s cognitive theory of brain introduces two cognitive mechanisms, “concept of nature” and “concept of nurture,” as references for comparative study. “Madness” points to a perfect and eternal image beyond the world, and “xing” corresponds to an endless living image on earth, which reflect characteristics of two brain mechanisms, respectively.