正始

Zhèngshǐ

proper noun

Meanings

1 Zhengshi, reign title of Cao Fang of Wei (240–249)
2 "Zhengshi", a chapter of Gu Yanwu's Record of Daily Knowledge

Characters

upright; correct

Examples

HSK 6

顾炎武在《日知录·正始》里说，保天下是每个普通人的责任。

Gù Yánwǔ zài 《 Rìzhīlù · Zhèngshǐ 》 lǐ shuō, bǎo tiānxià shì měi ge pǔtōngrén de zérèn.

In the "Zhengshi" chapter of his Record of Daily Knowledge, Gu Yanwu says that keeping all-under-heaven safe is the duty of every ordinary person.

HSK 7-9

正始年间，很多名士喜欢清谈。

Zhèngshǐ niánjiān, hěnduō míngshì xǐhuan qīngtán.

In the Zhengshi era, many famous scholars loved "pure conversation".

Tips

history

The Wei era is remembered for 清谈, the talk on Laozi and Zhuangzi led by He Yan (何晏) and Wang Bi (王弼), later called 正始之音. Gu Yanwu's chapter blames that fashion for the fall of the Jin, and it is the source of 匹夫有责. The same title was used again by Gao Yun (高云) of Northern Yan (407–409) and by Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei (504–508).

Stroke Order

正 zhèng

始 shǐ