Unearthed Documents And Three Problems Of XunZi Studies

Chapter One mainly research Xunzi’s "Rule of Qi 治气术" in combination with the unearthed documents.The publication of a large number of unearthed documents provided a basic background for our investigation of the "Rule of Qi 治气术" in theearly Chinese thought world.This concept of "treating Qi 治气" has also become a factor that can not be ignored in the depth of Xunzi’s ideas.Although Xunzi learned from the world-class relief in the macro era,it did not neglect the self-cultivation ofspecific individuals.This was clearly demonstrated in Xunzi’s unique "Rule of Qi 治气术".It inherited Confucianism and Confucianism’s moral and self-cultivation tradition,but also melted HuangLao’s technique under the JiXia in the Warring Statesperiod,and then forming a distinctive Xunzi theory.Therefore,Xunzi is a master ofpre-Qin philosophers "treating Qi 治气" theory.The core of the "Rule of Qi 治气术" is the "Li"(礼),which contains the two aspects of "keeping health" and "nourishing the"heart."This unique self-cultivation has its own effect of regimen,but it is by no means simple pursued the longevity,rather than more about the correction of the people’s affective desires and humanities "disorders",thus making people regulate their bodyand mind,and then divine,ultimately from governing oneself Qi to cultivate man’s Qi in the world,reaching a consensus,enlightened world.This pattern of"body-heart-nation" isomorphism also demonstrates the unique view of body(body sociology)of Xunzi.Starting from Xunzi’s "Rule of Qi 治气术",Xunzi’s system(the theory of nature and man,the theory of humanity,the theory of mind,the theory of ritual and music,etc.)will get a real insight.The second chapter mainly revisits Xunzis humanity case with clues of unearthed literature.Human nature evil does not cover the whole connotation of Xunzi’s humanity theory.The key to Xunzi’s human nature case not lies in whyhuman nature is to be evil as understood in the general sense,but rather to explore the source of goodness.The key to this problem lies in thoroughly grasping Xunzi’s"transform Xing by wei 化性起伪".With the clues to unearthed documents,the collating for the Xunzi "person without teacher law" chapter,and deduction of Xunzi’sthought system,we find that "Xing 性"("inborn")can be transformed by the habitual practice of law(the core is "Li"),and the key to transform"Xing Qing 性情"(or inborn and essential)lies in the mind as the subject of will and the rational agent,and because of weakness of will,human also need to learn the "Li" to be strengthened.The establishment of "transform Xing by wei 化性起伪" of the three principles:"Qing can be transformed 情可为" "heart make decesion 心之可" "learning Li continually积习礼",which work both inside and outside.The important meaning of "transform Xing by wei 化性起伪" lies in realizing the ideal of human becoming.The third chapter mainly discusses the Xunzi’s theory of nature and man by combining the unearthed documents.Xunzi’s theory of nature and man is known as"the sky of nature"and is even named as the "materialist".However,this consensus does not truly reflect the whole picture of the theory of nature and man.Xunzi’s theory of the relationship between nature and man is closely related to the theory of ritual and music.By examining the typical text of HuangLao’s Taoist cosmology-the relation between Guodian Bamboo silp "Tai Yi sheng Shui太一生水" and Xun Zi,we find that "Li" is not only instrumental rationality but also value Rationality,which has the dual dimension of realistic discipline and metaphysical transcendence.Therefore,when the "Li" relates to the heaven,the meaning of the heaven is alsopresented differently.When the "Li" is a tool of rationality,the sky is a natural sky.When the "Li" is the value of reason and involves the ultimate origin of the ceremony,Heaven is ontology of "heaven".In the field of epistemology,people mustbe "clear on the distinction between man and heaven" and "make the destiny and use it".In the field of axiology,people should be still in harmony with the meaning of"heaven".Therefore,the concept of harmony between heaven and man,the distinction between heaven and man and the unity of man and nature have no problem in Xunzi’s theory of heaven and human beings.Xunzi’s unique theory of nature and man is a new turn after absorbing Taoism,especially the HuangLao Taoist cosmology,aiming at defending the theory of ritual and music.