Han Feizi (《韩非子》)

1. What is it?
Han Feizi (《韩非子》) is an ancient Chinese text written by Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE). It’s the foundational work of Legalism (法家, Fǎjiā), a philosophy focused on strict laws, state power, and practical governance.

2. Key Ideas

• “Rule by Law”: Laws > personal morals (unlike Confucianism).
• Power Control: The ruler must wield shì (authority), shù (tactics), and fǎ (laws) to maintain order.
• Human Nature: People are selfish—systems, not virtue, keep them in check.

3. Why Famous?

• Brutally practical: Advocated harsh punishments/rewards to enforce laws.
• Influential: Inspired China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, to unify China (221 BCE).

4. Cool Stuff

• Packed with parables (e.g., “contradictions” 自相矛盾) still used in Chinese today.
• Critiques Confucianism/Moism as “naïve” for relying on moral leaders.

5. Legacy

• Shaped imperial China’s governance (mixed with Confucianism later).
• Often seen as ruthless but undeniably effective for its time.