中国古代美学中的“假”、“伪”、“丑”观念辨

The Notional Distinctions of Jia, Wei and Chou in Chinese Ancient Aesthetics

在中国古代典籍中 ,与“真”对立的是“伪” ,即奸诈、巧伪 ,而不是“假” ,“假”另有正面的意义。“丑”亦不与“美”绝对对立 ,“有心而恶”的丑且恶者 ,方与美与之对峙 ,“无心而恶”的外形丑者 ,则有转化的可能。审伪、审丑均需辩证而观 ,不否定“伪”有人为制造之义 ,但与表现人的真性情的文艺创作相抵触 ;美与丑之间有“遇合无常”之变态 ,与人们各自不同的爱恶之情相关。

In ancient Chinese classics, the opposite of Zhen ( 真) is not Jia(假), but Wei(伪). While Wei means cheat, fraud and swindle, Jia has a positive meaning. Similarly, Chou(丑) is not absolutely the opposite notion of Mei(美). Chou carries different meanings. Internal ugly and E(恶) is the opposite of Mei, while external ugly has the possibility to be transformed into Mei. We should hold a dialectic attitude when judging Wei and Chou. Undoubtedly, Wei bears the meaning of artificial and manmade, but it contradicts literature creations that aim to represent people's natural property. The relationship between Mei and Chou is constantly changing, depending on subjective disposition.