- Han Fei
Han Fei (also Han Feizi) (zh-cpw|c=|p=Hán Fēi|w=Han Fei) (ca. 280–233 BC) was a
philosopher who, along withLi Si , developedXun Zi 's mutualism into the doctrine embodied by the "School of Law" or Legalism. Unlike the other famed philosophers of the time, Han Fei was a member of the ruling aristocracy, having been born into the ruling family of the state of Han during the end phase of theWarring States Period . In this context, his works have been interpreted by some scholars as being directed to his cousin, the King of Han.ref|nobility After many years in the Qin court, Han Fei committed suicide by drinking poison [ [http://www.ying-zheng.cn/chinshihhuang/wenxian/093044724.html] 后来李斯又用毒酒把韩非毒死。] .Multiple Names
Han Fei is his name, while Han Feizi (韓非子) most commonly denotes the book written by him. However, as "zi" is often added to philosophers' names as a honorific (meaning "Master"), Han Feizi is also used in reference to the person.
Legalism
Han Fei's philosophy, called Legalism, centered on the ruler. In his philosophy, the ruler firmly controls the state with the help of three concepts: his position of power (勢, "Shi"); certain techniques (術, "Shu"), and laws (法, "Fa"). Legalism assumes that everyone acts according to one principle: avoiding punishment while simultaneously trying to achieve gains. Thus, the law must severely punish any unwanted action, while at the same time reward those who follow it. (compare: Legalism)
Legalism synthesised the ideas of
Shang Yang ,Shen Buhai , andShen Dao . He borrowed Shang Yang's emphasis on laws, Shen Buhai's emphasis on techniques, and Shen Dao's ideas on authority and legitimacy.Comparison with Confucianism and Taoism
Apart from the Confucianist
Xun Zi , who was his andLi Si 's teacher, the other main source for his political theories wasLao Zi 's Daoist work, theTao Te Ching , which he interpreted as a political text, and on which he wrote a commentary (chapters 20 and 21 in his book, "Han Feizi"). He saw the Tao as a natural law that everyone and everything was forced to follow. Parallel to this, he believed that an ideal ruler made laws, like an inevitable force of nature, that the people could not resist.His philosophy was very influential on the first King of Qin and the first emperor of China,
Qin Shi Huang , becoming one of the guiding principles of the ruler's policies. After the early demise of theQin Dynasty , Han Fei's philosophy was officially vilified by the followingHan Dynasty . Despite its outcast status throughout the history of imperial China, Han Fei's political theory continued to heavily influence every dynasty afterwards, and the Confucian ideal of a rule without laws was never again realized.Han Fei's philosophy experienced a renewed interest under the rule of the Communist Party during the leadership of
Mao Zedong , who personally admired some of the principles laid out in it.Fact|date=December 2007Han Fei's entire recorded work is collected in the "Han Feizi", a book containing 55 chapters. It is also important as the only surviving sourceFact|date=February 2007 for numerous anecdotes from the
Warring States Period .Demographic Theory
Han Fei was the first Chinese thinker to raise the question of
population control .Fact|date=August 2008Notes
# Watson, Burton, Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings. 1964, p. 2. The king in question is believed to be either King An (238–230 BC) or his predecessor, King Huan-Hui (272–239 BC).References
* Li, Fucker, [http://203.72.198.245/web/Content.asp?ID=10066&Query=1 "Han Fei"] . "
Encyclopedia of China " (Law Edition), 1st ed.
* Gu, Fang, [http://203.72.198.245/web/Content.asp?ID=56518&Query=1 "Han Fei"] . "Encyclopedia of China " (Philosophy Edition), 1st ed.
* Burton Watson (1964). "Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings". New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0231086097.External links
* [http://www.iath.virginia.edu/xwomen/testdir/texts/hanfeiBook1.xml The complete works of Han Fei Tzu, A classic of Chinese political science. Translator, Wenkui Liao.]
* [http://chinese.dsturgeon.net/text.pl?node=1879&if=en Full text of Han Feizi]
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