Re-evaluation on XUN Zi's Critique of Zi si and Mencius Five-element Theory

There are plenty of views on the reason why XUN Zi lashed out at Zi si and Mencius Five-element theory in the academic circle,whereas the deep and fundamental reason lies in the fundamental differences between them in thinking and philosophical basis. XUN Zi advocates metaphysical dualism,while Zi si and Mencius Five-element theory adheres to pre-metaphysical ontology manifested as unity of heaven and humanity,and unity of body and heart/mind,in that from the Spring and Autumn culture represented by Zi si's thought and followed by Mencius to later Warring States culture established by XUN Zi's ideology,the paradigm of knowledge and semiotic system had tremendously changed. This could be clearly seen from the stages of the emergence and evolution of the Five-element theory.