The Western Jin Dynasty was a state mainly composed of privileged landlords.
西晋王朝是一个门阀贵族的政权。
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.
晋武帝司马炎在完成统一之后对晋朝的官制、兵制、法制等一系列政治制度进行了调整，但由于晋臣多为前朝的名门望族，故而他们提出的政治改革措施多以保障其自身利益为主。
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.
允许官吏按官品高低占有不同数量的土地和佃客、荫户，承认官僚地主的特权。
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.
曹魏时制定的“九品中正制”，到了西晋，已发生相当大的变化，中正官职多为世族门阀出身的官僚所把持，这一制度变成他们培植门阀私家势力的重要工具。
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.
西晋统治时期，豪强大族的势力得到发展，士庶之间的矛盾不断扩大，削弱了西晋的统治力量。门阀士族的空前发展，构成了与皇权的矛盾，也直接成为魏晋南北朝时期动乱的根源。
The extravagant, corrupt and wasteful life of the court rendered the righteous no cause.
这一时期，统治集团奢侈腐化，聚敛了大量财产，互相争豪比富。
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.
许多士人身处乱世，遂悲观消极、逃避现实、不问政事，终日饮酒清谈，玩世不恭。
Hence metaphysical discourse and learning flourished amongst the literati.
于是清谈、玄学之风一时大盛。