Philosopher of Confucianism, b. c. 300 BC (Chao kingdom, China), d. 230 BC (Lan-ling, Ch'u kingdom).
Hsün-tzu's original name was Hsün K'uang. He was known as Hsün-tzu (Master Hsün) and received the honorary name Hsün Ch'ing. The dates of his life are uncertain. It is known that he was born in the state of Chao in today's Shansi province in the north of China. He spent some time in the eastern state of Ch'i at the Chi-hsia academy of philosophy. Slander forced him to move, and he settled in the southern state of Ch'u, were in 255 BC he was appointed magistrate of a small city. He died there in retirement.
Hsün-tzu was one of the three founders of Confucianism. He systematized the work of Confucius and Mencius into a comprehensive teaching, which he wrote down in 32 chapters now known as the Hsün-tzu. He departed from the earlier style of conveying teaching through anecdotes and discussions between disciples and introduced the theoretical essay as the major means of developing philosophical theory.
Hsün-tzu's social theory, which was to have great influence for more than one millenium, is based on his statement that The nature of man is evil; his goodness is only acquired training. He gave the role of educator to society, which has to mold the anarchic individual into a disciplined and morally elevated being. The means to this end were ceremonies, rituals, social practices and traditions and music.
Although Hsün-tzu shared with Mencius the aim of improving the human condition during the chaotic period of the Warring States, his emphasis on the role of tradition and established institutions made his interpretation of Confucianism much more acceptable to the political powers. In his view the role of the government was mainly the preservation of existing practices. His conservative and authoritarian views were later developed by some of his students, who joined the Legalist school. Hsün-tzu's version of Confucianism remained dominant until well into the 10th century AD, and he was regarded as the second most important Chinese philospher. At that time Mencius' teaching began to gain importance, and in the 12th century it was declared that Hsün-tzu misrepresented Confucian thought.
One of his works of timeless value, considered a classic in China, is his essay Discussion of music in wich he describes music as a means to express different emotions without generating conflict between individuals.