Feoktistov, V. F. Philosophical and Socio-Political Views of Xun Tzu (Filosofskie i obshchestvenno-politicheskie vzglyady Syun'-tszy), 1976. In Russian.

Феоктистов В. Ф.
Философские и общественно-политические взгляды Сюнь-цзы. / Исследование и перевод В. Ф. Феоктистова. Отв. ред. М. Л. Титаренко.
Москва : Наука, Главная редакция восточной литературы, 1976. (АН СССР, Ин-т Дальнего Востока, Ин-т философии).
293 с. Мягкая издательская обложка. 21 см. Тираж 4700 экз.
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Feoktistov, V. F.
Philosophical and Socio-Political Views of Xun Tzu (Filosofskie i obshchestvenno-politicheskie vzglyady Syun'-tszy). / Research and translation by V. F. Feoktistov. Edited by M. L. Titarenko.
Moscow : Nauka, Main Editorial Office of Oriental Literature, 1976. (USSR Academy of Sciences, Far East Institute, Institute of Philosophy).
293 pp. Softcover. 21 cm. 1st edition in Russian. Print run: 4,700 copies.

This 1976 volume marks a milestone in Soviet Sinology: it is the first comprehensive edition in Russian dedicated to the life and thought of Xun Tzu (Xun Kuang, c. 310–235 BCE), one of the most influential and controversial figures of the Warring States period. Published by the "Nauka" house under the auspices of the Institute of Philosophy, the book is the result of years of rigorous work by Vitaly Fedorovich Feoktistov, a leading specialist in Chinese philosophy.
Xun Tzu is often called the "third great Confucian" after Confucius and Mencius, yet his philosophy stands in stark contrast to theirs. He famously argued that human nature is inherently evil (or, more precisely, disordered and selfish), and that morality can only be attained through education and the strict observance of rituals ($li$) and law. Feoktistov’s monograph provides a deep dialectical analysis of these views, exploring how Xun Tzu's pragmatic approach paved the way for the Legalist school and the subsequent unification of China.
The edition is divided into two major parts: a detailed scholarly study of Xun Tzu’s ontological and sociopolitical theories, followed by the first-ever Russian translation of key chapters from the classic treatise, the Xunzi. Feoktistov focuses on Xun Tzu's empiricism and his rejection of supernatural intervention, highlighting the philosopher's proto-scientific view of the natural world.
With its meticulous commentary and historical context, this work remains a cornerstone for Sinologists, historians of philosophy, and anyone interested in the root concepts of Chinese governance and social ethics. Despite a print run of 4,700 copies, this first edition is a highly valued collector’s item and an essential academic reference for the study of the Hundred Schools of Thought.