詩、禮、樂是孔門培養仁人君子的必要條件，但詩不同於禮、樂的高度技藝性質，需長時間的學習、涵養，而呈顯出較為純粹的直觀感受性，故成為孔門教授弟子的首選，子曰：「興於詩，立於禮，成於樂。」便已示其先後之次第。「興」本有「起始」之意，又有「感發志意」、「引譬連類」之意。以此觀之，「興」便是一種以情感為基礎的「感通」能力，具有活潑的生命力，此與「仁」的本質是相通的，而具有此種能力的君子方能「下學上達」，與宇宙天道感應而臻「天人合一」之境。此外，「興」也是充滿了藝術特質的，「引譬連類」指的是通過具體形象的譬喻，使人們聯想、感悟與此相關的普遍性道理，類似今日所謂的「形象思維」，所以，仁人君子的養成方式並非是單純地說理訓示，而是透過藝術的形象去感發、陶冶，以達「情理相得」之境。論語先進篇中「吾與點也」一章，曾點以形象化的方式，生動地勾勒出一幅人與自然、人與人之間感通一體、和諧無間的情境，此是藝境、仁境、道境，也是孔子生命美學的境界。
Poetry、Courtesy and Music are the requirements that Confucius' school apply to cultivate benevolent gentlemen. However, Poetry, different from both Courtesy and Music with the attribute of high artistry, presents pure sensitivities instinctively. Therefore, it has become the high priority for Confucius' school to teach his disciples. Confucius said, ＂It is by the Odes that the mind is aroused. It is by the Rules of Propriety that the character is established. It is form Music that the complete is received＂ (興於詩, 立於禮, 成於樂), which has already revealed its order of precedence. ＂Xing＂ (興), referred to the word with the meaning of ＂beginning＂ originally, also means that mental power is moved and inspired and that the principle is disclosed by citing similar examples. Accordingly, ＂Xing＂ is a kind of ability to correspond based on emotions with strong vitality. The nature of ＂Xing＂ is closely linked to that of ＂Ren＂ (仁). A noble man who has the capability of ＂Xing＂ can interact with the natural law to achieve the state of ＂oneness of heaven and humanity＂ (天人合一). Moreover, ＂Xing＂ is also full of artistic traits. ＂Citing similar examples to reason things out＂ (引譬連類)suggests that people associate and comprehend the relevantly universal principle through the analogy of concrete images. It is similar to the so-called ＂thinking in images＂ nowadays. Consequently, the way to cultivate benevolent gentlemen is not merely to sermon and instruct; instead, it should be inspired and cultivated through the image of art to attain the circumstance of the integration of motion and morality . In the chapter concerning ＂I give my approval to Dian＂ (吾與點也) in the ＂Xian Jin Pian＂ (先進篇) from ＂Analects of Confucius＂ (論語), Zeng Dian vividly portrayed a peaceful image, where men have an excellent rapport with nature and the other people, through the way of visualization. It is the state of art、＂Ren＂ (仁)、＂Dao＂ (道)as well as Confucius' life aesthetics.
