空灵 Ethereal Effect

空灵用笔洗练，重在传达神韵，具有空灵特点的作品澄澈透明、飘逸灵动，能使人体悟到自由超脱的审美愉悦。

The notion of ethereal effect values simple layout and economical use of details, seeking to convey character and imagination. Works that make use of ethereal effect convey a wonderful lucidity, and possess openness, freedom, and natural grace. Such works enable viewers to appreciate the aesthetic joy of free imagination.

▌引例

古人用笔极塞实处愈见空灵，今人布置一角已见繁缛。（恽格《南田画跋·题画》）

When painting, classical artists made use of ethereal effect all the more where a dense collection of objects normally was required. However today's artists no sooner begin to paint than they fill the space with elaborate details.

枯淡 Dry Plainness

指诗文作品所呈现的质朴干枯、平和清淡的艺术风格。

This refers to a literary style that appears plain and dry, mild and moderate.

枯淡不是枯涩寡味、平庸浅薄，而是指外表看似干枯平淡、内里丰腴醇厚的一种表现手法，旨在用质朴平淡的语言和描写来表现丰富深刻的思想内容，创造出含蓄深邃、醇厚高远的意境。

▌引例

所贵乎枯淡者，谓其外枯而中膏，似淡而实美，渊明、子厚之流是也。（苏轼《评韩柳诗》）

I value the style of dry plainness because it looks withered and dry outside but is rich inside; it appears plain but is in fact beautiful. Poetry by such writers as Tao Yuanming and Liu Zongyuan is like this.

畅神 Free Flow of One's Mind

指精神与自然合一时所达到的自由舒畅的一种审美状态。

The term describes a state of mind one achieves when appreciating an artwork, in which process one's inner feelings interact freely and joyfully with nature.

▌引例

圣贤映于绝代，万趣融其神思，余复何为哉？畅神而已。（宗炳《画山水序》）

As sages of remote past already discovered the philosophical wisdom inherent in nature through imagination and contemplation, what more do I need to do now? All I have to do is relishing the joy when my mind interacts freely with the depicted landscape.

高古  Unadorned Antiquity

高远古朴，高雅简古。用于文艺批评，主要指文艺作品中所体现出的意蕴高远古朴、情志高雅，凝重而又深具历史感的艺术风格。

This term describes the quality of loftiness or primitive simplicity, and is used primarily in literary criticism to refer to an ancient nobility, an aspiration or sentiment, or an artistic style of historical gravity.

它有时也指高人雅士独具的一种人格境界。

This term is also used to refer to an elevated state of being attained by noble-minded persons.

▌引例

汉人诗文，存于今者，无不高古浑朴。（章学诚《文史通义·内篇五·妇学篇书后》）

Prose and poetry by Han Dynasty authors, so long as they have survived to this day, all show a lofty adherence to an unadorned antiquity and a charming rusticity.

气象  Prevailing Features

原是自然界中景色物候的总称，也指某个时期社会的总体精神风貌。

Qixiang (气象), originally a term about the general state of scenery and physical objects in nature, also refers to the prevailing features of a society in a given period of time.

具体到艺术领域，指艺术作品所呈现出的风格与气概，内涵偏重于宏伟壮大，多用“雄浑”（heroic）“浑厚”（immense）“峥嵘”（sublime）等来修饰。

▌引例

盛唐诸公之诗，如颜鲁公书，既笔力雄壮，又气象浑厚。（严羽《答出继叔临安吴景仙书》）

Works of many poets during the prime of the Tang Dynasty struck readers with their powerful expression, just like the calligraphy of Yan Zhenqing.