The Efficacy of the Confucians

荀子Nanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

4.5

Word count: 5K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Xunzi (c. 313 BCE–238 BCE), named Kuang, courtesy name Qing, of the Huaxia people (Han Chinese), was a native of the state of Zhao in the late Warring States period. A famous thinker, man of letters, and statesman, he was honored by his contemporaries as "Xun Qing". In the Western Han, to avoid the taboo on the personal name of Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Xun, and because the ancient sounds of "Xun" and "Sun" were close, he was also called Sun Qing. He served three times as libationer of the Jixia Academy in the state of Qi, and later as magistrate of Lanling in Chu (located in present-day Lanling County, Shandong).

Editor's review

"Ru Xiao" is an important chapter in the book Xunzi, focusing on the social role and political value of the ru (Confucian scholar), and answering the fundamental question of whether the ru are of no benefit to the state. In this chapter Xunzi distinguishes the vulgar ru, the refined ru, and the great ru, stressing that a true ru not only upholds ritual propriety and clarifies institutions but can also assist the ruler with moral principle and transform the people through custom, thereby demonstrating the practical utility of Confucianism in state governance. The famous passage in this chapter, "Not having heard is not as good as having heard; having heard is not as good as having seen; having seen is not as good as having understood; having understood is not as good as having put into practice", is widely circulated and embodies Xunzi's epistemological tendency to value experience and practice. This chapter is tightly argued and clearly structured, and is a key text for understanding Xunzi's thought and the pre-Qin Confucian view of the social function of Confucianism. This edition was launched by Nanhai Publishing House in 2024 and is suitable as selected reading or material for thematic study. When reading, it can be compared with chapters such as "Quan Xue" and "Wang Zhi" to grasp Xunzi's overall line of thought from learning to sagehood and from the ru to good governance.

Who it's for

A good fit for

professional readers in literature and history studying pre-Qin Confucianism, especially Xunzi's thought
students preparing to study the whole Xunzi who need close-reading material for individual chapters
enthusiasts of intellectual history interested in the question of the social role of the ru
learners of classical Chinese who need to build up familiarity with the argumentative structure of pre-Qin essays

Not a good fit for

complete beginners with no foundation in classical Chinese who want a full vernacular translation
readers who only want famous sayings from Xunzi without following the argument
readers expecting a modern political science or management how-to guide

Reading tips

First read through once to grasp the hierarchical division of "vulgar ru—refined ru—great ru", then go back and read closely the definitions and examples of each level.
Focus on copying out and understanding the passage "hearing is not as good as seeing, seeing is not as good as knowing, knowing is not as good as doing", and appreciate Xunzi's epistemological path that values practice.
Read alongside "Quan Xue" and "Wang Zhi" to trace Xunzi's chain of thought from individual self-cultivation to state governance.
After reading, try to sum up in one sentence this chapter's answer to "whether the ru are useful", to check whether you have grasped the main thesis.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
儒效第八

FAQ

How should the chapter title "Ru Xiao" be understood?

"Ru Xiao" means the utility or efficacy of the ru. This chapter aims to demonstrate the ru's practical role for the state and society, refute the doubt that "the ru are of no benefit to the state", and, by distinguishing ru of different levels, show that a true great ru can assist the ruler with moral principle and educate the people.

Into what categories does Xunzi divide the ru in this chapter?

Xunzi mainly distinguishes levels such as the vulgar ru, the refined ru, and the great ru. The vulgar ru cling to trivial ceremonial details without understanding the great principles; the refined ru uphold the law and understand ritual propriety but have limited capacity to adapt; the great ru comprehend moral principle and govern institutions and laws by ritual propriety, playing the greatest role in state governance and moral education. Understanding this stratification is key to grasping the whole chapter.

What does "knowing is not as good as doing" emphasize in this chapter?

This sentence emphasizes that practice is higher than mere cognition. Xunzi holds that hearing, seeing, and knowing advance level by level, but ultimately must come down to "doing" to be complete. This reflects his epistemological tendency to value experience and practice, and echoes his overall thought of "learning in order to apply it" and "transforming human nature and raising artifice".

Do I need to read other chapters of Xunzi before reading "Ru Xiao"?

You do not need to read the whole book first, but understanding the claim in "Quan Xue" that "learning makes one human" and the idea of governing by both ritual and law in "Wang Zhi" will help you understand this chapter's argument about the role of the ru. If you read only this chapter, simply grasp the distinction among the vulgar ru, refined ru, and great ru and the discussion of the relation between knowledge and action.

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About the author

荀子 Author

Xunzi is one of the representative figures of pre-Qin Confucianism and is generally known by the honorific name "Xunzi"; reliable public information about his real name, native place, and dates of birth and death is limited, making them difficult to verify. The library holds 24 of his works, with representative titles including Xunzi, Fei Shi Er Zi (Against the Twelve Masters), Quan Xue (Encouraging Learning), Fu Guo (Enriching the State), Li Lun (A Discussion of Rites), Xunzi (Fine Public Domain Edition), Jie Bi (Dispelling Blindness), and Tian Lun (A Discussion of Heaven). In terms of subject matter, these pieces span philosophical argument, discussion of ritual institutions, and prose miscellanies. They offer systematic reflection on human nature, Heaven and the Way, and problems of knowledge, while also displaying a rhetorical style that advances step by step and persuasively employs analogies, often using everyday examples to illuminate abstract ideas. His works circulate widely in the categories of Eastern philosophy and philosophical reading, and have had a lasting influence on later Confucian thought and argumentative prose writing.