Study On Xunzi’s Thought Of Happiness

As the purpose of human existence and the most universal human pursuit of value,happiness is a topic widely studied by academia and discussed by people.What is happiness after all? How to get happiness?How to ensure the unification of morality and happiness ? Since the birth of philosophy,these problems have confused the ancient and modern philosophers at home and abroad.At the same time,these problems are related to the social politics,ethics,values and ideals of human beings,and even to the survival and life of everyone.The concept of "happiness" is derived from the West.In Chinese philosophy,the words "le" and "fu" express similar meanings.The pre-Qin Confucianism has unique thinking on the problem of happiness.The pre-Qin Confucianism before Xunzi pays more attention to the virtuous happiness,represented by "the happiness of Confucius and Yan Hui" and "the three kinds of of the gentleman".Although Xunzi is the successor of Confucius and Mencius thought,he paid more attention to the utilitarian happiness of practical fame and wealth.while He still continued the traditional concepts of Pre-Qin Confucianism,emphasized the happiness of virtue and morality.He also offered the happiness of the whole situation involving the peace and no-calamity.On the way for getting happiness,external politics of the holy king for happiness and internal personal action of moral cultivation,knowing of "Tao" in the Xunzi’s thought to achieve the integration of ideal society and personal happiness.The politics of the holy king made people satisfied with their social life by attaching importance to code and music,making people have their livelihood by implementing measures to enrich the people,and making people in their proper positions by matching their ability and morality with their status,thus shaping the ideal society full of happiness in Xunzi’s mind.On the individual level,Xunzi thought that people adapt to the social life by learning and mastering the ritual system,come true the personality of the gentleman by the cultivation of morality and accumulation of good deeds and reach the realm of the sage by removing doubts and knowing the "Tao",thus achieving the happiness of existence.The integration of social politics level and individual moral practice level enables the more realistic way for getting happiness.Xunzi formed a relatively complete thought of happiness with his unique understanding of the relationship between heaven and man,human nature and social politics,and people’s position as the subject of creating happiness and sharing happiness can be shown,as well as the subject ability of knowing and being able to show,thus getting rid of the reality dilemma for the disunion of morality and happiness with Confucianism in pre-Qin dynasty.To realize the unification of morality and happiness without the guarantee of providence are ascribed to personnel.Xunzi’s thought of happiness focuses on the construction of an ideal society and individual’s ideal state of existence.It is close to reality and practical for person.It is unique in the thought of happiness in the pre-Qin Confucianism,and it is unique wisdom in today when people’s survival and social life are increasingly integrated.