On Xunzi's Theory About Ming

During the pre-Qin period,except for the School of Ming and Mohist School,the most important figure in the study of the theory of Ming was Xunzi.He lived at the end of the Warring States period,the various kinds of Mingbian theories had already been appeared before,so Xunzi was able to adopt other scholars' ideas,and it is more important for him to get more great achievements.Xunzi expounds five basic dimensions of Ming: the definition of Ming,the cognitive process of producing Ming,the classify of Ming,the function of Ming,and the basic principles and methods of creating Ming.Further more,he also discussed the relation of Ming,Ci and Shuo.What Xunzi's study about Ming is more glorious than that of other scholars,and it push the career of researching the theory of Ming to a new stage.Xunzi also study the fallacy theory about Ming,and draw some important conculsions about how to use Ming correctly.Xunzi's fallacy theory about Ming presents the state of fallacy study pre-Qin,especially the theory of 3 situations about using Ming incorrectly,that is confusing Ming with Ming,confusing Ming with Shi,and confusing Shi with Ming.One import fact leading Xunzi's theory about Ming was what other scholars had already researched earlier.His theory about Ming has the obvious personality comparing that of other scholars at the same time though it has close relation with the theories about Ming of other scholars.There are two main perspectives about the study the theory of Ming from the modern time,they are analyzing from the viewpoint of the Western Logic and that of Semiology.These two different ways of study are helpful for us to analyse the theory about Ming presented by Xunzi.Xunzi's theory about Ming was produced in the history of the pre-Qin.Ming talked about by Xunzi not only has the propery of symbol,but also that of concept.The 2 kinds of properties co-existed here.Analysing on the base of historical back ground and explaining from the viewpoint of culture are the right choice for us to understand what talked about Ming by Xunzi.In some way,Ming talked about by Xunzi has 2 different dimensions of symbol(term)and concept,but that is not all.