At the end of the Warring States Period, two of the most famous thinkers and politicians, Han Fei and Li Si, were his disciples. Because his two disciples were representatives of Legalism, scholars in previous dynasties doubted whether Xunzi belonged to Confucianism, and Xunzi was severely criticized by many scholars in China history because of his disciples. Xunzi's anthology is Xunzi (Yang Xu's Note in Tang Dynasty), because Xunzi has been attacked by scholars in past dynasties, and there are not many comments. It was not until the prosperity of textual research in Qing Dynasty that the number of annotation collators increased. ) Including Wang Xianqian in the Qing Dynasty and Liang Qixiong in the Republic of China. Tan Sitong, a scholar in the late Qing Dynasty, commented in his book Benevolence that "China's two thousand years of learning, Xunxue, is also homesick".
It is generally believed that Xunzi's surname is Xun, which is actually a mistake. In addition to historical records, the works of the pre-Qin and Han dynasties all called him "Sun". Especially the book Xunzi, almost all of them are called Sun. Han Fei is a student of Xunzi, and his works are also called "grandchildren". So Xunzi is a rising star and Xunzi is a grandson. Xunzi is Zhao and a native. Therefore, he probably came from Wei to Zhao, and Wei Gongzi benefited Sun.
As for Xunzi's life activities, "Customs Poor Pass" records: "At that time, the sages of the world gathered under the millet ... Sun Qing had a scholar who began to study at the age of fifteen." In 286 BC, the Song Dynasty was wiped out, and "Salt and Iron on Confucianism" talked about Wang's arrogance, "Confucianism does not disperse". At this time, Xun Qing advised Qi Xiang: "If you get the position of people, you will get the way of people." It is pointed out that at present, Chu is tied in front of me, the swallow is threatening behind me, and Jin Wei is holding my right hand ... The strategy of one country will inevitably lead to the attack of three countries. In this way, Qi will inevitably lead to division and the country is in danger of extinction. This suggestion was not adopted, and Sun Qing went to Chu. During the reign of King Xiang of Qi (283 BC-265 BC), Xunzi returned to Qi for the second time, and "Xun Qing was the best teacher". He was promoted to drink offering three times. (Historical Records, Biography of Mencius and Xun Qing) During Fan Ju's visit to Qin (266 BC-255 BC), Xunzi went to Qin to meet Zhao Haoqi of Qin. Zhao Haoqi asked: "Is Confucianism bad for the people's country?" Xunzi replied: "Confucianism is beautiful politically in the current dynasty and vulgar in the status of the next dynasty. Confucianism is like this." After winning (the role of Confucianism), Sun asked, "How about joining the Qin Dynasty?" Xunzi replied: "the form wins", "the people are simple", "the officials are afraid", the scholar-officials are "open-minded and public", and the court "listens without leaving" and "governs"; And "almost no Confucianism" is "what Qin lacks" Because of the rule of law in Qin dynasty, Xunzi's thought of governing the country with Confucianism is not feasible.
Someone slandered Xunzi in Qi, so Xunzi left Qi and came to Chu. In 255 BC, he was appointed as the magistrate of Lanling County. But some people think that Xunzi is the bane of Chu. So Xunzi resigned from Chu and came to Zhao to worship him as Shangqing. Later, someone in Chu advised Chu Xiangchun and Shen Jun to let Xunzi return to Chu. So Chun sent someone back to Xunzi and asked him to be reinstated as the magistrate of Lanling County. In 238 BC, Chun was killed by Li Yuan and became an official. He died a few years later.
Thoughts tend to experience and attach importance to people's efforts.
Xunzi's thought is biased towards experience and personnel, based on social context, attaching importance to social order, opposing mysticism and attaching importance to human efforts. Confucius' central idea is "benevolence", Mencius' central idea is "righteousness", and Xunzi put forward "courtesy" after them, attaching importance to people's behavior norms in society. Confucius was revered as a saint, but he opposed the philosophical thought of "Meng Si School" headed by Mencius and Zi Si, and thought that Zi Gong and himself were the scholars who inherited Confucius' thought.
