noun
let a hundred schools of thought contend
A yojijukugo originating from the Warring States period in China, referring to a situation where many different schools of thought or opinions compete freely. Often used in political, academic, or ideological contexts.
この学会では百家争鳴の議論が行われた。
At this academic conference, a free and vigorous exchange of diverse opinions took place.
From Chinese 百家爭鳴／百家争鸣 (bǎijiāzhēngmíng), literally 'hundred schools contend'. The phrase refers to the intellectual flourishing during the Warring States period, and is used in Japanese as a yojijukugo.