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Xiaoyan Hu

The Aesthetics of Qiyun and Genius: Spirit Consonance in Chinese Landscape Painting and Some Kantian Echoes

The Aesthetics of Qiyun and Genius: Spirit Consonance in Chinese Landscape Painting and Some Kantian Echoes

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  • More about The Aesthetics of Qiyun and Genius: Spirit Consonance in Chinese Landscape Painting and Some Kantian Echoes

Xiaoyan Hu explores the concept of qiyun, or spirit consonance, in Chinese painting and compares it to Kant's account of artistic genius. He argues that qiyun is an innate mental talent that is essential for creating a painting with qiyun and that it cannot be taught. Hu's book sheds light on the unique aesthetics of Chinese painting and highlights the limitations of Kant's aesthetics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 10 August 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books


In his insightful work "The Aesthetics of Qiyun and Genius: Spirit Consonance in Chinese Landscape Painting and Some Kantian Echoes," Xiaoyan Hu delves into the intricate concept of qiyun, or spirit consonance, in Chinese painting. He explores why creating a painting, particularly a landscape painting, that exudes qiyun is considered an art of genius, where genius is an innate mental talent. Hu conducts a comparative analysis between the role of this innate mental disposition in the aesthetics of qiyun and Kant's account of artistic genius. By examining the views of influential theorists, art historians, and connoisseurs from the sixth to fourteenth centuries, Hu provides a comprehensive explanation and discussion of qiyun and its evolution from a notion primarily associated with figure painting to one that remains integral to the aesthetics of landscape painting.

In the second part of the book, Hu examines various aspects related to the mind's role in creating a painting that exudes qiyun and explores the impossibility of teaching qiyun. Through this comparative analysis with Kant, Hu aims to demystify the uniqueness of qiyun aesthetics and shed light on some limitations in Kant's aesthetics.

This thought-provoking work offers valuable insights into the Chinese artistic tradition, challenging the universalist assumptions of Kantian aesthetics. It deepens our understanding of the role of the mind in artistic creation and highlights the distinctive qualities of qiyun aesthetics. "The Aesthetics of Qiyun and Genius" is a must-read for scholars and enthusiasts interested in exploring the intersection of art, philosophy, and cultural heritage.

Weight: 658g
Dimension: 228 x 163 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793641564

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