中英雙語話歷史 第47期:西晉
The Western Jin Dynasty was a state mainly composed of privileged landlords.
Most political and economic measures instituted by the Emperor Wu(Sima Yan) meant to protect the benefits of these few for the landlords and gentry dorminated the government.
晉武帝司馬炎在完成統一之後對晉朝的官制、兵制、法制等一系列政治制度進行了調整，但由於晉臣多爲前朝的名門望族，故而他們提出的政治改革措施多以保障其自身利益爲主。The Western Jin government allowed officials of different ranks to possess different amounts of fields, tenants and dependent families. In this way, the privilege of the bureaucratic landlords was acknowledged.
允許官吏按官品高低佔有不同數量的土地和佃客、蔭戶，承認官僚地主的特權。
The system of “ classifying talented people into nine grades for government appoint-ment” established in the Wei had undergone great changes, with most government positions being held by officials from powerful or privileged families. This system ultimately became a tool for those families to expand their own power.
曹魏時制定的“九品中正制”，到了西晉，已發生相當大的變化，中正官職多爲世族門閥出身的官僚所把持，這一制度變成他們培植門閥私家勢力的重要工具。The increasing strength of the powerful families during this period intensified the conflict between the officials and the commoners, which weakened the power of the rulers and buried the seeds of great social upheaval.
西晉統治時期，豪強大族的勢力得到發展，士庶之間的矛盾不斷擴大，削弱了西晉的統治力量。門閥士族的空前發展，構成了與皇權的矛盾，也直接成爲魏晉南北朝時期動亂的根源。The extravagant, corrupt and wasteful life of the court rendered the righteous no cause.
這一時期，統治集團奢侈腐化，聚斂了大量財產，互相爭豪比富。In those turbulent days many gentry-officials and scholars felt despaired and escaped from reality and politics by indulging themselves in wine and mere talks.
許多士人身處亂世，遂悲觀消極、逃避現實、不問政事，終日飲酒清談，玩世不恭。Hence metaphysical discourse and learning flourished amongst the literati.
於是清談、玄學之風一時大盛。
