Editing Xunzi (philosopher) (section)

==Life and career==
===Youth and time in Qi (c. 310–284)===
[[File:EN-WarringStatesAll260BCE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Map of China during the [[Warring States period]], 260 BCE]]
Xunzi was born as Xun Kuang ({{lang|zh-Hant|{{linktext|荀|況}}}}), probably around 310 BCE but certainly before 279 BCE.{{sfn|Goldin|1999|p=xiii}} In his time, he was probably known as Xun Qing ({{lang|zh-Hant|{{linktext|荀|卿}}}}), meaning 'Minister Xun',{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=3}} or 'Chamberlain Xun', after his later position.{{sfn|Goldin|1999|pp=xiii–xiv}} Some texts give his surname as [[Sun (surname)|Sun]] (孫) instead of [[Xun (surname)|Xun]], though this may have been to avoid [[naming taboo]] during the reign of [[Emperor Xuan of Han]] (73–48 BCE), whose given name was Xun.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|pp=233, 239}}{{efn|There remains much uncertainty around the reason for variations on Xunzi's surname. See {{harvnb|Knoblock|1988|pp=233–239}} for a detailed overview and other possible explanations.}} He is best known by his honorary title Xunzi ({{lang|zh-Hant|{{linktext|荀|子}}}}) translated to 'Master Xun', with ''[[Zi (title)|zi]]'' being a common [[epithet]] for important philosophers.{{sfn|''Britannica''|2017|loc=§ para. 2}} His birthplace was [[Zhao (state)|Zhao]], a state in the modern-day [[Shanxi]] Province of north-central China.{{sfn|''Britannica''|2017|loc=§ para. 2}} It is possible Xunzi was descended from the Xun family, an elite clan that had diminished following the [[Partition of Jin]], though this is only speculation.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|pp=3–4}} The [[Eastern Han dynasty]] historian [[Ying Shao]] records that in his youth Xunzi was a "flowering talent" in matters of scholarship and academics.{{sfn|Knoblock|1982–1983|p=30}} Essentially nothing else is known of Xunzi's background or upbringing, and thus any attempts to connect his philosophy with either topic are futile.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=4}}

Sometime between age 13 and 15 (297 and 295 BCE), Xunzi traveled to the north eastern state of [[Qi (state)|Qi]].{{sfn|Goldin|1999|p=xiii}}{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=4}}{{efn|Unlike the accounts of [[Sima Qian]] and [[Liu Xiang (scholar)|Liu Xiang]], the record from [[Ying Shao]] states that Xunzi was 48 to 50 when he traveled to [[Qi (state)|Qi]].{{sfn|Goldin|2018|loc=§1 "Xunzi and ''Xunzi''"}}{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=256}} Most scholars disregard this account.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=256}} See {{harvnb|Knoblock|1982–1983|pp=33–34}} for further information on this matter}} There he attended the [[Jixia Academy]], which was the most important philosophical center in Ancient China, established by [[King Xuan of Qi|King Xuan]].{{sfn|Knoblock|1982–1983|pp=30–31}} At the academy, Xunzi would have learned about all the major philosophical schools of his time,{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=4}} and been in the presence of scholars such as [[Zou Yan]], Tian Pian, and [[Chunyu Kun]].{{sfn|Knoblock|1982–1983|p=30}} Xunzi would have learned the art of ''shuo'' ({{lang|zh-Hant|{{linktext|說}}}}), a formal argument of persuasion that philosophical authorities of the time used to advise rulers.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=4}} After his academy study, Xunzi unsuccessfully attempted to persuade [[Lord Mengchang]] against continuing the extreme policies of Qi, though the historicity of this event is not certain.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|pp=4–5}} After the exchange, which is later recounted in his writings, Xunzi likely left Qi between 286 and 284 BCE.{{sfn|Knoblock|1982–1983|p=34}}

===Stay in Chu and return to Qi (c. 283–265)===
Xunzi traveled to the southern [[Chu (state)|state of Chu]] by 283 BCE,{{sfn|Knoblock|1982–1983|p=34}} where he probably became acquainted with the nascent forms of the ''[[Fu (poetry)|fu]]'' poetry style, particularly because of the poet's [[Qu Yuan]] residency there.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=7}} Xunzi achieved considerable skill in the art, and his now-lost book of poems was well-regarded for many centuries.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=7}} Chu was under especially frequent attacks from the [[Qin (state)|Qin state]], events which Xunzi would later recount in a conversation with Li Si.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=7}} The solidity of Chu decreased so rapidly that Xunzi left around 275 BCE, returning to the more stable Qi state.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=8}} He was warmly welcomed back in Qi, and held in very high-regard as an intellectual.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=9}} The ''Shiji'' records that [[King Xiang of Qi]] had Xunzi sacrifice wine three times, a task that was reserved for the most respected scholar available.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=11}} The eminence at which he was held suggests that Xunzi became the head of the Jixia Academy, but he is known to have taught there regardless.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=11}} It was at this time that Xunzi composed much of his most important philosophical works, namely the chapters "Of Honor and Disgrace", "Of Kings and the Lords-Protector", "Discourse on Nature", "Discourse on Music", and "Man's Nature is Evil".{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=11}}

