Xun Kuang (c. 310 – c. 235 BCE, alt. c. 314 – c. 217 BCE), also widely known as Xunzi ( "Master Xun"), is a Chinese Confucian philosopher who lives during the Warring States period and contributes to the Hundred Schools of Thought.
A book known as the Xunzi is traditionally attributed to him.
Xunzi's doctrines are influential in forming the official state doctrines of the Han dynasty, but his influence wanes during the Tang dynasty relative to that of Mencius.
Xunzi witnesses the chaos surrounding the fall of the Zhou dynasty and rise of the Qin state–which upholds "legalistic" doctrines focusing on state control, by means of law and penalties.
Unlike other Confucians, Xunzi allows that penalties can play a legitimate, though secondary role in the state.
Educated in the state of Qi, Xunzi teaches proponents of legalism, including the Qin Chancellor Li Si and Han Fei, and is sometimes considered a precursor to Han Fei or a Legalist himself.
In reality, there is little evident influence of Xunzi on Han Fei.
Like Shang Yang, Xunzi believes that humanity's inborn tendencies are evil and that ethical norms have been invented to rectify people.
Xunzi's variety of Confucianism therefore has a darker, more pragmatic flavor than the optimistic Confucianism of Mencius, who tends to view humans as innately good, but like most Confucians, he believes that people can be refined through education and ritual, while "Legalist" theory tends to ignore this in favor of law.
Xunzi mentions Laozi as a figure for the first time in early Chinese history.
