This concept is said to have been coined by Xunzi (313?-238 BC). Innate emotions refer to the innate desires and emotions that humans possess, including love, hate, delight, anger, sadness, and joy. Xunzi believed that people naturally develop these desires and emotions while interacting with external objects, and they are not created by humans after birth. People should exercise necessary control and regulation of these desires and emotions, on the one hand, to allow for appropriate expression, and on the other hand, to avoid excessive indulgence.

When the functions of nature have been established and brought into play, one’s physical form emerges and one’s spirit is born. Love and hate, delight and anger as well as sadness and joy all develop within one’s physical form; and they are called natural emotions. (Xunzi)