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Abstract
Zhuxi, a prominent ancient Chinese philosopher said “human beings should seek knowledge and disciplines through studying the nature of things” (Ge Wu Zhi Zhi in Chinese Pinyin). Aesthetics, as a discipline, should reveal and elucidate aesthetic phenomena, help people understand the general characteristics and laws of beauty, beauty appreciation, and beauty creation, further improve and develop the discipline of aesthetics itself, and thereby enhance people's aesthetic appreciation ability. It also needs to enhance people's spirit, promote the aesthetic appreciation of life. Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852) is certainly one of the most excellent and talented English architects in history. In fact, he was not only an architect, but also a designer, author and theorist. He was a leading figure in the English Roman Catholic and Gothic revivals. His aesthetic thoughts are very influential in the architectural world. Some of Pugin’s thoughts can be explained by Yi Jing, or the Book of Changes, an oldest aesthetic classic in China. Pugin leaves an indelible mark on British architecture through his contributions to the Gothic Revival movement. His remarkable achievements and artistic contributions continue to inspire and shape the architectural landscape to this day. This article will briefly review his aesthetic thoughts from traditional Chinese aesthetic perspective. The research tools to appreciate and analyze Pugin’s thoughts will be traditional Chinese aesthetic theories.