Abstract:

Xunzi’s idea of “uncovering” (jiebi) as removing unreasonable prejudices in understanding mainly embodies in the chapter of “Uncovering” in the book of Xunzi. Xunzi regards both the emotional and intellectual prejudices in human nature as the “covering”, judged according to the practical effects of rituality, loyalty, faithfulness and monarchism. He advocates the elimination of the “covering” of human nature by “transforming one’s nature and initiating conscious activities” on the one hand, and the removal of the “covering” of knowledge by keeping “vacuity, unity and quiescence” on the other. However, there is still a “covering” in Xunzi’s “uncovering”. His “uncovering” is to replace the preconceptions of other various intellectual schools with Confucian benevolence and righteousness. In this way, he attempts to establish Confucianism as the only reasonable preconception. While he has become successful due to his “covering”, Xunzi is limited to the “covering” of his own understanding and consequently denies the positive significance of the “covering” of other schools and hinders the equal dialogue and communication of ideas. In this sense, Xunzi’s “uncovering” constitutes a mode of dogmatic hermeneutics.

Key words: Xunzi, uncovering, hermeneutics