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'ShenSi(神思)' and Imagination

Kim BaikGyun 1

1중앙대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

We can observe evolution of western philosophy in its discussions about imagination. The history begins from considering that which is present before vision as truth and fundamental as opposed to that which is absent as the lack of truth. In later years, the discussion evolved towards valuing absence as the key element of imagination. The meaning of ‘imagination’ at the Pre-Qin Eastern classics was mainly used for the memory or cherishing, related with “representational imagination”. As we move towards Wei-Jin period, we can observe discussions of imagination as related to artistic activities, making discussions more rich. In GuKaiZhi(顧凱之)’s ‘QianXiangMiaoDe(遷想妙得)’, LuJi(陸機)’s ‘XinYouWanRen(心遊萬仞)’ and ZongBing(宗炳)’s ‘WoYou(臥遊)’, imagination has not yet been crystalized into theories, however, considerable number of discussion about imagination emerge. We can finally see diverse debates around imagination onceptualized to one region of the Art theory after LiuXie present “spiritual thinking” at ‘WenXinDiaoLong(文心雕龍)’. This article looks into the development of views in spiritual thinking, how the schema of its appearance and the spiritual thinking made the relation to the artistic and creative realm of ‘imagination’.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.