Xunzi’s ideological proposition "Learning" Xunzi said that people should study Confucian classics and become sages in the feudal era. Of course, reciting the Classics and reading the Rites is not only learning cultural knowledge, but also receiving education in feudal etiquette, law and morality. The two are inseparable. However, Xunzi said that the significance of learning lies in "beginning as a scholar and ending up as a saint." It can be seen that Xunzi's emphasis on learning is focused on the education of feudal etiquette, law and morality. Xunzi emphasized that studying Confucian classics should guide one's thoughts, words and deeds: The learning of a gentleman enters the ears, the chopsticks reach the heart, spreads throughout the four bodies, and is shaped by movement and stillness. To put it bluntly, Confucianism and movement can be regarded as the rule. He also said: Ancient scholars were for themselves, but today’s scholars are for others. A gentleman's education is for the sake of beautifying his body; a villain's education is for the purpose of beautifying his body. Xunzi advocated that learning the ways of sages should be rooted in thought and implemented in actions, and every word and deed should become people's rules. Xunzi believed that people in ancient times learned the way of sages in order to cultivate their own ideological and moral character, while later people learned the way of sages just to show off and please others. Xunzi gave sharp criticism to later generations' learning attitude that was divorced from ideological and moral cultivation. Xunzi attached great importance to learning from good teachers and friends in order to cultivate noble thoughts and morals. Therefore, it is said: If you don't learn, don't approach others. The best way to learn the classics is to be good to others, and the second best thing is Longli. If the superior cannot be kind to the person, and the inferior cannot be courteous, Ante will learn to understand the knowledge in a miscellaneous way, and only listen to the "Poems" and "Books"! Then in the last days and the poor years, you can’t help but be a bad scholar! Xunzi believed that the most convenient way to learn the ways of sages is to get close to sages, take sages as examples, and learn from sages everywhere, followed by learning etiquette and laws. Xunzi said that if a person is unwilling to approach, admire, and learn from sages, but cannot learn etiquette and restrain himself with etiquette, then he has just learned some miscellaneous knowledge and cannot explain "Poems" and "Books" Just a sentence. This kind of person will be nothing more than a "confucian" for the rest of his life. It can be seen that the main purpose of "Encouraging Learning" is not to talk about the learning of cultural knowledge, but to focus on the study and cultivation of ideological and moral issues. According to Xunzi, the first importance of learning is to be a person with noble thoughts and moral character. Learning is to improve yourself, transform yourself, and guide your own thoughts and actions. Xunzi believed that whether to learn the way of the ancient kings or not is related to the major issue of what kind of people should be cultivated. The children of Wuyue in the southeast and Yirao in the north cry the same way when they are born, but their languages ??and customs are different when they grow up. This is due to the difference in education received. This shows the importance of learning to people. Therefore, Xunzi then quoted the words of "The Book of Songs" to encourage people not to be greedy for ease, but to fulfill their duties and learn from the upright and wise men. In this way, the gods will review everything and grant you great blessings. Xunzi said: "There is no god greater than the Tao, and no blessing is greater than the absence of disaster." It means that the highest wisdom is to act according to the way of the ancient kings, and the greatest blessing is the absence of disaster. This shows that learning can make people smarter and avoid disasters. Xunzi said, "A gentleman is not different from others, he is good at pretending to things." The so-called "good at pretending to things" means being good at learning. The nature of a gentleman is no different from that of ordinary people, he is just good at learning. Discuss the important impact of the environment on people. Xunzi said, "The root of the orchid locust tree is called Zhi. Zhi is originally an ornament that gentlemen love to wear. But if Zhi is soaked in smelly water, gentlemen will not approach it, and even ordinary people will not want to wear it. This metaphor Xunzi warned people that they must pay attention to the impact of the environment on themselves. Xunzi concluded that people should choose a place with a good environment and choose to associate with wise men, so as to avoid being influenced by evil villains and be influenced by upright gentlemen. In his exhortation to learn, Xunzi warned people to be cautious in their words and deeds and pay attention to moral cultivation, so as to avoid humiliation and disaster. Xunzi also said that learning should be gradual, continuous accumulation, perseverance, and concentration. ,...the holy heart is prepared. "Use vivid metaphors to illustrate that lofty virtues are accumulated in daily life. If a person continues to do good deeds, he will develop virtues, gain a high degree of wisdom, and have the lofty thoughts and morals of a saint. "Therefore, if you don't accumulate steps, there will be no success. Even thousands of miles; if you don't accumulate small streams, you can't become a river or a sea." A set of parallel sentences more vividly illustrates the importance of continuous accumulation. On the basis of the previous explanations, the following issues should also be explained. Xunzi's life Xunzi is our country's A great thinker and educator, he was the master of pre-Qin thought and culture. However, there are not many historical records of Xunzi's life experience.

