Changes

*''Born: 300 BCE''

*''Born: c. 312-300 BCE''

*''Died: 237 BCE''

*''Died: c. 237-220 BCE''

Xunxi was a [[Confucianism|Confucian]] philosopher of the [[Warring States period]].

Xunzi, also known as Xun Kuang, was a [[Confucianism|Confucian]] philosopher of the [[Warring States period]].

In contrast to his rough contemporary [[Mencius]] (370-290 BCE), who argued that human nature was inherently good, Xunxi purported that human desires and emotions, if left unchecked, would lead to societal conflict. He felt that education was aimed at teaching etiquette and morality, in order to help check these natural desires, selfishness, and unruliness, and advocated systems of punishment and reward to help shape people's actions.

Originally from the [[State of Zhao]], Xunzi had more success than most of China's other greatest philosophers at being hired as a court advisor or teacher. He taught at the Jixia Academy in the [[State of Qi]] for a time before political reasons forced him to leave; he was then appointed to an official position in the [[State of Chu]].

Xunxi also purported that the will of Heaven was impartial and amoral, and indifferent to whether temporal rulers were benevolent or tyrannical. This notion is in stark contrast to Mencius' idea of a moral will of Heaven that enforced benevolence, and a [[Mandate of Heaven]], a divine legitimacy, which could be 'lost' by tyrannical rulers.

In contrast to his rough contemporary [[Mencius]] (370-290 BCE), who argued that human nature was inherently good, Xunzi purported that human desires and emotions, if left unchecked, would lead to societal conflict. He felt that education was aimed at teaching etiquette and morality, in order to help check these natural desires, selfishness, and unruliness, and advocated systems of punishment and reward to help shape people's actions. Xunzi also purported that the will of Heaven was impartial and amoral, and indifferent to whether temporal rulers were benevolent or tyrannical. This notion is in stark contrast to Mencius' idea of a moral will of Heaven that enforced benevolence, and a [[Mandate of Heaven]], a divine legitimacy, which could be 'lost' by tyrannical rulers.

 

Xunzi's students included [[Li Si]] and [[Han Feizi]], two of the most prominent officials & thinkers of the [[Qin Dynasty]].

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==References==

==References==

*Albert Craig, ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 19.

*Albert Craig, ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 19.

[[Category:Scholars and Philosophers]]

[[Category:Scholars and Philosophers]]

[[Category:Yayoi Period]]

[[Category:Yayoi Period]]