First of all, we need to clarify what is artistic conception in Zong Baihua? Because for thousands of years, there have been disputes about the connotation of artistic conception, and there is no consensus. Different commentators, different times, and different artistic conceptions may have very different understandings. Because of this, in the article "The Birth of Artistic Conception in Chinese Art" (updated draft), the first question Zong Baihua wants to solve at the beginning is "the meaning of artistic conception". For the convenience of explanation, Zong Baihua included artistic conception into the pattern of the entire human spiritual life. He believed that there are five realms in life - utilitarian realm, ethical realm, political realm, academic realm, and religious realm. The utilitarian realm is centered on profit, the ethical realm is centered on love, the political realm is centered on power, the academic realm is centered on truth, and the religious realm is centered on God.

The artistic conception - the "artistic realm" is a realm between the academic realm and the religious realm. It not only pursues truth, but is also full of infinite mystery. It focuses on beauty. Zong Baihua said: "Taking the concrete objects of the universe and life as objects, appreciating its hue, order, rhythm, and harmony, so as to get a glimpse of the deepest soul reflection of oneself; transforming real scenes into imaginary realms, creating images as symbols, so as to make humankind's highest aspirations The soul is embodied and embodied, this is the realm of art.” This means that the artistic conception is a realm created by the integration of the deepest soul of a person and the concrete universe and life. But Zong Baihua felt that it might not be too clear to say this, so he further explained: "The subjective mood of life and the objective natural scenery blend and interpenetrate, creating a spiritual realm where kites fly and fish leap, lively and exquisite, and profound; this spiritual realm It is the 'artistic conception' that constitutes art." To put it more simply, Zong Baihua said, "The artistic conception is the crystallization of 'emotion' and 'scenery' (imagery)."

It should be. It is not a new idea to say that artistic conception is the fusion of emotion and scenery. As early as Liu Xie proposed the idea of ??"wandering between gods and things", Sikong Tu also had the theory of "harmony between thought and environment". Others such as Fan Rixiwen in the Song Dynasty, Fang Hui in the Yuan Dynasty and Xie Zhen in the Ming Dynasty all discussed this aspect. Wang Fuzhi in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty even more comprehensively, fully, systematically and profoundly expounded the relationship between emotion and scene.

So, on the issue of the meaning of artistic conception, doesn’t Zong Baihua have his own thoughts? Of course not. Zong Baihua both inherited and developed from his predecessors. Because Zong Baihua is a very accomplished philosopher and has good philosophical cultivation, Zong Baihua's poetic research obviously has a philosophical vision. In terms of the connotation of artistic conception, although Zong Baihua drew on the theory of "situation blending" that has been concluded by predecessors, he was not satisfied with the existing metaphysical description, but rose to the metaphysical level of outlook on life and universe. Interpret it and find out the true meaning of ancient artistic conception theory.

Zong Baihua said: "The realm characteristics expressed in Chinese paintings can be said to be based on the basic philosophy of the Chinese nation, that is, the cosmology of the "Book of Changes": Yin and Yang are transformed into all things, and all things are submitted to heaven and earth. All objects can be said to be a kind of "qi accumulation" (Zhuangzi: Tian, ??accumulation of qi). The endless generation of yin and yang qi weaves into a rhythmic life, which is the theme of "vivid qi". "The rhythm of life" or "rhythmic life" "Chinese people feel that the entire universe is the flow of life, which itself is rhythm and harmony... All artistic realms are based on this."

Here, Zong Baihua is not simply describing what artistic conception is, but trying to find out the philosophical reasons why Chinese art pays so much attention to artistic conception. Indeed, ancient Chinese philosophy is a philosophy of life. From the changes in natural phenomena such as the iteration of spring and autumn, the prosperity and decline of vegetation, the ancient ancestors realized that the entire universe is a world in which life flows, and they realized the relationship between humans and the natural universe. The kind of harmony and unity that "eyes go back and forth, and the heart takes in and out. Love goes like a gift, and excitement comes like a reply." The Book of Changes is the crystallization of this understanding of life. Under the influence of its basic spirit of "one yin and one yang is called Tao" and "life is called Yi", the universe in the eyes of the Chinese is a living world where yin and yang intersect, and Qi Transform into dense clouds and spread endlessly. It has the order of "being born with order" and the rhythm of "the opening and closing of yin and yang, the ups and downs". Man as life and the universe are organically integrated. The infinite and deep universe will take the initiative to get close to me and support me, without me having to fight for that far-flung space. "The clouds and mist rise on the clothes through the window, and the mountain springs roll into the mirror" (Wang Wei), "The mountains and rivers repeatedly compete for the eyes, and the wind and rain enter the building in disorder" (Lu Fangweng), "The scenery of the water and mountains is close to people" (Li Qingzhao), "Window "The Xiling Mountains are covered with snow for thousands of years, and the Dongwu boats are moored at the gate." (Du Fu), these ancient poems describe the bright and majestic atmosphere of all things being prepared for me.

Excerpted from Baidu netizen, thank you.