本文旨在对蔡元培的艺术思想进行系统研究，研究内容主要是分析蔡元培艺术思想在中国美术现代化进程中的具体表现。其中包括对他的美学、美育以及艺术理论进行梳理和总结。二十世纪初，中国面临着从传统向现代的社会转型，蔡元培在革命运动和政治变革的社会风潮中，决意以教育改造中国。在对传统文化的掇英的同时，蔡元培吸收着西方的艺术和文化菁华。在欧美的游学过程中，蔡元培的学术兴趣开始集中于审美研究。他对康德和席勒的美学思想进行研究和借鉴，并逐渐建构独自的美学观和艺术理论体系。蔡元培的美学特征在于实践性，他将美学理论应用于中国现代教育中，支持筹办并推动着北京国立美术学校、上海美专、杭州国立艺术院等美术学校的发展，同时，他提倡以举办美术展览、建立博物馆等方法开展社会美育。蔡元培兼容并包的教育思想对中国现代艺术创作的风格探索有着重要意义。由于蔡元培的扶掖和支持，鲁迅、徐悲鸿、刘海粟、林风眠等一批思想家和艺术家都在艺术民族化的道路上孜孜以求，他们的艺术观念和艺术创作方法发展和丰富了蔡元培的艺术思想，并有效地推动着中国现代艺术的发展。蔡元培最著名的美育思想当属“以美育代宗教”说，受进化论和科学论的影响，他展开了对宗教的批判，主张以审美教育养成国民之高尚品格。在艺术思想的践行中，蔡元培留下了大量的艺术理论。在艺术形态论方面，他深入分析了图画、雕刻、工艺美术与建筑等艺术种类的特征。他还做过细致的美术史与美术理论研究，撰写了中西方美术史并阐述了他对不同民族艺术的看法。蔡元培的艺术思想同时体现在他的艺术批评论和科学美术论中，由于他的鼓励和支持，中国现代艺术批评从社会学和本体论的角度迅速展开，由此引发了美术革命与第一次全国美术展览中的艺术批评热潮。蔡元培毕生都主张将科学精神输入美术创作，以美术方法促进科学研究，他的科学美术论经由现代艺术家的实践转化，创造出不同的艺术表现形式。在中国艺术转型过程中，蔡元培强调对民族性和时代性的把握，他将个体经验融于社会理想中，以艺术启蒙的方式，引领大众追求着自由和解放，促进了审美现代性的发生。蔡元培的艺术思想对于思考当代的文化发展、宗教信仰、审美教育以及科技创新等问题有着重要的借鉴意义，其中的启蒙价值观也面临着反思与重建。
This is the systematic research on Cai Yuanpei’s Art ideology, the research mainly analyze how Cai Yuanpei’s Art Thought manifested in the process of Chinese Art modernization, it includes the classification and summary of his Aesthetics, Aesthetics education and Art theory.At the beginning of 20th century, China was transiting from traditional society to modern society, witnessing the revolution movement and the political reform, Cai Yuanpei decided to alter China by education. Based on the master of traditional culture, Cai Yuanpei assimilated the excellent art and culture in western countries, as well. Cai Yuanpei was absorbed in the research of Aesthetics judgment when he studied in Europe, After Cai Yuanpei inherited Kant and Schiller’s Aesthetics,he gradually constructed the independent Aesthetics system. Cai Yuanpei’s Aesthetics is featured by practice, he applied the Art theory to Chinese modern education, BeiJing National School of Fine Arts, ShangHai Academy of Fine Arts, and HangZhou National School of Art couldn’t found and developed without Cai yuanpei’s support, meanwhile, Cai Yuanpei appealed to hold exhibition and build musesum so as to popularize Aesthetic education. Cai Yuanpei’s education thought”coexistence of different schools of thoughts” influenced China modern art style greatly. With the help of Cai Yuanpei, many thinkers and artists such as Lu Xun, Xu Beihong, Liu Haisu, Lin Fengmian succeeded in art field, their artistic concepts and methods of artistic creation enriched Cai Yuanpei’s Art Thoughts which effectively promoted the development of modern art in China.Cai Yuanpei is famous for his advocation substituting religion with Aesthetic education，he criticized the religion since he was influenced by Darwism and the theory of science . As he participated in the art activities，he produced a lot of influential art theory. When he studied art pattern, he analyzed the characteristics of paintings, sculptures, arts and crafts, and architectures. He also did research on art history and theory, Cai Yuanpei interpreted his views on different national art. Cai Yuanpei’s art thought embodied in his art criticism, the theory of science and technology. Owing to Cai Yuanpei’s encouragement and support, modern art criticism was conducted by the way of art ontology and sociology, which thrived in the process of art revolution and the first national exhibition. Cai Yuanpei stood for art and science all his life, his thought were practiced by modern artists who expressed in vary ways. In the process of China art modernization, Cai Yuanpei emphasized nationality and times , he put his individual experience into social ideal, led the people pursue freedom and liberation, and made contribution to the generation of Aesthetic modernity. Cai Yuanpei’thought shed light on the cultural development, religious beliefs, aesthetics education and scientifical innovation. The value of Cai Yuanpei’s art enlightenment needs reflection and reconstruction.
