The Origins and Developmental Trajectory of Pure Conversation in the Wei-Jin Period
- 1 School of History, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
Abstract
As a scholarly and recreational activity widely favored by the literati during the Wei-Jin period (220 - 420 AD), pure conversation (清谈) gave rise to a distinctive cultural phenomenon. Its core content evolved in response to shifting historical contexts and social environments. During the turn of the Han and Wei dynasties, “pure criticism” (清议) prevailed, which later developed into Wei-Jin pure conversation. Practitioners of pure conversation employed debate and logical reasoning to elevate their social status, steering the discourse toward increasingly abstract and metaphysical themes rooted in Lao-Zhuang thought. Over time, this practice grew detached from practical concerns. By the Jin dynasties, pure conversation had become an indispensable part of aristocratic life, and its developmental trajectory exerted discernible influence on broader sociocultural transformations.
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