Editing Xunzi (philosopher) (section)

===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}}