Listen to this articlexūjìnɡ 虚静
Void and Peace
排除一切欲望与理性思维的干扰，达到心灵的纯净与安宁。由道家老庄最先提出，荀子也用它说明专心致志所达到的一种精神状态。由于这种心境与文艺审美中无物无我、无知无欲的心理特性相通，因此，古代思想家与文艺批评家也用“虚静”来说明文艺活动中的审美心理。这一术语强调文艺创作中的心灵自由，认为它是达到审美最高境界的重要前提。
Void and peace mean that all distractions, such as desires and rational thoughts, should be dispelled to attain peace and purity of the soul. The idea of void and peace was first proposed by Laozi and Zhuangzi, the founders of Daoism, and then used by Xunzi to refer to a state of mental concentration. Such a state of mind is similar to the psychological conditions in appreciation of works of literature and art, which are characterized by being totally free from the awareness of oneself and the outside world, and free from any urge and desire. Therefore, thinkers and literary critics of earlier times used this term to explain the state of mind in literary and artistic creation and appreciation. It stressed the need for spiritual freedom in artistic creation, suggesting that this is an important precondition for reaching the highest level of aesthetic appreciation.
引例 Citations:
◎致虚极，守静笃。（《老子·十六章》）
（达到虚空境界，心中没有任何杂念；坚守安宁心境，不受外物干扰。）
When one attains the state of void and peace, his mind becomes peaceful and free of any distractions. He can withstand the temptations of the outside world. (Laozi)
◎是以陶钧文思，贵在虚静，疏淪五藏，藻雪精神。（刘勰《文心雕龙·神思》）
（因此构思文章，最重要的是虚静，不受外物干扰，身体舒泰如同五脏贯通了一样，精神洁净如同洗洁过一样。）
In conceiving an essay, one should strive for a mental state of quiet emptiness and not let oneself be bothered by external interferences, and be relaxed and at ease just like all his internal organs are put in perfect comfort and his spirits refreshed by a thorough wash. (Liu Xie: The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons)
