《闲情偶寄》乌江南文化的审美情调

南北文化之差异主要表现在审美主义和实用主义生活方式的对立上。具体说来 ,北方文化的最高理念是“先质而后文”。尽管它对物质基础的强调是正确的 ,但另一方面却剥夺了生命在艰难时世中升华生活和艺术化人生的可能。与北方文化相比 ,江南文化的要义在于一种有精神品位的日常生活方式。南方人的生活理念类似于功利主义伦理学 ,充满了一种在既有条件下追求“更大的善”的精明意识。在如何提高生活质量的当代 ,以李渔为最高代表的南方生活理念 ,应该成为一种最重要的古典人文精神资源

An Informal Essay for a Leisure Life and the Aesthetic Sentiment of the Culture in the South of the River

Difference between the culture in the South and the North lies in the contradiction between the life style of aestheticism and that of practicalism. To be specific, the supreme concept of the north culture is that "material is prior to culture". Although it is right to emphasize material basis, it robs the possibility to sublimate life and life of art in hard times. Compared with the north culture, the essence of the south culture lies in a daily life style with some spiritual tastes. The life concept for south people is similar to ethics of utilitarianism with a clever consciousness to pursue "a better life" in the existing conditions. In modern times when it emphasizes how to improve the quality of life, the life concept in the south which is represented by Li Yu should become the most important resources of classical humanistic spirits.