《荀子·解蔽》篇“周而成”章新释

A new explanation of the chapter “zhou er cheng” in Xunzi

《荀子·解蔽》篇最后一段的"周而成,泄而败"当训为"周之成,泄之败",指的是赞成堵塞言路,反对开通言路;"宣而成,隐而败"当释为"宣之成,堰之败",指的是赞成开通言路,反对堵塞言路。逸《诗》"狐狸而苍"之"苍"当读为"跄",意为起舞的样子。视《荀子·解蔽》篇最后一段为《君道》篇或《正论》篇的错简都不可信。

In the last passage of Dispelling Blindness("Jie Bi")in Xunzi,the sentences"being secretive yet successful or frank yet a failure"("zhou er cheng,xie er bai")should be interpreted as"zhou zhi cheng,xie zhi bai",which means approving blocking channels of criticisms and suggestions,and opposing opening them.The sentence"being open yet successful or mysterious yet a failure"("xuan er cheng,yin er bai")should be interpreted as"xuan zhi cheng,yan zhi bai",which means approving opening channels of criticisms and suggestions,and opposing blocking them.An Ode says:the yellow foxes are considered to be black("cang").In this verse,"cang"should be pronounced as"qiang",which means dancing.The viewpoint that the last passage of Dispelling Blindness("Jie Bi")in Xunzi is misplaced,which should be in On the Way of a Lord("Jun Dao")or Rectifying Theses("Zheng Lun")is unreliable.