| dc.description.abstract | This thesis aims to discuss the Rituals in the context of Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi. In the past, the interpretation of pre-Qin Confucian Rituals was majorly dominated by the ＂heart-mind nature approach＂ (心性論). I argue that this interpretation cannot objectively present the whole picture of the Ritual system among Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi, as it neglects the differences in defining ＂xing＂(性）. Therefore, in considering to fully present it, I will begin by approaching this topic from the perspective of ＂ to master oneself and return to Ritual＂(克己復禮） to discuss and compare the moral education and the characteristics of the ritual system among Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi.
This article will be divided into five chapters:
In Chapter 1, I introduced the motivation and context of the research and provided an analysis of how the conceptual meaning of ＂Rituals＂ changed in ＂the collapse of rituals and music＂(禮崩樂壞）in the Warring States Period. In Chapter 2, I illustrate the conceptual transformation of Kongzi′s concept of ＂Ritual＂ which emphasizes the practical aspect. In Chapter 3, I first outline Mengzi′s ritual system and indicate its connection with the famous claim, ＂human nature is good＂(性善論).In Chapter 4, I explain within the claim of ＂human nature is bad＂ (性惡論）, how Xunzi posits the ritual′s system not only serves as a means of governance but also as an effective way of moral transformation. In Chapter 5, after the explanation of the ritual system of Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi, I compare and state the differences between the ritual system of Mengzi and Xunzi with the perspective of ＂ to master oneself and return to Ritual ＂.
To conclude, through the comprehensive analysis above, I argue that, from the perspective of ＂ to master oneself and return to Ritual ＂, it shows that, the ritual system of Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi is rooted in the same tradition, even though they have different definitions of ＂human nature＂. | en_US |