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{{Chinese Legalism}}
{{Chinese Legalism}}


'''Han Fei''' ({{zh|t=韓非|s=韩非|p=Hán Fēi|first=t}}; {{c.|280}}{{snd}}233 BC), also known as '''Han Fei Zi''', was an influential political [[Chinese philosophy|philosopher]] of the [[Warring States period]] "[[Chinese Legalist]]" school. Han synthesized the methods of his predecessors, as described in his eponymous work, the [[Han Feizi]].<ref name=cc>http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_23104.htm</ref> He is considered to be the greastest representative of ancient Chinese Legalism, his work ''Han Feizi'' is the combination of the core Legalism principles and via Han Fei people already can grasp the essence of Legalism school.<ref name = "hpt"/>
'''Han Fei''' ({{zh|t=韓非|s=韩非|p=Hán Fēi|first=t}}; {{c.|280}}{{snd}}233 BC), also known as '''Han Fei Zi''', was an influential political [[Chinese philosophy|philosopher]] of the [[Warring States period]] "[[Chinese Legalist]]" school. Han synthesized the methods of his predecessors, as described in his eponymous work, the [[Han Feizi]].<ref name=cc>http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_23104.htm</ref> He is considered to be the greastest representative of ancient Chinese Legalism, his work ''Han Feizi'' being the combination of the core Legalism principles.<ref name = "hpt"/>


His writings were very influential on the future first emperor of China, [[Qin Shi Huang]]. After the early demise of the [[Qin Dynasty]] Han's philosophy was officially vilified by the following [[Han Dynasty]]. Despite its outcast status throughout the history of imperial China, his political theory continued to heavily influence every dynasty thereafter, and the [[Confucianism|Confucian]] ideal of a rule without laws was never again realized. [[Shu Han]] chancellor's [[Zhuge Liang]] demanded emperor [[Liu Shan]] to read Han Feizi for learning the way of ruling.<ref name = "hpt"/>
His writings were very influential on the future first emperor of China, [[Qin Shi Huang]]. After the early demise of the [[Qin Dynasty]] Han's philosophy was officially vilified by the following [[Han Dynasty]]. Despite its outcast status throughout the history of imperial China, his political theory continued to heavily influence every dynasty thereafter, and the [[Confucianism|Confucian]] ideal of a rule without laws was never again realized. [[Shu Han]] chancellor's [[Zhuge Liang]] demanded emperor [[Liu Shan]] to read Han Feizi for learning the way of ruling.<ref name = "hpt"/>

Revision as of 23:20, 22 August 2016

Template:Chinese name

Han Fei
韓非
File:Portrait of Han Fei.jpg
Bornc. 280 BC
Eastern Zhou
Died236 BC (aged 47-48)
State of Qin
Cause of deathConvinced to commit suicide by drinking poison
Occupationphilosopher
Notable workHan Feizi
MovementLegalism
Han Fei
Traditional Chinese韓非
Simplified Chinese韩非
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Han Fei (traditional Chinese: 韓非; simplified Chinese: 韩非; pinyin: Hán Fēi; c. 280 – 233 BC), also known as Han Fei Zi, was an influential political philosopher of the Warring States period "Chinese Legalist" school. Han synthesized the methods of his predecessors, as described in his eponymous work, the Han Feizi.[1] He is considered to be the greastest representative of ancient Chinese Legalism, his work Han Feizi being the combination of the core Legalism principles.[2]

His writings were very influential on the future first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. After the early demise of the Qin Dynasty Han's philosophy was officially vilified by the following Han Dynasty. Despite its outcast status throughout the history of imperial China, his political theory continued to heavily influence every dynasty thereafter, and the Confucian ideal of a rule without laws was never again realized. Shu Han chancellor's Zhuge Liang demanded emperor Liu Shan to read Han Feizi for learning the way of ruling.[2]

Han borrowed Shang Yang's emphasis on laws, Shen Buhai's emphasis on technique, and Shen Dao's ideas on authority and prophecy, emphasizing that the autocrat will be able to achieve firm control over the state with the mastering of his predecessors methodologies: his position of power (勢, Shì); technique (術, Shù), and law (法, Fǎ).

Name

Han Fei ("Hahn" "Fay") is his name, while -Zi (子, lit. "Master") was often added to philosophers' names as an honorific. The title Han Feizi is also used to denote the book written by him.

Life

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 the Warring States period. In this context, his works have been interpreted by some scholars as being directed to his cousin, the King of Han.[1] He studied together with future Qin chancellor Li Si under the "Realist" Confucian philosopher Xunzi. It is said that because of his stutter, Han Fei could not properly present his ideas in court. His advice otherwise being ignored, but observing the slow decline of his Han state, he developed "one of the most brilliant (writing) styles in ancient China."

His works ultimately ended up in the hands of the thrilled Qin king. Qin king commented "If I can make friend with this person (Han Fei), I may die without regrets." and invited Han Fei to Qin. Han Fei presented the essay "Preserving the Han" to ask Qin king not to attack his homeland, but his ex-friend and rival Li Si - who were jealous of Han Fei - used that essay to convinced to imprison Han Fei on account of his likely loyalty to Han. Han Fei responded by writing another essay named "In the first time of meeting Qin king", hoped to use his writing talent to win the king's heart. Han Fei did win the king's heart, but not before Li Si forced him to commit suicide by drinking poison. The Qin king later regretted about the unfortunate death of Han Fei.[1][2]

Xunzi formed the hypothesis that human nature is evil, virtueless and suggested human infants must be brought to their virtuous form through social-class-oriented Confucian moral education. Without such, Xunzi argued, man would act virtuelessly and be steered by his own human nature to commit immoral acts. Han Fei's education and life experience during the Warring States period, and in his own Han state, contributed his synthesis of a philosophy for the management of an amoral and interest-driven administration, to which morality seemed a loose and inefficient tool. Han agreed with his teacher's theory of "virtueless by birth", but as in previous Legalist philosophy, pragmatically proposed to steer people by their own interest-driven nature.

Notes

  1. ^ 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 Huanhui (272–239 BC).

Further reading

  • Burton Watson (1964). Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-08609-7.
  • Hàn Phi Tử, Vietnamese translation by Phan Ngọc, Nhà xuất bản Văn học, HCMC 2011

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_23104.htm
  2. ^ a b c Hàn Phi Tử, Vietnamese translation by Phan Ngọc, Nhà xuất bản Văn học, HCMC 2011

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Han_Fei&oldid=735764105"