Turning Point

Early Chinese autobiographical writings tend to paint a still portrait of who the author is: his temperament, personality, and achievements. They operate on a model of being and, at best, of a continuous, lifelong self-cultivation and a gradual process of self-actualization. In the fourth century, we see an emphasis on transformation in an author’s life writing. A moment that sheds light on the past and points to the future is singled out as a turning point, and this turning point creates a new possibility for autographical writings. This article suggests that in early medieval Chinese autobiographical writings, instead of a model of being, we have a model of becoming; instead of a depiction of what is, we see a narrative of change. The narrative of change owes a profound debt to Buddhist stories of conversion and enlightenment.