In Sima Qian's "Historical Records: Biography of Mencius and Xunqing", the description of Xunzi is only 220 words. Several articles such as Xunzi's "Confucianism", "Meeting Arms" and "Strengthening the Country" reflect some of the facts that Xunzi advised the prime minister of Qi, discussed politics with Qin, and discussed military affairs with Zhao. However, there is no clear record of Xunzi's ancestral home, experience, and dates of birth and death. However, there are different opinions in some later books on Xunzi. When I was editing "Celebrities in Cangshan", I conducted serious and responsible research on the celebrity Xunzi. 1. Xunzi’s ancestral home: "Historical Records: Biography of Mencius and Xunqing" records: "Xunqing, a native of Zhao." The 1999 edition of "Cihai" records: "Xunzi, a native of Zhao." No specific location was specified. However, it is generally accepted that Xunzi was from present-day Shanxi, but there are different opinions as to which county he was in. Some say it was in present-day Linyi County, and some say it was in present-day Anze County. However, Xunzi's name cannot be found in the "Linyi County Chronicle" and "Anze County Chronicle" published in recent years. However, in the first section of the character volume of the "Xinjiang County Chronicle" published in November 1997, Xunzi's name is not found. , there are 42 ancient and modern figures listed, and the second one is Xunzi. The biography gives this description of Xunzi's ancestral home. Xunzi's ancestral home was the ancient Xun Kingdom. Xi Village in present-day Xinjiang County was originally called Xuncheng, the capital of the ancient Xun Kingdom. It was destroyed by the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn Period, and the three families were divided during the Warring States Period. After the Jin Dynasty, the Jiangzhou area originally belonged to the Wei State. However, due to successive wars between Qin, Zhao and Wei, the national borders were intertwined and changed from time to time. The Jiangzhou area once belonged to the Zhao State. Liancheng in nearby Jishan County is said to be the place where Zhao State General Lian Po stationed his troops. Therefore, when Sima Qian wrote the biographies of Xunzi and Mencius in "Historical Records", he called Xunzi a native of Zhao. A stone plaque "Hometown of Xunzi" was found in Longxing Temple in Xinjiangcheng. There are many local legends about Xunzi circulating to this day. According to the 1999 edition of "Cihai": "Xun, the name of an ancient country. Ji's surname, the son of King Wen was granted this place. It is now Linyi, Shanxi. It was the land of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period." Another record: "Xun, the name of an ancient country. Ji's surname, Spring and Autumn Period At that time, it was destroyed by the Jin Dynasty. It is now in Xinjiang, Shanxi Province." This fully proves that the capital of the Xi State is in Linyi, Shanxi today. In the thirty-eighth year of Duke Wu of Jin (678 BC), Duke Wu of Jin annexed Xun and did not allow the descendants of Xunhou to call him Gongsun. So the descendants of the Marquis of Xun lived in the world as the "Xun family" according to the old tradition since Emperor Xuan. It is possible that at this time, the Xun family migrated to Xinjiang, about 80 kilometers northeast of Linyi, and established the Xun Kingdom. In the late Spring and Autumn Period, the Xun family failed again in the armed separatism of the landlord class and was destroyed by Jin. Xun Yi belonged to Jiangzhou. Some members of the Xun family fled Jin and attached themselves to the Zhao family. After the three families of Zhao, Wei and Han were divided into Jin, Xunyi Jiangzhou belonged to Wei, but it also belonged to Zhao. Therefore, it can be determined that Xunzi's ancestral home is Xinjiang County, Shanxi Province today, which is more accurate. As for some publications, Xunzi is described as a native of Handan, Zhao State, which is an affiliation theory. 