Abstract:

Founded in 1920, Aesthetic Education was the first academic journal of aesthetic education in the history of Chinese aesthetic education. Under the influence of the enlightenment thought of the May Fourth New Culture Movement, Aesthetic Education actively implements the concept of aesthetic modernity created by Wang Guowei, Cai Yuanpei and others, regards art education as an important way of aesthetic enlightenment, promotes a life aimed at enlightenment. In terms of aesthetics, adhere to the concept of “art for life” that uses art education to build a “new outlook on life”. Furthermore, Aesthetic Education also participates in the reformation of modernity education, calls for the use of “emotional education” to transform the educational pattern that emphasizes intellectual education, develops art education that is beautiful and unified, promotes literary and artistic ideas centered on democracy and freedom, and advocates the aesthetic education function of “popular art” in social aesthetic education.

Key words: Chinese modern thought of aesthetic education, Aesthetic Education Magazine, aesthetic modernity, art education