The Dilemma between Official Career Pursuit and Reclusive Withdrawal and the Literary Discovery of Shanshui: From Xie An to Xie Tiao

Abstract

During the Southern Dynasties, shanshui 山水 (landscapes) emerged as an independent aesthetic subject in literary and artistic works. The underlying causes of this phenomenon have been extensively investigated in academic scholarship. This study explores the intrinsic connections between official career pursuit and reclusive withdrawal (chuchu 出处) and the literary discovery of shanshui as aesthetic subjects by investigating the lives of three representative figures of the Xie family of Chen Prefecture: Xie An 谢安 of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Xie Lingyun 谢灵运 of the Eastern Jin to Liu-Song transition, and Xie Tiao 谢 眺 of the Qi Dynasty. The findings suggest that: For Xie An, shanshui served not only as sensory pleasure but also as a vehicle to alleviate psychological tensions arising from political struggles. For Xie Lingyun, shanshui provided a space to contemplate metaphysical principles, laying the philosophical foundations for the aesthetic exploration of sensory beauty. Xie Tiao integrated shanshui into daily life through his bureaucratic routines and travels, ultimately transforming nature into a spiritual sanctuary for scholars navigating court politics.

Keywords

chuchu / official career pursuit and reclusive withdrawal / shanshui / landscapes / Xie An / Xie Lingyun / Xie Tiao

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2025 Higher Education Press