Discourse on Ritual from Xunzi
Xunzi
About Discourse on Ritual
Xunzi (3rd century BCE) was one of the major voices in early Chinese philosophy, and he had a pretty spicy take: humans aren’t naturally good. In fact, he thought we’re born with selfish desires and messy emotions—and without serious guidance, we’d just follow those impulses into chaos. But here’s the hopeful part: we can be taught to be good. We can learn how to live well together. And that’s where ritual comes in.
In Chapter 19, “Discourse on Ritual,” Xunzi makes a powerful case that rituals (li in Chinese) are more than just traditions or ceremonies. They’re a form of education—not in the classroom sense, but in the full-life, shape-your-character kind of way. Rituals teach people how to behave, how to treat others with respect, how to handle grief and celebration, how to know their place in a community, and how to become more thoughtful and self-controlled.
Think about this: in Xunzi’s time, there weren’t schools like we have today, but society still needed a way to teach values, structure, and cooperation. For him, rituals were the curriculum, and life was the classroom. He believed that people became virtuous not through lectures or memorizing rules, but by practicing good habits through ritualized action.
So when we talk about education in society, Xunzi is giving us one of the earliest theories of moral and civic education. His big idea? That the best way to shape a good society is to shape good people—and the best way to shape good people is through shared rituals that instill discipline, humility, and harmony.
Whether it’s bowing to elders, mourning the dead, or sitting quietly in class , rituals aren’t just “nice to have.” They’re how we learn what matters.
Before You Read
Imagine a world without any kind of structure: no school routines, no “please” or “thank you,” no rules about how to treat others. Total freedom, right? Or total chaos?
Xunzi wouldn’t even hesitate—he’d say chaos, 100%. He believed that without guidance, people act selfishly. But here’s the twist: he wasn’t a cynic. He thought people can become good—but only through learning. And for him, rituals are how a society educates its people.
This reading isn’t just about bowing in ancient China. It’s about how habits, customs, and expectations shape who we become. Think of the rituals in your own life—lining up for class, celebrating birthdays, following codes of conduct. These are all ways we’re being “trained” to be part of a community.
So as you read, think about how ritual might still function as a kind of hidden curriculum—teaching us values without ever using a whiteboard.
Guiding Questions
- How does Xunzi describe the role of ritual in shaping human behavior?
- What does Xunzi believe about human nature, and how does that shape his ideas about education?
- In what ways does ritual act as a form of moral or social education in society?
- Can you think of modern rituals (in school, work, or social life) that shape people’s values and behaviors?
Where to find this reading
This English translation is not in the public domain or shared with a creative commons license. Your college or university may have access to this reading through these different sources:
