致用为本,简雅素朴——中国传统器物设计美学观

Utility as Essence,Simple and Elegant:The Aesthetics of Traditional Chinese Utensils Design

中国的器物制作有着悠久的历史,在制作工艺和美学品位上都取得了极高的成就,是中华文明重要的组成部分。传统的器物美学观建立在中国哲学思想的基础上,以儒道思想为代表的中国文化,强调了器物制作和设计贵在尚用,即器物以实用为美,反对损害器物功用的多余装饰,以素朴作为美的最高境界。受中国审美文化的影响,在中国古代器物制作中,处理材料和解决设计问题时往往强调要"巧"和"妙"。"巧"即"巧法造化","妙"指"材美工巧",这样的器物设计思想是天工与意匠、材料与技艺的结合,体现在造物过程中,就是崇尚自然,顺应自然物性,遵循自然规律,因势利导、因材施艺,将自然的物性与人的巧思、意匠完美地结合起来,达到"天工"与"人工"浑然一体的境界。中国传统器物美学的风格特点是含蓄优雅,优秀的器物设计强调意蕴,重在神韵,视觉上耐人寻味,余韵悠长。

Chinese utensils manufacture is an important part of Chinese civilization.It has a long history and has achieved great success in craftsmanship and aesthetics.The aesthetics of traditional utensils is based on Chinese philosophy.Chinese culture,represented by Confucianism and Taoism,emphasizes the usefulness of manufacture and design,andadvocates for simplicity as the highest realm of beauty and against abundant decoration.Affected by Chinese aesthetic culture,“skillful”(qiao)and“exquisite”(miao)were important in utensil making in the past,when dealing with materials processing and solving design problems.“Qiao”means leaning from the marvelous form of nature,and“miao”refers to the perfection of materials and crafts.The design philosophy is the combination of“tian gong(work of nature)”and“ren gong(work of man),”materials and skills,which has contributed to the accentuation of valuing non-decoration,following the property of materials and the law of nature,applying craftsman’s creation along with the quality of materials in the utensil making process.The aesthetic features of traditional Chinese utensils are implicit and elegant.Excellent design emphasizes implication and verve,and making people feel visually intrigued.