@article{ART003369478},
author={LI GUIHUA},
title={The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations},
journal={Journal of Chinese Language and Literature},
issn={1225-083X},
year={2026},
number={102},
pages={31-56},
doi={10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31}
TY - JOUR
AU - LI GUIHUA
TI - The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations
JO - Journal of Chinese Language and Literature
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 102
PB - Chinese Literary Society Of Yeong Nam
SP - 31
EP - 56
SN - 1225-083X
AB - Ji Kang’s extant farewell letters consist of two pieces: Letter to Shan Juyuan on Breaking Off Relations and Letter to Lü Changti on Breaking Off Relations. Although both center on “breaking off relations,” they differ markedly in structure, rhetoric, textual function, and ideological orientation. Taking the Wei-Jin tension between mingjiao and ziran as its framework, this paper compares the two letters and examines their textual divergence and ideological unity.
This paper argues that Letter to Shan Juyuan transforms a private letter into a public declaration of personality and political stance, expressing Ji Kang’s refusal to serve the Sima regime and his principle of “transcending mingjiao and following ziran.” By contrast, Letter to Lü Changti adopts a brief and restrained narrative mode, functioning as a moral judgment against Lü Xun’s betrayal and violation of familial ethics. The apparent contradiction between “transcending mingjiao” and “defending mingjiao” does not reveal inconsistency, but Ji Kang’s distinction between politically appropriated false mingjiao and genuine ethical principles. Together, the two letters illuminate the spiritual dilemma of Wei-Jin literati and demonstrate how epistolary prose could move beyond private communication into public intellectual expression.
KW - 嵇康(Ji Kang);绝交书(farewell letters);<与山巨源绝交书>(Letter to Shan Juyuan Breaking Off Relations);<与吕长悌绝交书> (Letter to Lü Changti Breaking Off Relations);名教与自然(Mingjiao and Ziran);书信散文(epistolary prose)
DO - 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31
ER -
LI GUIHUA. (2026). The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations. Journal of Chinese Language and Literature, 102, 31-56.
LI GUIHUA. 2026, "The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations", Journal of Chinese Language and Literature, no.102, pp.31-56. Available from: doi:10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31
LI GUIHUA "The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations" Journal of Chinese Language and Literature 102 pp.31-56 (2026) : 31.
LI GUIHUA. The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations. 2026; 102 : 31-56. Available from: doi:10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31
LI GUIHUA. "The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations" Journal of Chinese Language and Literature no.102(2026) : 31-56.doi: 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31
LI GUIHUA. The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations. Journal of Chinese Language and Literature, 102, 31-56. doi: 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31
LI GUIHUA. The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations. Journal of Chinese Language and Literature. 2026; 102 31-56. doi: 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31
LI GUIHUA. The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations. 2026; 102 : 31-56. Available from: doi:10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31
LI GUIHUA. "The Dual Writing and Internal Paradox of Ji Kang’s Two Letters on Breaking Off Relations" Journal of Chinese Language and Literature no.102(2026) : 31-56.doi: 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.31
