Tang Junyi and Xu Fuxian, the two neoConfucian scholars in Taiwan and Hong Kong, contributed an interpretation of the “spirit of Chinese art”. However, their interpretation exposes three paradoxes. First of all, their socalled “pure artistic spirit” is not “pure” at all. Secondly, artistic spirit and moral spirit appear to be parallel but are actually not equal. Finally, in the “spirit of Chinese art” reconstructed by them, art is drowned in the ocean of “spirit” in the end and becomes something of no significance. The primary reason for these paradoxes is that the “spirit of Chinese art” they advertise points to cultural spirit and values rather than art. Therefore, their interpretation of Chinese traditions by drawing on studies of mind as their guide is actually a continuation rather than excess of Confucianism in the Song and the Ming Dynasty.

neoConfucian scholars in Taiwan and Hong Kong; spirit of Chinese art; neoConfucian aesthetics