Xun Kuang

Xun Kuang
Portrait of Xun Zi
Born	c. 313 BC State of Zhao
Died	c. 238 BC (aged 74–75) State of Chu
Occupation	Philosopher
Opponent(s)	Mencius, Zisi

Xun Kuang ([ɕy̌n kʰwâŋ]; Chinese: 荀況; pinyin: Xún Kuàng, c. 310 – c. 235 BC, alt. c. 314 – c. 217 BC), also widely known as Xun Zi (Chinese: 荀子; pinyin: Xún Zǐ, "Master Xun"), was a Chinese Confucian philosopher who lived during the Warring States period and contributed to the Hundred Schools of Thought. A book known as the Xunzi is traditionally attributed to him. Xunzi's doctrines were influential in forming the official state doctrines of the Han dynasty, but his influence waned during the Tang dynasty relative to that of Mencius.

Xunzi witnessed the chaos surrounding the fall of the Zhou dynasty and rise of the Qin state – which upheld "legalistic" doctrines focusing on state control, by means of law and penalties. Unlike other Confucians, Xunzi allowed that penalties could play a legitimate, though secondary role in the state. Educated in the state of Qi, Xunzi taught proponents of legalism, including the Qin Chancellor Li Si and Han Fei, and is sometimes considered a precursor to Han Fei or a Legalist himself. In reality, there is little evident influence of Xunzi on Han Fei.

Like Shang Yang, Xunzi believed that humanity's inborn tendencies were evil and that ethical norms had been invented to rectify people. Xunzi's variety of Confucianism therefore has a darker, more pragmatic flavour than the optimistic Confucianism of Mencius, who tended to view humans as innately good. But like most Confucians, he believed that people could be refined through education and ritual, while "Legalist" theory tends to ignore this in favour of law.