The Core of Xunzi's Discourse on Ritual: The Origin, Structural Pattern, and Gradations of Ritual
This article offers an in-depth reading of the opening core text of Xunzi's Discourse on Ritual (Lilun), systematically analyzing the logical chain by which ritual arises from human desire and social conflict, elucidating the structural vision of 'honoring the root is called pattern; cleaving to function is called order,' and exploring the graduated levels of abundance, reduction, and the middle course in ritual, together with the Way of the noble person.
Chapter Seven: The Odes Say "Rites and Ceremonies All Meet Their Measure; Laughter and Speech All Hit Their Mark" -- Confirming Ritual through the Odes
Section 1: The Significance of Citing the Odes
Master Xun cites the Shijing, "Lesser Odes," "Chu Ci": "Rites and ceremonies all meet their measure; laughter and speech all hit their mark." This describes the banquet after a completed sacrifice -- both observing all ritual norms and maintaining a naturally pleasant atmosphere. It is the living portrait of "both feeling and pattern brought to their fullest."
Section 2: Rites and Ceremonies All Meet Their Measure
"Measure" (du) resonates with "measure and boundary" (du liang fen jie). "All meet their measure" (zu du) means every detail is precisely right -- the sage's "at every turn achieves the proper sequence." The Master's praise of Tai Bo: "Three times he yielded the empire, and the people could find no words to praise him" (Lunyu, "Tai Bo") -- so perfect it looks effortless.
Section 3: Laughter and Speech All Hit Their Mark
Huo -- hitting the target precisely. The Master: "To speak when it is not yet one's turn is called rashness; not to speak when it is one's turn is called evasiveness; to speak without observing the other's expression is called blindness" (Lunyu, "Ji Shi").
Section 4: "This Is What Is Meant"
The ideal realm: "both feeling and pattern brought to their fullest"; "returning to the Great Unity"; "culminating in harmonious accord"; "at every turn achieving the proper sequence"; "depth, breadth, height, and luminosity." In practice: all rites conform to their standards and all laughter and speech hit their mark -- at once solemn and natural, ordered and free, profound and joyful.