Editing Xunzi (philosopher) (section)

===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}}