During the Three Kingdoms period of Wei, He Yan and Wang Bi reinterpreted Confucian classics through the lens of Laozi and Zhuangzi, detaching from reality to dwell solely on metaphysical theories, and scholars eagerly imitated them. By the Western Jin dynasty, with Wang Rong and Wang Yan vigorously promoting it, the trend of pure conversation on abstruse principles became widespread.
During the Western Jin Dynasty, the brilliant scholar Guo Xiang was deeply influenced by his surroundings and developed a passion for the works of Laozi and Zhuangzi. One of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove," Xiang Xiu, had begun annotating *Zhuangzi* but died before finishing the chapters "Autumn Floods" and "Ultimate Joy." Guo Xiang then claimed Xiang Xiu's annotations as his own original work and completed the remaining two chapters himself.
As Guo Xiang grew older, he became a renowned master of metaphysical discourse, his vast knowledge and sharp reasoning making his arguments clear and compelling. The Grand Commandant Wang Yan often debated philosophy with him, and Guo Xiang would cite classics and draw from countless sources, leaving Wang Yan nodding in admiration. Wang Yan told everyone, "Listening to Guo Xiang speak is like watching a river pour from a hanging cliff—it never runs dry."
The local governor recognized Guo Xiang as a rare talent and urged him to take an official post, but Guo Xiang declined, preferring to stay home and enjoy writing. Later, however, he changed his mind, accepted a position as an imperial advisor, and wielded considerable influence.
Later, the idiom "a mouth like a torrent" came to describe someone who speaks endlessly, like a river pouring forth, depicting eloquence and debate.
Source: *Book of Jin*, "Biography of Guo Xiang"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "口若悬河" came to describe how someone who speaks endlessly, like a river pouring forth, depicting eloquence and debate.