Xunzis Confucianism

Xun Zis Learning ( ) and Efforts

()

Xun Zi ( cir.298~238 BCE)

Background of Xunzis Confucianism

Background of Xunzis Confucianism

Confucius: cir. 551~479 BCE
Lao-zi: cir. 570~479 BCE
Mozi: cir. 479~381 BCE
Mencius: cir. 372~289 BCE
Shang Ang: cir. 390~338 BCE
Xunzi cir. 298~238
Qin conquered world in 221
(but faded away in 210)

Seeing Qin rising in

power !!!

Lord Shangs Reform

1st Reform

2nd Reform

Grouping 5 or 10 families into 1 group, maki

ng collective goals and responsibilities & puni

shment (mutual inspection,--involvement sy
stem)
Meritocracy according to military contributio

n.
Encourage farming and discouraging comme

rce.

Making fixed standards & measures, moving

the capital
Taxing on agricultural goods, and other inco

mes
Reforming marriage system and other custo

ms

Xunzis Comment on Qin

As I entered the state, people were humble, music was not obscene,
clothes were not gaudy, officials were dutiful, just like people from the
ideal old ages.
As I entered in official public office, government officials were polite and
frugal, loyal and trustful, just like officials from the ideal old ages.
As I entered the capital, and noblemen went straight into the parliament
as they left their home, and went straight into their home as they left the
parliament. Nothing private, no faction, no secrecy were allowed, just like
noblemen from the ideal old ages.

Xunzis Comment on Qin

As I see the government myself, handling of

state affairs were fast and efficient, just like
nothing has happened, nobody there, just like
government from the ideal old ages.
Qins victory over four generations, therefore,
was not due to luck it was bound to happen
the politics of Qin is at its summit.
-- Xunzi Strong Nation 16

Different Perspective on Humans

Mencius

then

Human mind is composed of Heavenly

Making the big body bigger

nature (big body)

+ physical desires (small body).

Desiring less of the physical desires

Doesnt quite fit in with the idea

of strong nation or imperial
dream Need for different perspective
on humans and their potentials

Human nature is evil?

Xunzis predictions on Qin

There are a few things that
threatens Qin state. The Kin
g is far from being revered
although its power and con
tribution soar. What are the
factors? It is due to that the
re is few Confucian scholars
in Qin state. If the officials
were comprised entirely of
Confucians, then he will be
come a sage-king. If partly c
omposed of Confucians, th
en he will be a king of a po
wer. If there are none, then
the state will perish. That is
the core weakness of Qin st
ate.

Content of human nature:

vs.
Benevolence and Righte
ousness

Natural feeling of sympathy or indignation

Propriety (ritual) and

Wisdom

Intuitive sense of what is proper and right

Human nature & Heaven

Mencius

Xunzi

Heaven being the source of goodness =

Good heaven
Self-cultivation means knowing ones n

ature ->knowing & serving Heaven

Anyone can become a sage (virtuous) a

nd become one with Heaven

Heaven is independent nature

Self-cultivation means transforming ones

physical characters and act in accordance

with principles set by sages.
Anyone can become a sage (wise)

Xun Zis Human nature #1:

human nature is evil

nature=desir
for food &
eDesire
sex
As for the way that eyes like pretty colors,
the ears like beautiful sounds, the mouth
likes good flavors, and the heart likes
what is beneficial, and the bones and
flesh like what is comfortable these are
produced from peoples inborn
dispositions and nature (Xunzi 23)

And benefit
( /profit)

Xun Zis Human nature #2

Liking what is beneficial and desiring gain are peoples
inborn dispositions and nature. Suppose there were brothers
who had some property to divide, and that they followed the
fondness for benefit and desire for gain in their inborn
dispositions and nature. If they were to do so, then the
brothers would conflict and contend with each other for it.
(Xunzi 23)

Xunzi as the Eastern Hobbesian.

Famous quotes:
Both Xunzi and Hobbes believed human nature w

as essentially bad and that, if left unrestrained, it

would lead to a life that, in Hobbess well-turned
phrase, is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

To avoid this sad

state, both
proposed
restraining human
nature, but in very
different and
distinct ways.
Hobbes proposed
his social contract

Hobbes, Legalist, and Xunzi

Xunzi offered a set of pra

ctices governing religious,

social and personal condu
ct: the traditional rites
( ) of Confucianism.
Xunzi believed we could t
rain ourselves out of the s
tate of nature. Hobbes di
d not.

Rituals & the standard

Rituals and the standard of righteousness coordinat

e human desires and materials goods.

* Fair distribution: knowing our portion ( ) and plac
e ( , your bounds & limits)
Confucian rites not only made peace between
human beings, they located human beings in a
greater, harmonious natural system.

Rituals & Music

Moderation of Feelings
Reshape human motivation
Self-interested people living in harmony

Rituals & Deliberate Effort ( )

Who made Rituals?
when the craftsman carves wood and makes utensils,

the utensils are produced from the deliberate efforts o

f the craftsman; they are not produced from peoples
nature () So, ritual and standards of righteousness a
nd proper models and measures are produced from th
e deliberate efforts of the sage; they are not produced
from peoples nature. (Xunzi 23)

Xunzi the Text

Encouraging Learning (Xunzi 1)

The noble person says: Lear

ning must never cease. Blue

comes from the indigo plan
t, yet it is bluer than indigo.
Ice is made from water, yet
it is colder than water.

Encouraging Learning
Wood marked by the plumb line will become straig

ht, and metal that is put to the whetstone will bec

ome sharp. The noble person who studies widely a
nd examines himself each day will become clear in
his knowing and faultless in his conduct.

Encouraging Learning
Once I spent an entire day in thought, but it was not as good as a m

oment of study. Once I stood on tiptoe to gaze into the distance, bu

t it was not as good as climbing to a high place to get a broad view.
Climbing to a high place and waving will not make your arm any lon
ger, but you can be seen from farther away. Shouting down the win
d will give your voice no added urgency, but you can be heard more
distinctly.

By borrowing a horse and ca

rriage you will not improve y

our feet, but you can cover a
thousand li. By borrowing a
boat and paddles you will n
ot improve your ability in wa
ter, but you can cross rivers
and seas. The noble person i
s by birth no different from
others, but he is good at bor
rowing from external things.

Q: what is that humans

must borrow, in order to
become the noble
person?

Human Will & Effort

When there is a certain dis

position and the heart mak

es a choice on its behalf, t
his is called deliberation.
When the heart deliberate
s and ones abilities act on
it, this is called deliberate
effort.

Through steaming and bending, you ca

n make wood straight into a wheel. ()

The gentleman learns broadly and exa
mines himself thrice daily, and then his
knowledge is clear and his conduct is w
ithout fault.

Evaluation on Xun Zi & his Students

Li Si
(?~208 BCE)

Hanfei Zi
(cir.280~233 BCE)

Questions & Answers