Xunzi’s Self-cultivation Thought And Its Contemporary Value

Self cultivation is an important way to improve national quality.In the new era,the people’s need for social civilization has increased significantly,and people are increasingly looking forward to a new height of personal morality and social morality.The long-standing and profound cultivation ideology can provide cultural nourishment for the improvement of national literacy,the cultivation of new styles and features of the times,and the construction of a socialist cultural power.Based on the concepts of "tian","man","xing","wei" and "goodness",Xunzi put forward a systematic and complete thought of self-cultivation.Specifically,starting from the experience world,on the one hand,Xunzi put forward the thought of "the distinction between tian and man",confirmed that man has independence,liberated man from the bondage of"respecting tian" and "fearing tian",made man an independent subject of self-cultivation,and broke the ideological barrier for man’s self-cultivation activities.On the other hand,Xunzi put forward "evil xing",pointing out that the "xing" of everyone is inclined to "evil",and the acquisition of "goodness" lies not in "xing" but in "wei".Only by changing "xing" into "wei"can the "xing" of sensibility be transformed into the "morality" of rationality."The distinction between tian and man" and "human xing is evil" became the theoretical basis of Xunzi’s self-cultivation thought.The equality of human xing makes it possible for the general public to cultivate their morality.Xunzi pointed out that both "saints" and "ordinary people" have the same innate qualification,xing,wisdom and talent,and the ordinary people also have the physiological conditions for self-cultivation,so ordinary people can cultivate themselves into saints.Accumulating kindness makes self-cultivation practicable.Positive action can make the behavior subject eliminate evil and preserve goodness,but the acquisition of this "goodness"is temporary and external.Only by "accumulating wei" can we continuously internalize moral rationality and make "virtue" lie in the subject."Accumulating wei" means "accumulating goodness".Only "accumulating goodness" can continuously improve people’s moral life.Due to "human xing is evil",the moral cultivation of the behavior subject can not be completed consciously.It needs the standardization of "Li" and the accumulation of "learning",which has achieved the road of external cultivation.In the specific self-cultivation activities,"breaking the cover of thinking","knowing glory and shame","moral practice" and"cultivating morality through music" are the specific methods of self-cultivation.The ultimate goal of self-cultivation involves cultivating an ideal personality,realizing the transformation of the people into customs,and practicing good governance.The unique ideological approach makes Xunzi’s thought of self cultivation unique.In the comparative study of Confucianism,Mohism,Taoism,and Legalism,Xunzi’s thought of cultivating one’s moral character presents many characteristics,such as external cultivation,benefiting the world,pursuing both utilitarianism and morality,and laying equal emphasis on cultivating one’s moral character and strengthening one’s country.These unique features have a deep connection with the needs of cultural development and education in the new era.To deeply explore Xunzi’s cultivation thought and elucidate its contemporary value,in order to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Xunzi’s cultivation thought,it is necessary to base ourselves on contemporary moral construction,inherit excellent traditional Chinese culture,and endow Xunzi’s cultivation thought with new era content.In the aspect of personal civilization improvement,Xunzi’s thoughts of"xu" "yi" "jing",guiding emotion with music,cultivating heart with sincerity,and practice etiquette and righteousness can provide methods and reference for the acquisition of moral knowledge,moral emotion,moral will,and moral behavior,promote the behavior subject to make correct value choices,and promote the cultivation and practice of civilization;In terms of improving the level of social civilization,promote the deep integration of Xunzi’s cultivation thoughts and life,interact with education,effectively connect with the construction of family,party,and social ethos,and cultivate the new style and appearance of the times;In terms of fulfilling the great responsibility of rejuvenation,elucidating the contemporary value of Xunzi’s self-cultivation ideology helps to cultivate a sense of patriotism,adhere to the principle of helping the world at the same time,and continue to deeply practice it.