Theoretical and practical aspects of aesthetic attitude to the environment in contemporary China

In an era marked by global environmental degradation, environmental aesthetics emerges as a pertinent and creative paradigm reflecting humanity’s imperative to achieve a harmonious balance between the natural environment and societal existence. Evidence gleaned from ancient Chinese texts and visual art representations reveals that an aesthetic appreciation of the environment is not a novel construct in China. Indeed, its artistic value was recognized and conceptually explored in antiquity. This article aims to elucidate the application and manifestation of the concept of “Unity of Heaven and Man” within both ancient and modern Chinese environmental aesthetics, using the example of traditional national gardens as a case study.