Xunzi (ebook)

Argumento de Xunzi (ebook)

This is the first complete, one-volume English translation of the ancient Chinese text Xunzi, one of the most extensive, sophisticated, and elegant works in the tradition of Confucian thought. Through essays, poetry, dialogues, and anecdotes, the Xunzi presents a more systematic vision of the Confucian ideal than the fragmented sayings of Confucius and Mencius, articulating a Confucian perspective on ethics, politics, warfare, language, psychology, human nature, ritual, and music, among other topics. Aimed at general readers and students of Chinese thought, Eric Hutton's translation makes the full text of this important work more accessible in English than ever before.

Named for its purported author, the Xunzi (literally, "Master Xun") has long been neglected compared to works such as the Analects of Confucius and the Mencius. Yet interest in the Xunzi has grown in recent decades, and the text presents a much more systematic vision of the Confucian ideal than the fragmented sayings of Confucius and Mencius. In one famous, explicit contrast to them, the Xunzi argues that human nature is bad. However, it also allows that people can become good through rituals and institutions established by earlier sages. Indeed, the main purpose of the Xunzi is to urge people to become as good as possible, both for their own sakes and for the sake of peace and order in the world.

In this edition, key terms are consistently translated to aid understanding and line numbers are provided for easy reference. Other features include a concise introduction, a timeline of early Chinese history, a list of important names and terms, cross-references, brief explanatory notes, a bibliography, and an index.

"The Xunzi is a masterwork of Confucian philosophy, and there is no one in the Anglophone world with Eric Hutton's combination of insight into its ideas and scrupulous attention to its text. He has produced an accessible and authoritative translation that will be our standard for years to come."--Stephen C. Angle, Wesleyan University

"An outstanding translation of the complete text of the Xunzi. Eric Hutton has succeeded in providing a translation that is both philosophically precise and highly readable. This will help introduce one of the most important philosophical texts from early China to a larger audience."--Michael Puett, Harvard University

"The time has come for a new, full translation of the Xunzi, and Eric Hutton’s fine work is a dramatic improvement from previous versions--in terms of accuracy, philosophical precision, economy, and readability. Hutton’s translation will become the new standard."--Aaron Stalnaker, Indiana University

"Eric Hutton has produced an elegant, accessible, and accurate translation of this important Confucian work. Hutton’s translation is more precise philosophically and more readable than previous versions. In addition to being an important work of scholarship, this edition will be invaluable for nonspecialists with an interest in Chinese thought."--Bryan W. Van Norden, Vassar College

"Hutton’s is the rare translation that balances technical accuracy with ordinary English, and readers from both philosophy and Chinese studies will appreciate it."--Mark Csikszentmihalyi, University of California, Berkeley

"Eric Hutton’s new translation of this rich and multifaceted text is . . . a truly valuable gateway for introducing newcomers in the field of Chinese and comparative philosophy, as well as more advanced students and scholars, to the philosophy of Xunzi."--Ori Tavor, Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy

Eric L. Hutton is associate professor of philosophy at the University of Utah.

"This is a long-awaited translation, and I envisage that it will become a standard of scholarship and an invaluable source to which both specialists and non-specialists will be indebted."--Winnie Sung, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews0Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
A Traditional Timeline of Early Chinese History xxxi
Chapter 1: An Exhortation to Learning 1
Chapter 2: Cultivating Oneself 9
Chapter 3: Nothing Improper 16
Chapter 4: On Honor and Disgrace 23
Chapter 5: Against Physiognomy 32
Chapter 6: Against the Twelve Masters 40
Chapter 7: On Confucius 47
Chapter 8: The Achievements of the Ru 52
Chapter 9: The Rule of a True King 68
Chapter 10: Enriching the State 83
Chapter 11: The True King and the Hegemon 99
Chapter 12: The Way to Be a Lord 117
Chapter 13: The Way to Be a Minister 133
Chapter 14: On Attracting Men of Worth 141
Chapter 15: A Debate on Military Affairs 145
Chapter 16: The Strong State 163
Chapter 17: Discourse on Heaven 175
Chapter 18: Correct Judgments 183
Chapter 19: Discourse on Ritual 201
Chapter 20: Discourse on Music 218
Chapter 21: Undoing Fixation 224
Chapter 22: Correct Naming 236
Chapter 23: Human Nature Is Bad 248
Chapter 24: The Gentleman 258
Chapter 25: Working Songs 262
Chapter 26: Fu 277
Chapter 27: The Grand Digest 288
Chapter 28: The Right-Hand Vessel 318
Chapter 29: The Way to Be a Son 325
Chapter 30: The Proper Model and Proper Conduct 330
Chapter 31: Duke Ai 333
Chapter 32: Yao Asked 339
Appendix 1: Important Terms and Names 344
Appendix 2: Cross-Reference List 347
Textual Notes 359
Bibliography 385
Index 387