Hsun Tzu's Political Thoughts On Jun And Xiang

Hsun Tzu was a famous Confucian master living in late Warring State Period. He was familiar with both the tradition that Jun Zi playing a leading role in local politics during Spring and Autumn Period and the totalitarian politics which came into practice subsequently. This thesis tries to discuss how he could balance between different political models, so that the former tradition would maintain in the new environment as well as Jun Zi influence.On one hand, Hsun Tzu accepted the newly risen totalitarian politics, but on the other hand, he definitely underscored the function of Jun Zi class, which he assumed to grasp the main power and be responsible for the daily governance. As a result, Xiang, the highest position in Jun Zi class, filling with full expectations from Confucianism, became an important role in succeeding discussions.It was a great tradition that Confucianism focused on virtues and social responsibility of Jun Zi class, and Hsun Tzu was no exception. But social environment had hugely changed since the start of Warring State Period, the former political discourses upon Jun Zi class, especially represented in the Confucian Analects, were no longer fully effective in the new era. This article tries to compare relative arguments upon Jun Zi class between Hsun Tzu and early Confucianism, discovering Hsun Tzu's inheritance and innovation, and pay much attention to analyze the relationship between Jun and Xiang in the new political structure, which constitutes the main body of this dissertation.Furthermore, Hsun Tzu developed some crucial issues upon how political power should be inherited, attributed and transmitted. These points of views not only relate to the fundamental concepts of politics but also make great contributions in establishing the public aspects of Confucian politics. In the last episode, the writer explores the origins of cultural resources, upon which a better understanding of Jun Zi class can be achieved. Thanks to these analytical efforts, the author can revaluate Hsun Tzu's political thoughts at the end of this paper.