The Book of Rites, also known as the Classic of Ritual.
The Way of the former kings consists in exalting ren. One must cleave to what is central in carrying it out. What do I mean by "what is central"? I say: it is ritual and yi (8.99).
The Confucian moral order is grounded in ren (仁), yi (義), and ritual (禮, li).
Ren is humaneness, empathy, and magnanimous compassion. Yi is righteousness, firmness of will, and principles-based justice.
Ren is the duty to care and provide for those in your charge. Yi is the duty to protect them from outside threats, from each other, and even from themselves.
Ren is nurturing, and yi is rectifying. These are the two qualities necessary in a virtuous ruling class.
"Ritual" is one of the most conceptually rich words in Xunzi's philosophy and the keystone that holds everything together. The Xunist cosmology defines the constraints and challenges all efforts are subject to: the natures of Heaven, Earth, and man. Ritual, then, is the collection of techniques, developed by sages, tested and refined over time, that solve problems which arise from those natures.
Ritual is a nebulous term for all practices that guide the expression of ren and yi, that guide the people toward proper conduct, that guide the gentleman toward sagehood, and that guide the state toward stability and abundance. "Guide" is an important quality: ritual affects the emotions and the senses to draw people toward proper conduct, and it organizes the social fabric so people influence each other through their personal relationships. Ritual by definition lacks the objective, formal, mechanical, and coercive nature of law (法, fa). It is situational, intuitive, fluid, and cooperative.
In his essay "Discourse on Ritual," Xunzi explains broadly why we need ritual and what its goals and purposes are. He also describes in detail some specific ritual practices, both their forms and motivations. From this, we can extrapolate design principles which may guide the development and refinement of new ritual suited for present circumstances.
The goal of this essay is to prepare for a commentary on "Discourse on Ritual" by describing the nature of "ritual." Most quotes come from "The Grand Digest," a chapter of Xunzi's sayings structured similar to the Analects.
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