Liu Gangji

Liu Gangji

Born in January 1933 in Puding City of Guizhou Province;

Graduated from the Philosophy Department of Beijing University;

Awarded the title of “National Expert with Outstanding Contributions to China” in 1988;

Liu Gangji, a philosopher and aesthetician, used to be the Director of WHU Research Center for Aesthetics, the Vice President of Chinese Society of Aesthetics, the President of Hubei Society of Aesthetics. Now he is the counselor of Chinese Society of Aesthetics and International Association of I-Ching Studies, as well as the Honorary President of Hubei Society of Aesthetics.

He has been engaging in the research on Marxist Philosophy, Aesthetics, History of Chinese Aesthetics, History of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, and Chinese Traditional Culture. His main works include Aesthetics Dialogue, the first and second volumes of History of Chinese Aesthetics, Aesthetics and Philosophy, Philosophy of Art, Aesthetics of The Book of Changes, Aesthetic Calligraphy, Dissemination and Influence of German Aesthetics in China, Traditional Culture, Philosophy and Aesthetics and others. He has long advocated the aesthetics of Marxism practicing outlook, and is recognized as an important representative figure in this regard, which has exerted extensive influence. His book Philosophy of Art is the first monograph on the philosophy of art with the aesthetics of Marxism practicing outlook as a guide, which has built a logical system of art philosophy. Heco-edited with Li Zehouwrote independently History of Chinese Aesthetics, and published the first and second volume of the book respectively in1984 and 1987, which filled the gap where there has not been one detailed and systemic book on the history of Chinese aesthetics ever since the May 4^th Movement in 1919, therefore, it has attracted much attention in the academic circles (including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Germany) and has been regarded as an “pioneering masterpiece” on Chinese aesthetics. Aesthetics of The Book of Changeswon the 2^nd Prize in theHumanities and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award by the Ministry of Education. This book represents the first attempt at applying Marxist aesthetics to theresearch on the “Six Methods” of Chinese painting and the theory ofChinese calligraphy, which has produced great influence. He participated in the compilation, revision, finalization and publication of An Introduction to Aesthetics,the first Marxist aesthetics textbook inChina.He alsocreatedtheMaster Program of Aesthetics, making Wuhan University one of earliest universities to establish Masterand Doctoral Programs of Aesthetics and allowing WHU to be at the forefront in the development ofthe aesthetics discipline.