THE LITERARY AND ARTISTIC FIELD OF XIYUAN YAJI: A FIELD AND SEMIOTIC PERSPECTIVE

This study focuses on the Xiyuan Yaji (Elegant Gathering in the Western Garden) of the Northern Song Dynasty, examining its generation mechanisms and symbolic evolution as a literary and artistic field. It reveals that the literati in Yuanyou period (元祐) accumulated cultural capital through their literati gatherings, thereby constructing the cultural identity of the scholar community and gradually establishing the “Xiyuan Yaji” as a symbol of an ideal life. The Yuanyou literati concretized the Xiyuan Yaji as a manifestation of the ideal life of intellectuals by creating an autonomous cultural domain. This symbol further reinforced its cultural value during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the modern era, the Xiyuan Yaji has been revived as a spiritual symbol among specific cultural groups. This study provides a fresh perspective for understanding the formation, evolution, and modern significance of cultural symbols of Chinese intellectual culture in the historical context. Additionally, it broadens the application of Bourdieus field theory and semiotics in the study of Chinese intellectual culture.