Xunzili Studies

"The rites" is the core category of the Hsun-Tzu’s ideology. And the doctrine of the rites is a mainstay of Hsun-Tzu’s theory. Hsun-Tzu built the doctrine of rites on the ideological trend of pre-Qin."The rites" originated from the ceremonies of mourning and sacrifice in ancient time. Time is up to the Western Zhou Dynasty, Duke of Chou found the system of rites and music. However, it collapsed with the regime of Zhou Dynasty. Confucius tried his best to introduced the human-heartedness into the rites, and enrich its content. Hsun-Tzu imposed himself as the legitimacy of Confucianist, so he learned widely from the hundred schools’strong point, and carried forward the Confucianism.The thesis regards the rites as the leading factor. Respectively explain three problem as follows, the genesis of rites, the contents of rites and the effect of rites. From the point of Hsun-Tzu, the rites originated form the nature evil. At the same time, it was accompanied by the socialization of human being. Therefore, the rites is not only a guide to human nature, but also the social regulation. As the ultimate principle, the rites can distinguish the lineal school from inside Confucianism. And it can clear all the heterodox, then restore the Confucianism of the domination position.The doctrine of rites belonged to Hsun-Tzu has had a significant impact on the later generations. In the academic, it expanded the direction of developing for the Confucianism. Company with Mencius, Hsun-Tzu boosted the Confucianism forward by the rites. To the thought of Hsun-Tzu, it formed the principal framework. Furthermore, it had influenced on the Confucianism of Han Dynasty and the Neo-Confucianism. In politics, it helped the Qin Dynasty unite the kingdom by Han Fei Tzu and Li Ssu, and bred the feudal society of Absolute Monarchy.Chinese nation have the good reputation on the rites. So we are honored as "State of Ceremony". Discussion of the rites of Hsun-Tzu could deepen our understanding of the Chinese traditional culture.