關於「後王」之義，歷來解者有三：一、 以時間「晚出」者立論，然可別之為二，其一、楊倞以「後王」為「當世之王」、「後世之王」與「近時之王」，其二、俞樾將「後世之王」約限為「當代開國或創制之王」。二、 於「時間」因素外，添入「文明、制作」之考量。亦可別之為二：其一、以「文、武」當後王，劉台拱、王念孫等皆主張於此。其二、劉師培就此說而進考之，謂「後王」乃指立法之周公與成王。蕭公權、廖名春皆承劉說而續衍之。三、 於時間及文明外，復添入「經學」與「道統」之因素，將「後王」視為「無位之素王」。康有為始設此論，章太炎、梁啟雄復衍其說。然考荀子之說，其「法先王」、「法後王」有「理想」與「現實」雙重之義，此即本文之作意。

On the meaning of ＂Hou Wang＂, there are three solutions: First, to ＂late out＂ who argue, then can be two parts: 1.Yang Liang thinks ＂Hou Wang＂ as ＂Contemporary King＂, ＂King of the later kingdoms＂ and ＂King of the near future＂. 2. Yu Yue restricted the ＂later king＂ to ＂the king of creation＂. Second, the ＂time＂ factor, the addition of ＂civilization, making＂ considerations. Also can be two parts: 1.King of ＂Wen Wang and Wu Wang＂, Liu Tai Gong, Wang Nian Sun, etc. are advocated. 2. Liu Shi pei said ＂Hou Wang＂ refers to the legislation Zhou Gong and Cheng Wang. Both Xiao Gong Quan and Liao Ming Chun followed Liu's opinions. Third, except time and civilization, add to the ＂Confucianism＂ and ＂Orthodoxy＂ factor, ＂Hou Wang＂ as ＂Su Wang＂ Kang You Wei has set up this theory, Zhang Tai Yan and Liang Qi Xiong extented Kang's opinions. However, the test of Xunzi's theory is that the ＂Fa Xian Wang＂ and the ＂Fa Hou Wang＂ have the dual meaning of ＂ideal＂ and ＂reality＂. This is why I wrote the article.