On the Evil of Human Nature

This is an important essay on the question of human nature. Master Xun held that man was evil by nature and the goodness in him was the outcome of conscious effort. In his opinion, man’s nature was not something obtained by learning or fulfilled by application; it was generated as a matter of course. It favored profits and desires and might result in contentions or even riots if it were not properly guided; therefore, it was evil. But learning and application were conscious efforts and were acquired after birth. In analyzing human nature, Master Xun highlighted the importance of rite and morality. He believed that the sages were familiar with what were artificial and made conscious effort by proposing ritual principles and moral codes in attempting to transform men and turn them to goodness.