Internal Verification and Interpretation: A Philological and Conceptual Study of Terms and Meanings in the Xunzi
01-13-2026
International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)
No.3, 2025
Internal Verification and Interpretation: A Philological and Conceptual Study of Terms and Meanings in the Xunzi
(Abstract)
He Zhihua
A detailed comparison of overlapping passages within the Xunzi, examining their similarities and differences, can help illuminate the arguments of earlier scholars, enabling one to assess their validity and interpretive accuracy. On the method of cross-verification within a single text, Chen Yuan notes that “The method of collation relies on internal cross-verification within the same work by identifying and analyzing the similarities and differences among its various sections, one can detect errors and inconsistencies.” This shows that internal collation by analyzing “contextual coherence” and “thematic and textual correspondences” can yield more accurate interpretations. On this basis, through the philological examination of overlapping passages, it becomes possible to infer the authorship of the “Xing’e” chapter of the Xunzi and its relationship to the “Ruxiao” chapter.