Idea-Image

Idea-image is the sensual form of the unity （物我统一）：the unity of objects and subjects between object and self which were formed in the heart of the writer by fusing the sensible state of an object and the subjective emotions and intentions of humans. It is also a means for writers to express themselves and communicate with the world. Based on the objects perceived by the subject, and through the stimulation of these objects, it conveys the author’s subjective emotions and intentions. In the process of creating idea-image, writers use aesthetic thinking and imagination to construct it, employing artistic techniques such as metaphor, simile, and allusion to express it in a way that is ethereal and full of interest, materializing it through linguistic symbols. Idea-image is an important element of Chinese literature, manifesting in poetry, prose, drama, and fiction. People may be moved by objects or use scenes to express emotions, then poetically experience the object with special sentiment, and construct aesthetic idea-image in the heart. Then, through the expressive and linguistic forms that reflect the individual characteristics of the writer, this aesthetic idea-image is solidified into a written idea-image that can be appreciated as it reflects a certain realm. The idea-image felt by readers when appreciating a work is constrained by the text provided by the writer, as readers resonate with the writer along with other appreciators; but also marks the re-created idea-image with the individual stamp of each appreciator.