In traditional Chinese philosophy, the aesthetic consciousness is all about striving for harmony between humanity and nature. When the perceiver and the perceived merge into one, the essence of beauty seamlessly infuses itself into a tangible entity. This entity could be the realm of spirit, the domain of consciousness, or the sphere of emotion. For Wang Yangming, it is the innate moral sense, the good conscience, that becomes imbued with the image of beauty. The goal is not to comprehend every aspect of the world around us, nor to focus on any specific external object. Rather, as one forges a connection with the true reality, the concealed beauty begins to surface, much like the sun emerging from behind the clouds. The aesthetic consciousness then illuminates like a radiant sun, and all the genuine manifestations of beauty naturally come to light. But should this connection be severed, leading to a disunion between humans and the world, the true reality would remain forever concealed, and the beauty inherent within it would be perpetually veiled.

True self;Conscience;Real world;Imagery;Beauty

[1] Wang Yangming. "The Complete Works of Wang Yangming" [M]. Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, December 1992, 1st edition. [2] Li Zehou. "Three Books on Aesthetics" [M]. Anhui Literature and Art Publishing House, January 1999, 1st edition.

DOI： https://doi.org/10.62639/ssperi01.20250101

Published： 2025