Discourse on Ritual

荀子Bashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.7

Word count: 5.1K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Whence do the rites arise? It is said: People are born with desires, and when desires are not satisfied, they cannot but seek; when seeking lacks measure and boundaries, they cannot but struggle; struggle leads to disorder, and disorder leads to exhaustion. The former kings hated this disorder, and so established ritual and righteousness to make distinctions, to nourish people’s desires and supply their seeking, so that desires would never exhaust things and things would never be exhausted by desires; the two support each other and grow together—this is whence the rites arise. Therefore the rites are nourishment. Grass-fed and grain-fed animals, rice and millet, with the five flavors blended and fragrant, serve to nourish the mouth; pepper and orchid, fragrant and sweet-smelling, serve to nourish the nose; carving, engraving, embroidered patterns, and ornamental designs serve to nourish the eye; bells and drums, pipes and chimes, qin and se, yu and sheng, serve to nourish the ear; spacious rooms, mats, fine seating, beds, and tables serve to nourish the body.

Editor's review

“A Discussion of the Rites” is the chapter in the Xunzi that focuses on the origin and function of ritual. It opens from the premise that “people are born with desires,” pointing out that boundless desire leads to struggle, struggle to disorder, and that the former kings established ritual and righteousness to make distinctions, so that things and desires “support each other and grow together.” This argument pulls ritual back from external norms to human existential needs, stressing that “the rites are nourishment,” and unfolds layer by layer: grass-fed and grain-fed animals, rice and millet nourish the mouth; pepper and orchid nourish the nose; carving and ornamental patterns nourish the eye; bells, drums, qin, and se nourish the ear; spacious rooms and fine seating nourish the body, forming a highly persuasive structure. Its strength lies in explaining the necessity of ritual from an empirical and social perspective rather than appealing to heaven’s mandate or mysterious authority. This Ba Shu Press edition allows readers direct access to the original text. When reading, one may focus on the two key terms “nourishment” and “distinction”: ritual both satisfies desire and sets limits, and the tension between the two is the core of Xunzi’s discussion of ritual. It is suitable for close reading by those interested in intellectual history, ethics, and pre-Qin philosophy.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students and researchers of pre-Qin philosophy and Chinese intellectual history
Readers interested in Xunzi’s theory of ritual, human nature, and order
Students of literature and history who need to study the original classical text
General readers who wish to understand Confucian social thought from the perspective of ritual

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light introductory works or vernacular stories
Readers impatient with classical Chinese texts and philosophical argumentation

Reading tips

First grasp the argumentative chain of “desire—seeking—struggle—disorder—exhaustion,” then return to the origin of ritual.
Highlight “the rites are nourishment” and the layers of nourishing the mouth, nose, eye, ear, and body.
Read alongside other chapters of the Xunzi to understand the relation between ritual and the theory that human nature is evil.
After reading, consider “distinction” and “nourishment” together, write down your questions, and then consult annotated editions.

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
礼论第十九

FAQ

What is the core view of “A Discussion of the Rites”?

Its core is to explain the origin of ritual from human desire: people are born with desires, and when desires are unsatisfied there is struggle; struggle leads to disorder, so the former kings established ritual and righteousness to draw boundaries, allowing desire and material goods to support each other. Xunzi thus proposes that “the rites are nourishment,” emphasizing that ritual is both a norm and an accommodation of human needs.

Can one read this chapter directly without having read the whole Xunzi?

Yes. The argument in this chapter is relatively complete, posing the question at the outset and unfolding it layer by layer, so it is not very difficult to read on its own. But if one understands Xunzi’s basic positions on human nature and the distinction between heaven and humanity, it is easier to grasp the place of the theory of ritual in his thought; using a reliable annotated edition is recommended.

What level of classical Chinese is needed to read this chapter?

Basic reading ability in classical Chinese is enough; the sentences are mostly questions and answers and parallel constructions, with clear layers. Individual terms for objects, such as “fufu” and “guanqing,” can be resolved with annotations. If one’s classical Chinese is weak, a modern annotated and translated edition should be used alongside, first clarifying the meaning and then appreciating the argument.

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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.