Xunzi's knowledge is profound. On the basis of inheriting early Confucianism, he absorbed the strengths of various schools and comprehensively reformed them, established his own ideological system and developed the ancient materialism tradition. There are thirty-two existing Xunzi, involving philosophy, logic, politics, morality and many other aspects. On the view of nature, he opposed the belief in ghosts and gods, affirmed that the laws of nature were not transferred by man's will, and put forward the idea that man could conquer nature. On the issue of human nature, he put forward the theory of "evil nature", denied the innate moral concept and emphasized the influence of acquired environment and education on people; In political thought, he adhered to the Confucian principle of rule by courtesy, attached importance to people's material needs, and advocated the combination of economic development and rule by courtesy. In epistemology, he admits that human thinking can reflect reality. But there is a tendency to despise sensory function. In the famous Persuasion, he concentrated on his views on learning. China people emphasize the importance of "learning" and think that only knowledge can be "without help". At the same time, it is pointed out that learning must be combined with practice, and the learning attitude should be sincere, single-minded and persistent. He attaches great importance to the position and role of teachers in teaching. He believes that a country must attach importance to teachers if it wants to prosper, and at the same time put forward strict requirements for teachers. He believes that students can't practice unless the teacher sets an example.
Xunzi's articles, like other philosophical papers of pre-Qin philosophers, are unique. Unlike Laozi, it didn't put the dialectical thought of unity of opposites and contradiction through; Nor does it use strict and thorough formal logic to reason like Mozi; Unlike Zhuangzi, the sky is wide and full of romanticism. Unlike Mencius, his language is sharp and magnificent, and he has the characteristics of an orator. He is telling the truth. His articles are simple and vigorous, meticulous and rigorous, with neat sentence patterns, and he is good at expounding profound truth with diversified metaphors. All these constitute the characteristics of Xunzi's articles. Someone once summarized Xunzi as "an essay by a scholar", which is a very appropriate comment.
Advocate that human nature is evil
Xunzi believes that people are born to satisfy their desires, and if they are not satisfied, there will be disputes. Therefore, he advocates that human nature is evil and needs the enlightenment of the holy king and etiquette to improve his personality.
In Xunzi's On Evil Nature, Xunzi believes that human nature has two parts: sex and falsehood. Sex is the innate animal instinct of human beings, which is evil; Pseudo is the acquired education of rites and music, not bad. The essence of sex (animal instinct) is all kinds of desires. If it is obedient, people will do whatever it takes to satisfy their desires, leading to moral decay and chaos in the world. Sages know that knowledge is evil, so they create morality of propriety and righteousness, "transforming nature into emptiness", replacing nature with emptiness, and making people do good.
Darwin's theory of evolution can also prove the "evil nature", because in the process of evolution, organisms can only survive if they evolve the desire for survival and possessiveness. Sacrifice others for your own survival, occupy as many living resources as possible, and eliminate competitors. This is sex, not evil.
Then why forge it? What is the use of kindness? "Xunzi Wang Zhi" also said: On strength, people are not as good as cattle; In speed, people are not as good as horses, but people have domesticated cows and horses for their own use. Why? Because people can form a society and unite as one, but animals such as cattle and horses can't. Why can people form a society? Because people have morality (righteousness), with morality, we can form a stable society, greatly increase people's strength, and make mankind prosperous and live a happy life. The function of morality is to maintain social internal order and build a "harmonious society".
This is the role of falsehood. Pseudo (propriety and morality) can maintain the normal order of society and ensure the survival of mankind.
In addition, Xunzi's contribution to logic research is mainly in the concept theory.
Xunzi first revealed four forms of thinking activities. He said: the reality is self-evident, then life, then fate, then period, then period, then statement, then distinction. Therefore, those who make decisions on time, fate, debate and conversation also use great words, and Wang Ye started.
