{"product_id":"the-worlds-of-classical-chinese-aesthetics-9781032722979","title":"The Worlds of Classical Chinese Aesthetics","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book presents the foundations of classical Chinese aesthetic discourse - roughly from the Bronze Age to the early Middle Ages - with the following animating questions: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is art?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhy do we produce it?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow do we judge it?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe arts that garnered the most theoretical attention during this time period were music, poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and this book considers the reasons why these four were privileged. Whereas modern artists most likely consider themselves musicians or poets or calligraphers or painters or sculptors or architects, the pre-modern authors who produced the literature that established Chinese aesthetics prided themselves on being \u003ci\u003ewenren\u003c\/i\u003e, \"cultured people,\" conversant with \u003ci\u003eall \u003c\/i\u003eforms of art and learning. Other comparisons with Western theories and works of art are presented at due junctures.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKey Features\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eAddresses Chinese aesthetic discourse on its own terms\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eProvides comparisons of key concepts and theories with examples from Western sources\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eIncludes more coverage of primary sources than any other English-language book on the subject\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eEach chapter opens with a helpful summary, highlighting the chapter's key themes\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePaul R. Goldin\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor of East Asian Languages \u0026amp; Civilizations at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eRituals of the Way: The Philosophy of Xunzi\u003c\/i\u003e (1999); \u003ci\u003eThe Culture of Sex in Ancient China\u003c\/i\u003e (2002); \u003ci\u003eAfter Confucius: Studies in Early Chinese Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e (2005); \u003ci\u003eConfucianism\u003c\/i\u003e (2011); and \u003ci\u003eThe Art of Chinese Philosophy: Eight Classical Texts and How to Read Them\u003c\/i\u003e (2020). In addition, he edited the revised edition of R.H. van Gulik's classic study, \u003ci\u003eSexual Life in Ancient China\u003c\/i\u003e (2003), and has edited or co-edited six other books on Chinese culture and political philosophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Routledge","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50489154208018,"sku":"9781032722979","price":52.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_be403c2c-55b2-4dee-8338-f6b38a0568e6.jpg?v=1730489491","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-worlds-of-classical-chinese-aesthetics-9781032722979","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}