The Three-fold Normative Implications of Xunzi's"Rites"
Xunzi's rites distanced themselves from the priori morality of early Confucianism and highlighted the group character of the objective reality of the society.The group is a fundamental attribute of Xunzi's rites.The basic content of rites also high-lights the group nature of rites.In Xunzi's chapter on the cultivation of one's moral character,it quotes,"Without rites a man cannot be born;Without rites a matter cannot be accomplished;Without rites a nation cannot be at peace."This is a comprehen-sive overview of the basic content and important role of the rites.For a person,Xunzi continues the moral restraint of rites,link-ing rites and law,strengthening the normative force of rites;For a matter,he linked rites and benevolence,encouraging the group to put human virtue into practice in their daily life and to actively remove the falsity in their nature.This combination of rules and virtue strengthens the normative significance of rites.For a state,rites are the foundation of the governance.Xunzi em-phasizes"differentiation"in governing a country,establishing a political ruling order for the group society through"differentiate rites to fit the context",so as to achieve the governance of the state and the people.The three norms of rites are linked and inter-twined,forming the content and norms of the group society,and thus establishing a world with norms of differentiation,proactivi-ty,virtue and morality.
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