A Comparative Study Between Dai Chen?Zhang Xuecheng And Xunzi

Dai Zhen and Zhang Xuecheng are the two peaks of the ideological field in Qianjia TimeS?They selected different academic pathways, but in terms of ideology they are concerned about some common topics, with some of the same mindset. One aspect is that both of their ideas are closely akin to the idea of Xunzi, This paper exammins the philosophy of Daizhen, Zhang Xuecheng and Daizhen's successor:Jiaoxun, Ling Tingkan, Ruanyuan compared with Xunzi's philosophy?Through this study, this paper attempts to reveal that they are consistent despite the difference in the inheritance and transformation of Xunzi's thought, and observe the general characteristics of the philosophy represented by Daizhen, Zhang Xuecheng et al in Qianjia Times?In his work ?Introduction to Xunzi?, Wang Zhong affirmed that academically, Xunzi is the successor of Confucius, and in particular has contributed enormously to the Confucian classics? By this way, Xunzi was re-incorporated into the Confucian orthodoxy? WangZhong in this effort represents a awareness of the thinkers in Qianjia Times,who were building new theoretical systems of Confucianism by integrating original confucianism resources, and in their reconstruction work, Xunzi actually had played an important role. This motivates the present discussion, the main part of which divided into three chapters were dedicated to investigating Dai Zhen, Zhang Xuecheng and Daizhen'successors, exploring their ideological relations with Xunzi, and analyzing the gains and losses of their inheritance, development and transformation of Xunzi's thoughs.The first chapter discusses the ideals of Dai Zhen compared with Xunzi on the three topics:the way of Heaven, human nature and ethics This paper argues that in Daizhen's philosophy the way of Heaven was understood as the endless process of creation for Yin and Yang, which is similar to the conception "Tian" of Xunzi. On the general understanding of world affairs, Xunzi prefers to use the concept of "Tonglei", which means guiding principles with the proper categories for each thing. Accordingly Daizhen has the doctrine of "Fenli", that marks special properties as the distinction between different categories. At this point, the ideas of Dai Zhen and Xunzi are similar, but they focuses on different aspects of world affairs:Xunzi emphasizes the universality and order of things, while Dai stresses on distinct nature of things, which leads to that Daizhen's ontology is more suitable for the modern values such as science, freedom and equality as their philosophical foundation. As for the theory of human nature, this paper argues that Dai and Xunzi both have a potential goodness concept of human nature——Daizhen's doctrine of human nature can be seen as a a comprehensive modification Xunzi's concept of "Xin" and "Xing". Finally, Daizhen and Xunzi regard the ethical system as interpersonal coordination principles.Of course, Daizhen puts a greater emphasis on interpersonal equality and individual freedom. Besides, Daizhen values the role of knowledge in the cultivation of virtue,which is a continuation of Xunzi's thought.The second chapter deals with the relation between Zhang Xuecheng and Xunzi. Zhang Xuecheng's thought is more closer to Xunzi's than Daizhen's. Especially in the field of philosophy of history and culture, many of Zhang Xuecheng's doctrines are a certain degree of inheritance, transformation and improvements for Xunzi. First, that Zhang Xuecheng understands the origin and evolution of human's moral and civilization as a social process, is the same as Xunzi. But Zhang Xuecheng's description of this process is more specific and reasonable than Xunzi. In addition, Zhang Xuecheng understanding of the saint's status and the nature of the classic can be seen as a deepening and improvement of Xunzi's theory. Zhang Xuecheng has successfully discarded Xunzi's authoritarian tendencies.The third chapter analizes the corresponding theories of the three successor of Dai Zhen:Jiao Xun, Ling Tingkan and Ruan Yuan in comparison with Xunzi's philosophy. Jiao Xun is very close to Dai Zhen on relation with Xunzi,but he has a more comprehensive understangding of Xunzi, though there are still some criticisms for Xunzi.Jiao Xun has a clear historical consciousness, which is different from Dai Zhen but more similar to Zhang Xucheng. Lin Tingkan emphasizes that ritual principles can assure moral objecit objectivity. This is a significant development for Xunzi's discouse on ritual principles. Ruan Yuan emphasizes that the highest virtues "Ren" must embodied in people's actual ethical relationships. Here Ruan Yuan resumes Xunzi's emphasisis on community and attention to real-lifeOver all, the thinkers of Qianjia Times had get more and more completer and profounder understanding of Xunzi's philosophy. They inherited and developed different aspects of Xunzi's ideas. During the process they transformed the ideas of Xunzi and put forward many important values of modernity.