scholarly political criticism; pure discourse
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to engage in scholarly political criticism (historical)
archaicRefers to the 'Pure Criticism' movement during the Eastern Han dynasty, where scholar-officials criticized eunuchs and corrupt officials. Later associated with the Donglin Party in the Ming dynasty. Now used mainly in historical contexts.
Dōng东
Hàn汉
mò末
nián年
，
shì士
rén人
cháng常
yǐ以
qīng清
yì议
pēng抨
jī击
huàn宦
guān官
zhuān专
quán权
。
In the late Eastern Han period, scholars often used pure criticism to attack the autocracy of the eunuchs.
Dōng东
lín林
dǎng党
rén人
jì继
chéng承
Dōng东
Hàn汉
qīng清
yì议
chuán传
tǒng统
，
píng评
yì议
cháo朝
zhèng政
dé得
shī失
。
The Donglin Party members inherited the Eastern Han tradition of pure criticism, evaluating the merits and faults of court politics.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
qīng清
yì议
zhī之
fēng风
zài在
Wèi魏
Jìn晋
shí时
qī期
fā发
zhǎn展
wéi为
qīng清
tán谈
。
This ethos of pure criticism developed into 'pure conversation' (qingtan) during the Wei-Jin period.