Abstract:

Based on the concept of “taking the form of the object it encounters”, Su Shi abstractly refined the attributes of water with the concept of “faithfulness”, thereby arriving at the cosmic concepts of “being faithful” and “being knowable”. This doctrine represents a creative and positive sublation of the concept of “the faithfulness of the Dao” in Laozi and Zhuangzi. Su Shi’s poems are adept at presenting his insights into the “faithful” world within specific situations. They not only highlight a unique rational beauty but also serve as a powerful intellectual weapon for him to confront the illusoriness of life. When the concept of “faithfulness” shaped Su Shi’s approach to observing and depicting objects with the perspective of “verifying faith”, it also prompted him to transform the discrimination between faith and doubt into an internal logic of creation, and he attached importance to presenting the psychological landscape of knowing. An examination of Su Shi’s concept of “faithfulness” reveals a path to deepen the study of Song Dynasty scholarship by exploring subtle concepts that permeate multiple dimensions.

Key words: Su Shi, faithfulness, knowing, the rational beauty, creative logic