Abstract:The harm of empty talk in the Western Jin Dynasty resulted in the selfreflection and criticism of the metaphysics in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It is true that some of criticism came from the office holders and military leaders from the eminent clans who wanted to rectify the fashion of empty talking, and the clerks of humble origins who favored rule of law and downtoearth attitude, but more often than not the strongest criticism came from Confucians who strongly resented the metaphysical defiance of Confucian rituals and systems. Such selfreflection and criticism continued in the whole Eastern Jin Dynasty, even thought they were the strongest in the early period. The critics were mainly scholars favoring Confucianism and Legalism, even though some were from metaphysical celebrities from the upper class. The critics included both the southerners and the northerners who moved to the south, but most were the
more radical southerners. Such characteristics were due to the then social and cultural background, but as the mainstream scholars tended to be metaphysical, the selfreflection and criticism had many limitations.
王永平. 东晋时期对玄化任诞士风的反省与批判思潮[J]. 江苏大学学报(社会科学版), 2010, 12(6): 25-37.
Wang Yongping. Self-reflection on and Criticism of the Metaphysics-
in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Journal of Jiangsu University(Social Science Editi, 2010, 12(6): 25-37.