2. Xunzi’s experience In Xunzi’s experience, the focus of controversy is Xunzi’s age. But there are two main theories. First, Sima Qian said in "Historical Records: Biography of Mencius Xunqing": "He began to study in Qi when he was fifty years old." Second, Yingshao of the Eastern Han Dynasty said in "Customs and Customs": "Xunqing was a scholar, and he began to study in Qi when he was fifteen years old. ." In some later books, all references to the age at which Xunzi began to travel to Qi are quoted from these two theories. However, both of these statements are inconsistent with Xunzi’s life and experience. According to historical records, in the seventeenth year of King Min of Qi (284 BC), General Le Yi of the State of Yan led the five-state coalition of Yan, Zhao, Qin, Wei, and Han to attack the State of Qi and captured more than 70 cities. King Min of Qi fled to Ju The city was then killed by Chu general Nao Chi, and Qi was almost at the point of subjugation. As a result, the bachelors of Jixia Academy dispersed one after another, and Xunzi also defected to Huang Xie, one of the most powerful families in Chu. According to the "Historical Records: Biography of Mencius and Xunqing": "During the reign of King Xiang of Qi, Xunqing was the most teacher." The period of King Xiang of Qi was from 283 BC to 265 BC, but he actually came to Linzi from Ju to take charge of politics. 278 BC, which is the sixth year of King Qi Xiang. Historical records record that in the sixth year of King Xiang of Qi (278 B.C.), Tian Dan, the general of Jimo of Qi State, used counter-intuitive tactics to induce King Hui of Yan to strike Leyi and make him a general. Then, Tian Dan took advantage of the paralysis of the Yan army and launched a fierce attack on the Yan army with the Fire Ox Formation, regaining the lost territory of more than 70 cities in Qi in one fell swoop. Later, Tian Dan's parents welcomed King Xiang in Ju and entered Linzi to listen to the government. After King Xiang of Qi returned to the country, he hoped to restore his hegemony and revive the glory of Qi. At the same time, King Xiang of Qi also inherited the legacy of his ancestors, reorganized the Jixia Academy, and summoned the lost and scattered scholars everywhere. Xunzi returned to Qi from Chu at this time. From this, it can be explained that Xunzi first came to study in the lower reaches of Ji, Qi State, around 284 BC.

At this time, Xunzi was around 30 years old. "At the time of King Xiang of Qi, Xun Qing was the most teacher." This sentence is an important basis for Xunzi's study tour in Qi, and it is also the first time coordinate of Xunzi's experience. The second time coordinate of Xunzi's experience is recorded in "Historical Records: Mencius and Xunqing's Biography": "Qi people may slander Xunqing, Xunqing is suitable for Chu, and Chun Shenjun thinks that Lanling Order." This time is BC 255 years. According to historical records, in the eighth year of King Kaolie of Chu (255 BC), when the Qin and Zhao armies were locked in a stalemate in Changping (now northwest of Gaoping City, Shanxi), the Chu State took the opportunity to annex the Lu State. In order to control the northern border defense, the state of Chu established Lanling County. Huang Xie, the Prime Minister of Chu, hired Xunzi as the first magistrate of Lanling County. This year, Xunzi was 59 years old. The third time coordinate of Xunzi's experience is recorded in "Historical Records: Mencius and Xunqing's Biography" that "Chunshen Jun died and Xunqing was deposed because of his family Lanling." According to the "Historical Records: Biography of Mencius and Xunqing", in the twenty-fifth year of Chun Shen Jun's reign (238 BC), King Kaolie of Chu died on the 17th day, and Chun Shen Jun was also killed by Li Yuan on the same day. Therefore, Xunzi was implicated and the Lanling Order was abolished. This year, Xunzi was 76 years old. Therefore, Xunzi lived in Lanling and concentrated on writing books and teaching to educate the people. The "Xuezi Wang" in the northwest corner of the ancient city of Lanling was once the place where Xunzi lectured. Mao Heng, the founder of classical poetics, Fu Qiubo, a famous Confucian scholar in the Qin and Han Dynasties, Miao He, a master of "Yi", Lu Jia, a political commentator and poet in the early Han Dynasty, and Zhang Cang, a Han calendar calculator, all became famous during this time. He came to Lanling to study with Xunzi. "Historical Records: Biography of Mencius and Xunqing" also records that Xunzi "died after writing tens of thousands of words. He was buried in Lanling." Therefore, I defined Xunzi's death year as approximately 230 BC, based on this time coordinate.