Xunzi "benevolence Gift" Thought

"Ren" and "Li", which contain long history and rich and profound ideological contents, are two central categories in Confucian school. From combing out their ideology, we will understand that the relationship between them can be called "Ren as the basic and Li as the use". These two categories exert important influences to the late generation. XunZi was one of the most important persons before Qin dynasty who absorbed different theories from other ideologists. Based on his humanity theory, he further discussed the thought of "Ren as the basic and Li as the use", which was very significant to carry on kingly way, implement benevolent moral and practice running states. Now, we should absorb its useful factor to construct harmonious socialist society.The first chapter introduces the ideological background of "Ren" and "Li" of XunZi. In the late ZhanGuo dynasty, the rite and the music were destroyed. In the academic atmosphere of JiXia palace, XunZi drew on and abandoned different ideology from other school, and then constructed his own theory. During constructing his ideological system, he elaborated "humanity" thoroughly. In fact,his "humanity" was natural, which couldn't be named honest or dishonest but would result in honest or dishonest. If the natural humanity didn't receive guidance, people would fight because of the expansion of human desire, so in order to reach the state of "Ren", people's behavior should be guided by "Li".The second part mainly elaborates the thought of "Ren" from XunZi. Absorbed the thought of "Ren" from the old generation of Confucian school, XunZi made "Yi" as the extension of "Ren". From self-cultivation, moral principle and method of running a state, XunZi discussed the ideology of "Ren". Through analyzing the thought of "Ren", we know "Ren" was used for moral, ethics, and political principle.The third chapter discusses the thought of "Li" from XunZi. Continuing and reforming the theory of "Li" from former people, XunZi first raised the concept of "Li and Fa", which is about using "Fa" to explain "Li". "Li" and "Fa" are the roads to fulfill "Ren". Through "Fa" to expand "Li", XunZi discussed the contents of "Li" from aspects which are the organic whole of god and people, moral principle, ethnic standard and political principle. "Li" was not only moral and behavioral cultivation, but also the social ethnic and political principle, which was very significant in the integration of moral and society.The fourth part of this thesis discusses "Ren as the basic" theory from "Ren first and Li next" and "Ren as the basic and Li as the end" these two aspects. Based on the former relationship between "Ren" and "Li", from personal moral cultivation, social ethnic principle and political thought these three aspects, XunZi explained the thought of "Li as the use". In XunZi's thought, "Ren" was interior and "Li" was exterior, "Ren" was center and "Li" was method. Moral, ethnic and politics mixed together and integrated under the thought "Ren as the basic and Li as the use". "Ren as the basic and Li as the use" was a realm and ideology to XunZi and even Confucian school. Through the practice of individual, society and politics, it put into the real life.The last chapter demonstrates the kingly way pursuit, social function and historical influence of the thought "Ren as the basic and Li as the use". The ideology "Ren as the basic and Li as the use" was the continuation and development to the political doctrine of Confucius and Mencius, which if put into the social practice, can have significant value to "run a state thought moral" and "run a state through law", and it also have guide meaning to construct harmonious socialist society and the world.