On the Practice of Law

荀子Bashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

3.8

Word count: 787 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

(Term) One of the two types of practitioners. One who contemplates and acts according to the Dharma is called a Dharma-practitioner. The Xuanyi, chapter ten, says: "The teaching gateway is for the practitioner of faith; the contemplative gateway is for the practitioner of Dharma."

Editor's review

"Faxing" takes a text related to Xunzi's thought as its subject, offering a concise, tightly focused entry point for understanding the relationship between "law" and "conduct" in Xunzian thought. The discussion does not remain at abstract nomenclature but links external standards with human practice, presenting a serious Confucian reflection on order, norms, and self-cultivation. Compared with purely doctrinal works, this book better helps readers see how pre-Qin thought moves from concept to practice. The Bashu Press collated edition is convenient for classroom excerpts, reading-group discussion, and personal annotated close reading. Readers should grasp two levels: the text's own line of questioning, and the place of Xunzi's thought in pre-Qin scholarship. Do not read it as a modern manual of behavioral norms; attend instead to its argumentative style and its background in self-cultivation theory.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature and history students studying Xunzi's thought and pre-Qin Confucianism
Chinese philosophy enthusiasts interested in law, conduct, and self-cultivation
Discussion leaders who need to guide reading groups on pre-Qin texts
Designers of classical Chinese extension reading for secondary schools

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking modern psychological-style behavioral guidance
Readers entirely unwilling to engage with classical Chinese texts and intellectual history

Reading tips

First clarify what "law" and "conduct" specifically refer to in this chapter, then distinguish them from Legalist usage.
After each paragraph, summarize the argument in one sentence and mark the examples or reasoning that support it.
Read alongside other chapters of the Xunzi to observe how self-cultivation theory and order theory support each other.
After reading, write a short review explaining what this chapter adds to the overall picture of Xunzian thought.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
法行第三十

FAQ

Is "law" in "Faxing" the same as modern law?

Not simply. The "law" discussed here leans more toward standards, norms, and emulation, and must be understood within Xunzi's thought and the pre-Qin context; modern legal concepts should not be applied directly.

Do I need to read the whole Xunzi before reading "Faxing"?

Not necessarily. You can read this chapter first to establish the problem awareness, then return to relevant chapters of the Xunzi for background. If time is limited, at least understand Xunzi's basic views on self-cultivation and order.

Is this book suitable for classroom excerpt materials?

Yes. The chapter is relatively focused, making it easy for teachers to excerpt and design questions. Use annotations and intellectual-history background in teaching, avoiding mere word-by-word exposition that neglects the argument's thread.

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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.