Editing Xunzi (philosopher) (section)

===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}}