The Influence of the Concept of ‘Silence’ (寂) in Yangmingism on Residential Aesthetics in the Mid-to-Late Ming Dynasty

This study focuses on the concept of “stillness”Ji(寂) in Ming dynasty Yangming philosophy(陽明心學), systematically examining its theoretical foundations and practical influences on the residential aesthetics of literati from both philosophical and aesthetic perspectives. By positioning “Ji” as an aesthetic ontological principle, the research analyzes its multifaceted roles in the cultivation of personal character and spatial perception among scholar-officials, and particularly elucidates how the “stillness-resonance” Ji-Gan(寂-感) system provides a theoretical basis for the creation of gardens and living spaces during the Ming period. Furthermore, this paper discusses how key concepts such as “xu-jing(虛靜, emptiness and tranquility),” “wuzhi(無執, non-attachment),” “gantong(感通, sympathetic resonance),” and “gongming(空明, luminous clarity)” are applied in spatial layout, landscape design, and subjective experience, illustrated through case studies such as the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou. Moreover, by following the fundamental question-“How do people transform space into a spiritual home and aesthetic object through stillness and resonance?”-this study proposes a triple structure model of “Ji-Gan-Space” to deepen the understanding of the generative mechanisms of spatial aesthetics. The research argues that “Ji” serves not only as a core for philosophical reflection and aesthetic experience, but also as a fundamental paradigm for literati in the Ming and Qing dynasties to construct their ideal life and spiritual sanctuary. By integrating philosophical, aesthetic, and spatial dimensions, this paper aims to provide a new interpretative framework for the uniqueness and contemporary significance of Chinese and East Asian aesthetics.