Confucian Self-cultivation and the Paradox of Moral Education

Self-cultivation 修其身 (xiu qishen) is a perennial concern in Confucianism. All Confucian scholars affirm the primacy of self-cultivation although they differ in their specific formulations and recommended ways to achieve it. In this chapter, I examine and compare the educational thought of two eminent Confucian philosophers: Mencius (Mengzi) 孟子 (372–289 B.C.E.) and Xunzi 荀子 (310–235 B.C.E). These two philosophers are the two foremost thinkers after Confucius in classical/early Confucianism.