Appendix: A List of Pre-Qin Texts Cited in This Study

An In-Depth Study of Xunzi's 'Jiebi' Chapter: On the Cognitive Foundations of the Mind -- Xu, Yi, and Jing

This article offers a thorough analysis of the core proposition in Xunzi's 'Jiebi' (Dispelling Obscurations) chapter concerning the nature of cognition: 'How does a person know$33 Through the mind. How does the mind know$34 Through xu (openness), yi (unity), and jing (stillness).' It systematically elucidates the dialectical relationship among these three concepts, their epistemological significance, and their roots in high antiquity, revealing the systematic rigor and precision of pre-Qin cognitive theory.

Xuanji Editorial Board February 16, 2026 82 min read PDF Markdown

For the reader's convenience, the pre-Qin texts cited in this study are listed below:

Xunzi, "Jiebi" (Dispelling Obscurations)
Lunyu (Analects) -- chapters "Zihan," "Wei Zheng," "Shu Er," "Ba Yi," "Li Ren," "Yan Yuan," "Wei Ling Gong," and "Zilu"
Mengzi (Mencius) -- chapters "Gongsun Chou Shang," "Gaozi Shang," "Teng Wen Gong Xia," "Jin Xin Shang," and "Jin Xin Xia"
Daodejing (also known as Laozi) -- Chapters 1, 4, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 22, 26, 33, 37, 39, 45, 48, 51, and 52
Zhuangzi -- chapters "Ren Jian Shi," "De Chong Fu," "Qi Wu Lun," "Qiu Shui," "Tiandao," and "Yangshengzhu"
Guanzi -- chapters "Xinshu Shang" and "Neiye"
Yijing (Book of Changes) -- Hexagrams Qian, Kun, and Guan; and the commentaries "Xici Shang," "Xici Xia," "Shuo Gua," and "Wenyan"
Shangshu (Book of Documents) -- chapters "Da Yu Mo," "Shun Dian," and "Jiu Gao"
Shijing (Book of Songs) -- "Zhou Nan: Juan Er," "Bei Feng: Bai Zhou," "Xiao Ya: Qiao Yan," "Xiao Ya: Shi Yue Zhi Jiao," "Da Ya: Sheng Min," and "Da Ya: Da Ming"
Daxue (Great Learning)
Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean)
Liji (Book of Rites) -- chapters "Jiyi" and "Sheyi"
Guoyu (Discourses of the States) -- "Chu Yu Xia"
Mozi -- "Jing Shang"
Shanhaijing (Classic of Mountains and Seas) -- "Da Huang Bei Jing"

All texts cited above were either composed in the pre-Qin period or record pre-Qin thought, and none draws upon materials from the Han dynasty or later, in strict observance of this study's research scope.

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Xuanji Editorial Board