In his time, Xunzi was called "the most revered of teachers" (''zui wei laoshi''; {{lang|zh-Hant|{{linktext|最|爲|老|師}}}}).{{sfn|Goldin|2018|loc=§1 "Xunzi and ''Xunzi''"}} His most famous pupils were [[Han Fei]] and [[Li Si]], each who would have important political and academic careers.{{sfn|Goldin|1999|p=xii}}{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=15}} Xunzi's association with Li Si, the future [[Grand chancellor (China)|Chancellor]] (or Prime Minister) of the [[Qin dynasty]] would later tarnish his reputation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Xunzi |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Xunzi/ |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=World History Encyclopedia |language=en}}</ref> Other students of his included {{ill|浮丘伯|zh|lt=Fuqiu Bo}}, [[Zhang Cang]] and {{ill|毛亨|zh|lt=Mao Heng}}, all of whom authored important editions and commentaries on the Confucian classics.{{sfn|Goldin|1999|p=xii}} The timeline for his academy teaching is unclear, though he seemed to have considered other posts after being [[Defamation|slandered]].{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=16}} He left Qi in around 265 BCE, around the time when [[Jian of Qi|King Jian]] succeeded Xiang.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=16}}

===Travels and later career (c. 265 – after 238)===
{{quote box|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|width=22em|align=right|quote=Xunzi notes that despite Qin's achievements, it is "filled with trepidation. Despite its complete and simultaneous possession of all these numerous attributes, if one weights Qin by the standard of the solid achievements of True Kingship, then the vast degree to which it fails to reach the ideal is manifest. Why is that? It is that it is dangerously lacking in Ru [Confucian] scholars"|source={{transliteration|zh|[[Xunzi (book)|Xunzi]]}}, chp. 16: "On Strengthening the State", 16.6{{sfn|''Xunzi'' in Knoblock|1990|p=247}}}}

Xunzi's writings suggest that after leaving Qi he visited Qin, possibly from 265 BCE to 260 BCE.{{sfn|Knoblock|1982–1983|p=34}}{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=17}} He aimed to convert the state's leaders to follow his philosophy of leadership, a task which proved difficult because of the strong hold that [[Shang Yang]]'s [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|Legalist]] sentiments had there.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=17}} In a conversation with the Qin official Fan Sui, Xunzi praised much of the state's achievements, officials and governmental organizations.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=20}} Still, Xunzi found issues with the state, primarily its lack of Confucian scholars and the fear it inspires, which Xunzi claimed would result in the surrounding states uniting up against.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|pp=20–21}} Xunzi then met with [[King Zhaoxiang of Qin|King Zhaoxiang]], arguing that Qin's lack of Confucian scholars and educational encouragement would be detrimental to the state's future.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|pp=20–21}} The king was unconvinced by Xunzi's persuasion, and did not offer him a post in his court.{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=22}}

In around 260 BCE, Xunzi returned to his native Zhao, where he debated military affairs with Lord Linwu ({{lang|zh-Hant|臨武君}}) in the court of [[King Xiaocheng of Zhao]].{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|p=24}} He remained in Zhao until {{circa|255}} BCE.{{sfn|Knoblock|1982–1983|p=34}}

In 240 BCE [[Lord Chunshen]], the prime minister of Chu, invited him to take a position as Magistrate of Lanling ({{lang|zh-Hant|蘭陵令}}), which he initially refused and then accepted. However, Lord Chunshen was assassinated In 238 BCE by a court rival and Xunzi subsequently lost his position. He retired, remained in Lanling, a region in what is today's southern [[Shandong]] province, for the rest of his life and was buried there. The year of his death is unknown, though if he lived to see the ministership of his student Li Si, as recounted, he would have lived into his nineties, dying shortly after 219 BCE.{{sfn|Knoblock|1982–1983|p=34}}{{sfn|Knoblock|1988|pp=31–35}}