To speak carelessly and irresponsibly, making statements without regard for facts; to make unfounded or groundless assertions.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
Wang Yan, a renowned 'pure talker' (清谈家) of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was deeply fond of the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi. He often engaged in discussions about their profound theories. However, his arguments were frequently inconsistent, full of contradictions and logical flaws. When others pointed out his errors or challenged his views, he remained indifferent, often changing his statements offhandedly and without proper consideration. Because of this, people at the time described him as 'having orpiment in his mouth' (口中雌黄), implying he changed his words as easily as correcting errors on paper.
The 'Family Instructions for the Yan Clan' (《颜氏家训》) also contains a similar admonition: 'One should not rashly apply orpiment (i.e., make hasty judgments) before having read all the books under heaven.'