The Modern Interpretation Of Xunzi's Ethics Theory From Life Education Perspective

Xunzi, as a great confucian in pre-qin period, is an important member in the development of confucianism and it is worthwhile to explore and study the ideas which can be combined with contemporary Chinese life education from Xunzi's thought. At present, the research on life education resources which explored from Xunzi's ethical thought is deficient and needed to be expanded. Studying Xunzi's ethical thought from life education perspective is of great importance, on one hand, it can provide resources to life education from Chinese traditional culture, on the other hand, it also can provide a new interpretation path of Xunzi's ethical thought and show the value during new times.Guiding the educatees to think about life in a way that life is developing but not solidified is the foundation of life education, In this respect, Xunzi's theory of human nature can provide some inspiration to the contemporary life education. Xunzi's judgment that human nature is evil reflects the human's natural weakness, and the judgment that men's good is acquired illustrates the life attitude that people ackowledge their own shortcomings and pursue perfect life on their own initiative. At the same time, Xunzi proposed approaches for human to improve themselves through "learning" and "to be close to teacher and friends". This idea could help people take a rational and peaceful attitude towards life setbacks and keep positive.Life education should face confusion of life directly, and many confusion in life come from the process that people deal with subject-object relationship. How to guide people to deal with subjec-object and group-individual relationship has become the core of life education. In this respect, Xunzi's idea can provide some references to life education. Xunzi correctly recognized the confliction between personal desire and reality, and then used righteousness to cushion contradiction from subjec-object relationship. Xunzi illustrated the concept of group and recognized the group as a place for people to settle down. Dealing with the relationship between group and individual helps people get developed and improved. At the same time, Xunzi cushioned the confliction by proposing good as a principle when people deal with the relationship between the group and individualThe end-result of life education is to let the educatees understand the value of life, so as to enhance the consciousness of preserving the physical life and promoting the spiritual life. In this respect, the ethical thoughts of Xunzi can also contribute to life education. Xunzi explored the natural value of life through the division between heaven and human. Then Xunzi analysised the relationship between ritual and righteousness,and thought that the key of spiritual value of life is to pursue the moral and free people from worldly, then ultimately transcend life and death. The viewpoints above can offer some wisdom to the contemporary life education...