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#Xunzi #Rectification of Names #Pre-Qin Philosophy #Name-Actuality Relationship #Political Philosophy

Names Establish the World, the World is Established by Names: A Deep Interpretation of "The Names Established by the Later Kings" and "General Names Residing in People" in Xunzi’s "Rectification of Names"

This study offers a profound analysis of the *Zhengming* chapter in the *Xunzi*, specifically examining the philosophical implications of "the perfected names of the later kings" and "dispersed names." By situating Xunzi’s theory within the broader discourse of Pre-Qin thought, the article elucidates how the rectification of names functions as a critical nexus for political governance, social order, and epistemological framework.

Tianwen Editorial Team April 27, 2026 5 min read PDF Markdown
Names Establish the World, the World is Established by Names: A Deep Interpretation of "The Names Established by the Later Kings" and "General Names Residing in People" in Xunzi’s "Rectification of Names"

Chapter Two: The Completion of Names by the Latter Kings

I. The Meaning of "Latter Kings"

Master Xun’s frequent use of "the Latter Kings" (houwang) contrasts with Mencius’s focus on "the Former Kings." To Xunzi, the name-system is not static; it evolves and matures. The names established by the kings of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties represent an accumulation of institutional wisdom.

  • Legal Names (Xingming) from Shang: Xunzi suggests that the legal terminology of his time drew upon the systems established during the Shang dynasty, the first dynasty to have extensive written records.
  • Noble Names (Juming) from Zhou: The strict hierarchy of Gong, Hou, Bo, Zi, and Nan originated in the mature feudal system of the Zhou, which institutionalized social roles based on ritual and lineage.
  • Ritual Names (Wenming) from Propriety (Li): Ritual names govern human culture. Because human desires are boundless, "ritual" serves as the measure that defines boundaries. "Names" within the ritual system guide human conduct, transforming internal desires into external order.