On the morning of October 14, the 2023 annual meeting of the Guizhou Provincial Society of Aesthetics (GPSA) and the “Aesthetics of Life and the Construction of an Autonomous Knowledge System of Contemporary Chinese Aesthetics” academic symposium commenced at the Mianxue Hall of GZU’s Chinese Culture Academy. The event, hosted by the GPSA and organized by the College of Philosophy of GZU, attracted prominent attendees such as Professor Yang Wei, Secretary of the CPC GZU Committee; Feng Xiaolun, Professor of GZU’s College of Philosophy and Honorary President of the GPSA; Professor Yuan Dingsheng, Director of the Ecological Aesthetics Research Center at Guangxi University for Nationalities; Professor Xue Fuxing from the College of Philosophy of Nankai University; and Fang Yingmin, Professor of GZU’s College of Philosophy and President of the GPSA. Over 50 experts, scholars and young students in the field of aesthetics from within and outside the province participated. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Chen Yanbo, Dean of the College of Philosophy and Dean of the Yangming College of GZU.

In her address, Yang Wei underscored General Secretary Xi Jinping’s recent crucial instructions on the work of public communication and culture, including the requirements of “seven efforts”. These directives provide guidance in deeply studying and implementing Xi’s thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and conducting work related to philosophy and aesthetics. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has been formally put forward in the national meeting on the work of public communication and culture, assigning new tasks and missions to workers in philosophy and social sciences. The theme of this GPSA annual meeting is distinctive, representing a concrete action in thoroughly implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions. It also fully reflects the theoretical awareness and academic responsibility of colleagues in the field of aesthetics in responding to the concerns of the times. Yang Wei emphasized that aesthetics is a key area in the development of the philosophy discipline at GZU and constitutes one of the first-level doctoral programs offered by the university. She expressed gratitude to Professor Feng Xiaolun for his significant contributions to the development of aesthetics at GZU, and acknowledged Professor Yuan Dingsheng, Professor Xue Fuxing, and other experts for their consistent support and assistance to GZU’s aesthetics discipline. She looked forward to in-depth exchanges from the experts at the meeting, hoping that they would use aesthetics of life as a case, summarize relevant research, further explore the construction of an autonomous knowledge system of Chinese aesthetics, and continue to promote fruitful results in the research of aesthetics of life.

Fang Yingmin presented a report on the development and work of the GPSA, analyzing current issues and outlining future plans.

Following the opening ceremony, all attendees gathered for a group photo in front of the Chinese Culture Academy.

Editor: Kang Meihua;Yin Zixi

Chief Editor: Li Xufeng

Senior Editor: Yang Nan

Translator: Jia Haibo