朱子在理學家之中，是最具有文學藝術氣息的一位，也是理學家中較能欣賞文學的一位。自己也能寫出不少好詩，文字也生動活潑。而朱熹由於自己理學思想的原因，於是有他自己很獨特的文學審美觀點;他特別欣賞濃艷退去的平淡境界，陶淵明就是這種境界的最佳寫照。陶淵明是六朝有名的田園詩人，但是其聲光溼沒甚久，魏晉一直到唐代都飽受冷落，直到宋代才受到欣賞；尤其朱熹認為陶淵明的詩與自然之理相契，暗合於儒家之道，此種藝術境界並不是後天雕琢能成就的，而是一種近似於物得天理後的樂道情境。這種境界是一種「天機」，亦即是一種無機，就是一種「天」「人」合一的境界，朱熹論詩也頗能知這種「無我」之境的奧妙。另外朱熹能看得出陶詩以精神美為核心的平淡境界，又能看得出陶詩的忠愛與灑脫合一豪放境界；這說明了陶淵明詩枯稿、膏腴相為表裡與朱熹陰陽思想相應，因為朱熹的儒家思想重陽而輕陰;他認為陶淵明的文學外陰柔而內陽剛。朱熹於欣賞藝術之時，最能應用陰陽辨證、相反相成的思想;朱熹的文學觀也可說是脫去皮毛直取精神了。

ZhuXi is a literature and art Confusion philosophical school that developed during the song and ming dynasty. He can write good poem. ZhuXi' s philosophical thought effect the view to article. ZhuXi appearance the flat style, so he like TaoYunMing's poem. TaoYunMing's poem is treated coldly for long time. Until Sueng dynasty more scholar appearance the flat style and like his poem. ZhuXi think TaoYunMing's poem is reflected to the natural harmonious situation. It just be the thought of Confusion philosophical school. ZhuXi thinks TaoYunMing's poem is bold and unconstrained style. He ignores Yin and Yang is essence each other. So TaoYunMing's poem is soft in surface but is hold in spirit. ZhuXi emphazine that spirit situation is Important.