Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.3, 2025

A Comparative Study of Qi in Chinese and Western Aesthetics

(Abstract)

Yang Xiangrong

In both Chinese and Western aesthetics and poetics, various concepts related to qi (extraordinary)—such as jingqi (astonishment), xinqi (novelty), xianqi (dangerous strangeness), qingqi (pure strangeness), qipi (peculiarity), qiqu (quirky charm), qijue (majestic strangeness), defamiliarization, dehumanization, and alienation—share a common attribute of similarity. These interconnected concepts form a unique family of aesthetic ideas, constituting a significant theme in the historical development of Chinese and Western aesthetics and poetics. All these concepts advocate for transcending wenzi zhi ben (the essence of words) by creating qiinfused symbols that differ from conventional signs, thereby renewing the subject’s perceptual experience. This reflects a shared aesthetic tendency toward zhuqi (pursuing strangeness), highlighting a fundamental aesthetic affinity across traditions.