From “The Combination Of Humanity Artificialness” To “Becoming A Sage”:Probe Into Hsun Tzu's Theory Of Human Nature

Since the Western Zhou Dynasty,people have begun focusing on human nature but a complete set of theories has not been formed.During the Spring and Autumn Period,while proposing the view of human nature that “their natures are much the same but ways are different”,Confucius discovered the influence of the acquired social environment on human nature but did not dig deeply into the characteristics of human nature.Kao-tzu believed that “inborn qualities are called nature”,namely,human nature is the physiological instinct of human beings,and there is no good or evil.Advocating the Theory of Original Goodness of Human Nature,Mencius believed that human nature possesses “the goodness” by birth and pointed out that the purpose of accepting moral education is to maintain the “goodness” in human nature.Advocating the Theory of Original Evil of Human Nature,Hsun Tzu believed that human nature possesses “desire”,and if we do not guide and regulate this “desire”,the human nature will tend to be “evil”.Moreover,some scholars also believe that Hsun Tzu was a person believing in the Theory of Original Simplicity of Human Nature,and the nature mentioned by Hsun Tzu is generated naturally and not cut and polished by acquired cultivation,therefore,he said,“human nature is the original simplicity”.Hsun Tzu attached great importance to the effect of acquired education on human nature turning toward “good” and put forward the Theory of Transformation of Human Nature of “Change Human nature then Rise Themoral Acquired”.This paper explores and analyzes Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature from the criticism and inheritance of Hsun Tzu toward the Theory of Human Nature during the pre-Qin period,the connotation of Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature,the theoretical goal of Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature,and the influence of Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature on later generations.The first part is the criticism and inheritance of Hsun Tzu toward the Theory of Human Nature during the pre-Qin period.Hsun Tzu inherited Confucius' s thought of “propriety” and divided the order of social hierarchy by “propriety”.Hsun Tzucriticized Mencius' Theory of “Original Evil of Human Nature” from “human nature” and “morals”.In addition,In Feishierzi and Revealing,Hsun Tzu criticized the “Indulgence of Human Nature” of Ta Xiao and Wei Mou,“Restraint of Human Nature” of Chen Zhong and Shi Qiu,“Loving People all over the World regardless of Class” of Mohist School,“blinded by the desire,people are greedy” of the School of Logicians,“stoop to comprise without striving to be better” of Lao-tze,“blinded by the happiness beyond the world,people do not know the reality of the world” of Chuang-Hsun Tzu,and inherited the Theory of inborn qualities are called nature of Kao-Hsun Tzu.The second part is the basic connotation of Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature,namely,the divides of nature and morals.The theoretical beginning of philosophers in ancient China often started from the relationship between heaven and man.Advocating the view of “the separation of heaven and man”,Hsun Tzu proposed the facts to prove it.There are laws of nature and human,which means that people can understand the laws of nature and play a subjective initiative to transform nature.Subsequently,Hsun Tzu stipulated the two concepts of “nature” and “morals”,among them,the nature has the meaning of the simple nature of “Original Simplicity” and theacquired nature of “Original Evil”;“morals” is acquired cultivation,and “goodness” of human nature is not out of "nature" but “morals”;the way to obtain “goodness” is Change Human nature then Rise Themoral Acquired.The third part is the theoretical goal of Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature.The ultimate goal of Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature is to guide people to be good and become a sage.Hsun Tzu believed that the premise of becoming a sage lies in people's willpower and mind that can distinguish right from wrong and guide people to be good.In addition,Hsun Tzu stipulated that “ritual and music education” is the content of “morals”,and “rites” differentiate the order of social hierarchy;“music” influences people's feelings imperceptibly.The reason why sages can be sages is that sages overcome the “desire” of human nature through ritual and music education and moralization.Finally,Hsun Tzu observed the importance of “accumulation” in the process of “growing”,and moral cultivation can not becompleted overnight but depends on persistent accumulation.The fourth part is the profound impact and value of times of Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature.Hsun Tzu's Theory of Original Evil of Human Nature had a profound influence on later generations.Han Feizi observed the side of preferring benefits in human nature.Dong Zhongshu,Wang Chong and Han Yu believed the “three grades of human nature”,namely,human nature is divided into three grades,and neither the best nor the evillest could change it except that neutral human nature can be transformed;Zhang Zai,Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi believed the“duality of the nature”,namely,the nature of ultimate goodness and the acquired “temperament” of goodness and evil.Based on Hsun Tzu's Theory of Original Evil of Human Nature,later philosophers have a new way to think about human nature.Hsun Tzu's Theory of Human Nature was of referential significance for modern society.Hsun Tzu observed the value of human beings and paid attention to the subjective initiative of human beings to solve problems.At the same time,he affirmed the role of acquired effort and social environment in the transformation of human nature,which revealed that the benevolence and welldoing shall be conducted unceasingly in the aspect of the personal moral cultivation,and the cultivation of goodhabits shall be paid attention to;the correct value shall be set up and the role of acquired environment shall be attached importance to.