("Xunzi Zheng Ming")
"Reality" refers to objective things or known objects. "Fate" refers to the thinking activity of making names. "Period" refers to the thinking activity of judgment. "Speaking" refers to the activities of explanation and reasoning. "Discrimination" refers to demonstration activities. Xunzi believes that fate, period, reason and discrimination are four important thinking activities in practical application, and they are the starting point of Wang Ye's achievements.
Textual research on Xunzi's hometown
With regard to Xun Kuang's native place, according to Sima Qian's records in Historical Records, Xun Kuang was from Zhao, which is indisputable. However, at the end of the Warring States period, the territory of Zhao was 2000 Li, and where Xunzi was born is still a controversial topic. As a result, Xunzi has now become a rare historical celebrity with only "nationality" but no "old clan" and no "household registration". There are mainly the following two statements.
Shanxi Xinjiang said
Xunzi's ancestral home is Gugou. Today, the village in the north of Xinjiang County, formerly known as Sung Hoon, is the capital of the ancient Xun State. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Xun State was destroyed by Jin State. During the Warring States Period, after the three clans were divided into Jin, Jiangzhou belonged to Wei. However, due to the war between Qin, Zhao and Wei, the national borders are uneven and sometimes change. Jiangzhou area once belonged to Zhao State. Liancheng, the neighboring Jishan County, is said to be the place where Lian Po, the general of Zhao State, was stationed. Therefore, when Sima Qian wrote a biography for Xunzi and Mencius in Historical Records, he called Xunzi Zhao. Stone tablet of Xunzi's hometown discovered in longxing temple, Xinjiang. The legend about Xunzi has been circulated in the local area to this day.
Shanxi Anze said
Scholars have confirmed that with the evolution of history to the end of the Warring States period, Wei 'anze County was first called Yi's family, and later called Yi's family, which was under the jurisdiction of Shangdang County in South Korea. There are clear records in the Records of Lvzhou and Shanxi Historical and Geographical Directory. The Historical Records says: Han can't be saved when he defected, but the upper party surrendered to Zhao, so Xunzi's hometown can only be Anze in southern Shanxi after abandoning Han and returning to Zhao.
Famous sayings handed down from ancient times
(1) If you are not me, you are my teacher. It's me, my friend; Those who flatter me are thieves. Xunzi cultivate one's morality
(2) One day, it won't be for Yao's life or Jay's death.
Xuntian word theory
(3) eyes can't see, ears can't hear.
Xunzi's persuasion
(4) Although the Tao is named, it cannot be done. Small as it is, nothing is impossible.
Xunzi cultivate one's morality
(5) Perseverance, dead wood cannot be carved; Perseverance, the stone can be carved.
Xunzi's persuasion
(6) In the exuberance of bitter fleabane bitter fleabane, we must be straight; White sand is nirvana, and it is black.
Xunzi's persuasion
(7) Therefore, you can't take Wan Li Road without accumulating steps; If you don't accumulate small streams, you won't be a river.
Xunzi's persuasion
(8) Green is taken from blue, and green is blue. Ice, water, but colder than water.
Xunzi's persuasion
The knife cuts bread and fingers. Xunzi Aigong
(10) In the sky, the silent man pushes up, the silent man pushes up, and the silent man pushes up four points. Xunzi supplements classics.
Xunzi (about 365438 BC+03-238 BC) was a famous Qing, which was also called because it was taboo to publicize Emperor Liu Xun in the Western Han Dynasty and because the two words "Xun" and "Sun" had the same ancient sound. During the Warring States Period in China, Zhouyi (now Anze, Shanxi) was a native of the Han nationality. A famous thinker, writer, politician and one of the representatives of Confucianism, he is known as "Xun Qing". He served as a drinking ceremony for Xia Ji Gong Xue in Qi State for three times, and was later ordered by Chu Lanling (now Shandong Lanling).