PHILOSOPHICAL CONSTRUCTION AND EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE OF CAI YUANPEI'S AESTHETIC EDUCATION THOUGHT

Abstract

This paper takes Cai Yuanpei's aesthetic education thought as the research object, and systematically discusses the philosophical construction and educational practice of his theory of "replacing religion with aesthetic education". It is found that in the context of belief crisis and cultural transformation in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, Cai Yuanpei integrated Kant's transcendental aesthetics, Schiller's aesthetic liberation theory and Confucian tradition of "combining rites with music", and constructed a modern aesthetic education philosophy system of "unity of body and image", "moral standard" and "equal emphasis on knowledge and action". Its educational practice is embodied in the concept innovation of advocating educational freedom and equality, promoting the construction of art education specialization and curriculum integration system, practicing the method innovation of "integration of teaching and doing" and the social expansion of public art and museum education. Despite the tension between philosophical universality and limited realistic resources, aesthetic transcendence and utilitarian needs of national salvation, and the confrontation with Liang Qichao and Wang Guowei's thoughts, his theory still provides important enlightenment for solving the dilemma of spiritual governance and promoting quality education in contemporary times. Cai Yuanpei's aesthetic education thought, as a response to civilization's transformation, established China's first modern aesthetic education system, laid the groundwork for art education and quality education, and posed the "unfinished question" of uniting individual aesthetic liberation with the collective social will.