A New Analysis on Xiu Ci Li Qi Cheng——also on the Mistakes of Zhou Cezhong's Viewpoint

Xiu Ci Li Qi Cheng is always regarded as one basic principle of rhetoric. Zhou Cezhong reexamined this viewpoint historically and focused on the relationship between Xiu Ci and Li Qi Cheng. He came to the conclusion that Xiu Ci Li Qi Cheng expresses two things which are nothing to do with rhetoric.Zhou's viewpoint has had great influence on other scholars. However,after analyzing three arguments of Zhou's article in detail,we can find some careless mistakes which could not support the view. Instead,from the point of context,the text of Wen Yanis all about politics,expressing the political ideal of Confucianism——Nei Sheng Wai Wang. Xiu Ci Li Qi Cheng is about the method of Wai Wang,meaning that politician improves and perfects his dogma in order to show his sincerity. Of course,improving and perfecting politician's dogma to show his sincerity is also a kind of rhetoric,but it refers to political affairs specifically,cannot be generalized as a basic principle of rhetoric.