The Research Of Some Controversial Words And Sentences In Xunzi

Xunzi is a classic work of Confucianism in the Warring States period.However,due to the different perspectives of cognition and understanding,scholars have some disputes about the understanding of some difficult words and sentences in Xunzi,which has caused problems for later generations to read and understand Xunzi.According to learning the notes of Xunzi,we find that most of the scholars in the past dynasties adopted the traditional exegesis methods,such as form,meaning and sound,but there were some problems in the practice of annotation,such as ignoring the historical principles of language and inferring the meaning of words by reason.We urgently need to correct the errors and correct everyone’s cognition.We select some difficult words and sentences in Xunzi as the research objects,and divide them into three categories: the textual research of doubtful meanings,dubious pauses of sentences,the textual research of derived words and the textual research of wrong forms.In the chapter of textual research of doubtful meanings,we research a total of 7cases.After the investigation,we can conclude that if “参” were used to be a numeral,it couldn’t add a verb to form a structure of adverbial modifier.“参”should be a verb and “参省” means “introspection”,instead of explaining“参” as “三”.The“说”of “辩而不说”means “explanation” instead of “be said”.Here,it emphasizes the difference between the two synonyms.“至忠为贼” is a passive sentence and “贼” is a verb.The meaning of “倾覆” in “倾覆人” varies depending on different objects it targets at.Here,it means “frame up”.The “谁”of “又谁为戒” is an object and it is prefixed here.“霍焉”describes a “quick look” rather than a “slack look”.The “振” of “若振槁然” has no meaning of"striking" or "pulling out" and it should be explained as “shake”.In the chapter of dubious pauses of sentences,four doubtful sentences are researched.The “三” of “如是,则齐必断而为四三” should combine with the previous sentence.Here,"four three" is used in conjunction with an estimate.The “周道” of “一家得周道” should combine with the previous sentence and the “举而用之” is a common sentence pattern in ancient Chinese.The “乐” of“意者其是邪” should combine with the previous sentence.“意者” is the initial word of a sentence,which triggers a sentence with the meaning of surmise.The“久”of “百里之地久” should combine with the previous sentence and it’s a subject-predicate structure.“中庸民” should be “中民” which means common people.The “修” of “修道而不贰” itself has the meaning of "follow" and it isn’t necessary to be changed as “循”.The “趋” of “趋越席” isn’t a surplus word.“越席” is a noun,which follows “趋” to form a verb-object construction.The“稽首” of “伊稽首” means a kind of respectful etiquette which isn’t necessary to be changed as “稽道”.