Perspectives of Regional Aesthetics and the Historical Formation of the Image of Jiangnan in Six Dynasties Literature

Abstract

The reason why Jiangnan 江南 becomes a specialized and widely accepted concept, rich in both concrete and symbolic meaning in Chinese culture, lies not only in its prominent economic and cultural status but also in the continuous efforts of generations of literati to associate the concept with literature and imagery. The tribute system that originated in the pre-Qin period underscores the power center’s desire for and appropriation of local products, which brought the specialties of the Jiangnan region to greater public attention. This marks the historical precondition for Jiangnan’s transformation into a cultural image rather than merely a geographical designation. As these local products increasingly appeared in literary texts, an imagery process of Jiangnan specialties took shape within the literary field. Two successive waves of southern literati migrating northward during the Six Dynasties continually emphasized and reinforced an aesthetic perspective centered on Jiangnan. This led to two major changes in the aesthetic image of Jiangnan. Firstly, the patterns of aesthetic activities have transformed into a more positive one. Secondly, it is the landscape rather than local products that becomes the main aesthetic object. The southward migration of the Jin court, which triggered the southward shift of the cultural center, marked a significant turning point in the evolution of the Jiangnan image, bringing about dual transformations in both patterns of aesthetics and cultural psychology. The continuous reinforcement of the regional aesthetic perspective and the gradual formation of a shared cultural concept of Jiangnan constitute two decisive factors in the historical formation of the image of Jiangnan.

Keywords

perspectives of regional aesthetics / literature of the Six Dynasties / the image of Jiangnan / historical formation

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Higher Education Press