China Social Science Review

No.4, 2024

 

 

Zhan Donghua

 

Time and space are integral to classical Chinese aesthetics, governing the formal principles and aesthetic qualities of art. Significant progress has been made in the study of space-time in ancient China, especially within aesthetic contexts. Research has evolved from a singular focus on “seeking truth” to a more comprehensive orientation that also emphasizes “seeking goodness” and “seeking beauty,” while maintaining “seeking truth” as the central focus. In this field, three research modes have emerged: the “time-prioritized,” the “space-prioritized,” and the “time-space-integrated” models, each reflecting different biases in the questions posed. The study should balance both overall and localized research paradigms, while integrating space and time as a central axis, facilitating the convergence of multidisciplinary perspectives. There should be mutual understanding and interpretation between Chinese and Western space-time theories, which can provide richer theoretical resources for studying space-time in Chinese aesthetics.