Study On Xunzi’s Theory Of Rites

Xunzi was a master of Confucianism in the pre Qin Dynasty.At the end of the Warring States period,the long-term annexation war between the vassals not only caused social unrest,but also made the unification of the world a historical trend.Xunzi,who had the ideal of kingly way,had a good understanding of the hundred schools of learning in his long-term study tour.After critically absorbing and sorting out the thoughts of various schools,he formed a harmonious ideological doctrine based on Confucianism and compatible with Taoism and Yinyang theory,the thought of” advocating rites and valuing laws" not only inherited Confucius’ thought of rites,but also strengthened the content of "laws" according to the actual needs of the Warring States period,which became the characteristics of Xunzi’s rites.At the same time,Xunzi also tried to find the transcendence and rationality basis for the study of rites from the viewpoint of heaven and the theory of human nature,taking heaven and earth as the basis for the emergence of rites,and taking the restriction and guidance of the trend of good and evil of human nature as the basis for the governance of rites.The theoretical thought formed from this system is complete and rich in content.the paper focuses on two aspects: firstly,the meaning and signs of Xunzi rites theory;and secondly,the role and efficacy of rites in individual,state and society.Restraint and respect are the fundamental meaning of rites.In the field of practice,the implementation of rites covers three levels: individual,state,and society.On the individual level,Xunzi emphasized to cultivate moral character through rites;on the national governance level,Xunzi advocated that” If rites and law are promoted,then the state will be governed in order”.On the social level,Xunzi advocated rites to glorify customs and to achieve the unification of the royal way.The 3 levels complement each other to realize the ideal on rites governance of kind folkway,national stability and social harmony.Xunzi’s rites theory inherited the spirit of Confucius rites theory that old rites might increase or decrease with time passing by.Even in the contemporary era,after the necessary transformation,it can still provide a useful reference for the construction of spiritual civilization and the reconstruction of China’s state of etiquette.