The Divine Principle foundation for the new theory of art includes three important elements: (1) God's purpose of creation and creativity, (2) joy and creation in resemblance, and (3) give-and-receive action.

The purpose for which God created the universe was to actualize joy through love. This means that God created the universe as His object of joy. Accordingly, God can be regarded as a great artist, and the universe as God's work of art. God created the universe for His joy, and at the same time, to give joy to human beings. Cod sought to obtain joy by pleasing human beings.

For humans, God's purpose of creation refers to the purpose for the whole and the purpose for the individual. The purpose for the whole is to give joy to the whole (namely, humankind, nation, tribe, and so on, whereas the purpose for the individual is to obtain joy for oneself. Therefore, people are supposed to have their own joy while pleasing God and the whole. Artistic activity is derived from God's creation of the universe. The activity of creation starts with the purpose for the whole, that is, it starts with an intention to please others. The activity of appreciation, on the other hand, starts with the purpose for the individual, that is, it starts with the intention of obtaining joy for oneself.

God's creativity is the ability to form a two-stage structure consisting of an inner four-position base and an outer four position base (see The Theory of the Original Image, IV).

Forming an inner four-position base means to form a Logos (or the plan); and forming an outer four-position base means creating external things through the Logos and the Hyungsang (or material). This is manifested as the two-stage structure of creation in human artistic activity. First, there is the stage of making a plan; and second, there is the stage of making an art work by substantializing the plan through the use of materials. The differences between the methods of creation and the differences between the styles of creation are explained on the basis of the differences in the characteristics in this two-stage structure of creation.

In the hope of actualizing joy, God created humankind and all things as His object of joy. joy for the subject is obtained through the stimulation coming from an object whose Sungsang and Hyungsang resemble those of the subject. ¹ Accordingly, God created people in such a way that they resemble in image the dual characteristics of God, ² and created all things in such a way that they resemble Him symbolically. Applied to the theory of art, this means that an artist produces works of art in resemblance to his or her own Sungsang and Hyungsang. Also, it means that the appreciator feels joy by sensing his or her own Sungsang and Hyungsang through the art work.

In God, Sungsang and Hyungsang engage in give-and-receive action and either form a union or produce a multiplied body. ³ Here, to produce a multiplied body means to create created beings. When give-and-receive action is applied to the theory of art, it follows that the artistic activity of creation is per-formed through give-and-receive action between the subject (the artist) and the object (materials), and that the appreciation of artistic works is performed through give-and-receive action between the subject (the appreciator) and the object (art work). Accordingly, both in artistic creation and in appreciation there are certain requisites that subject and object must have.

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