北京大学的艺术教育传统应该是从蔡元培执掌北大时期开始的。蔡元培是我国近代著名民主革命家、思想家、教育家,是近代中国美育的提倡者和奠基者。“美育”一词,最早就是由蔡元培从德文Asthetische Erziehung译出的,并且他一直身体力行,积极推广美育教育。他撰写文章、发表演说、把美育列入教育方针、开授美育课程、创办艺术社团,为美育的发展,特别是美育在我国高等学校中的 The tradition of art education at Peking University should start when Cai Yuanpei was in charge of Peking University. Cai Yuanpei is a well-known democratic revolutionary, thinker and educator in modern China. It is the advocator and founder of modern Chinese aesthetic education. The term “aesthetic education” was originally translated by Cai Yuanpei from German-language Asthetische Erziehung, and he has been practicing and actively promoting aesthetic education. He wrote articles, gave speeches, included aesthetic education into educational policies, taught aesthetic courses, founded art associations for the development of aesthetic education, especially aesthetic education in Chinese higher education institutions