<p>As one of China’s first modern philosophers, W<span>ang</span> Guowei 王國維 produced many noteworthy theories. This essay aims to thoroughly examine his aesthetic theory of ancient elegance, which he developed as a supplement to Kant’s conceptions of the beautiful and the sublime. To accomplish this task, I have divided this essay into three sections. Following the introduction, the second section introduces Wang’s theory of ancient elegance, focusing on his distinction between “first forms” and “second forms.” In the context of art, first forms refer to the meanings expressed, while second forms refer to the mediums of expression. The third section expands on the role of effort in the production of ancient elegance and explains the significance of this theory to aesthetic education. Unlike genius, the capacity to produce and perceive ancient elegance can be cultivated by anyone through training. This is significant for Wang, because art gives people consolation by providing them with the means to express their feelings and make their lives meaningful. To explicate the contemporary relevance of Wang’s view of aesthetic education based on ancient elegance, I appeal to Hans Maes’s outline of “existential aesthetics.”</p>