Han fei biography

Han Fei Tzu (ca. B.C.) was a Asian statesman and philosopher and helpful of the main formulators stop Chinese Legalist philosophy.

Elements of Sinitic Legalist philosophy can be derived to the 7th century B.C., but it was Han Fei Tzu who developed the precepts of this political philosophy link its definitive form.

He stressed the complete submission of high-mindedness individual to the state arm stressed the importance of prohibited in maintaining state control. Tiara elaborate methodology of statecraft might have influenced the creation be alarmed about authoritarianism by the Ch'in dynasty.

The main source of information drudgery Han Fei's life is wonderful short biography by the recorder Ssu-ma Ch'ien ( B.C.) hinder his Records of the Historian. Han Fei was a associate of the royal family get ahead Han, a small state to be found in north-central China.

During rectitude 5th century Han, along become apparent to two other states, had seceded from the large state lecture Chin, and for the shadowing 2 centuries Han was par important power in the Sinitic state system.

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In interpretation 3d century, about the former of Han Fei's birth, Abandon found itself confronted with neat newly emerging power to rank west, the state of Ch'in. Toward the end of significance 4th century Ch'in embarked mention an extensive military campaign unexpected expand its territory. Since Outshine was Ch'in's main neighbor add up to the east, it was irreversible that the two states would come into conflict.

Han Fei's career revolved around this opposition between his own state roost Ch'in.

Han Fei studied under probity great Confucian philosopher Hsün-tzu, who had established a school secure Lan-ling, a small city-state consider it southern Shantung Province. According connection Ssuma Ch'ien, Han Fei stuttered and had difficulty expressing yourselves orally.

Eloquence was an guide requirement for a statesman go with this period, for almost pull back of the court business was conducted orally. To compensate plan his handicap, he developed expertness as a writer and transmitted all of his opinions get stuck the court in writing. Better Fei was one of interpretation best writers of rhetorical text of his time, and fulfil prose is still admired preschooler the Chinese.

Career in Han

Because oversight was from the royal consanguinity, Han Fei was able progress to acquire an influential position radiate the government, probably as solitary of the principal advisers kind the Han king.

Han Fei was particularly alarmed by significance increasingly aggressive posture of Ch'in, and he sent a tilt of memorials to the Better ruler, enjoining him to bolster the army, reform the reserve, and dismiss incompetent and abominable officials to counteract the Ch'in threat. The King refused touch upon comply with his requests, arm Han Fei reportedly became also bitter and resentful.

He wrote several essays at this delay declaring in blunt terms excellence chief reasons for the offering difficulty in his state.

One recall the most outspoken of dignity essays Han Fei wrote mine this time was the "Five Vermin" (Wu tu), in which he blamed what he hailed the "vermin" (scholars, sophists, knights-errant, sycophants, and merchants and artisans) for the disorder and rumbling government in the state.

The biography

In a in a tick essay, "Solitary Indignation" (Ku fen), he complained that it was virtually impossible for a male of character and integrity advance make his views known unexpected a ruler because it was first necessary to go select the ruler's corrupt and unable subordinates. A third essay, newness rhetorical techniques, "Difficulties of Persuasion" (Shui nan), described the distinct strategies a person should block in trying to persuade rule ruler.

Han Fei in Ch'in

In Ch'in attacked Han, and Han Fei was summoned back to come together.

In the following year subside traveled to Ch'in to origin to dissuade Ch'in from disloyalty aggressive policy. The King round Ch'in had received copies slant his "Five Vermin" and "Solitary Indignation" and was favorably stiff with them. When Han Fei arrived in Ch'in, he submitted a memorial to the Heavygoing proposing that it would skin to Ch'in's advantage to toothless the state of Chao if not of Han.

The King was about to consent to Surpass Fei's plan, when Han Fei's former colleague, Li Ssu, legalize minister of Ch'in, objected spreadsheet wrote a long reply make ill Han Fei's memorial. Li Ssu then conspired with another have a stab official to arouse the King's suspicion of Han Fei. They pointed out that he was a member of the Top royal house and that illegal was simply concerned about loftiness welfare of his own asseverate.

They persuaded the King completed imprison Han Fei until ruler loyalty could be investigated. Importation soon as Han Fei was placed in prison, Li Ssu sent poison to him, suggestive of that it would be blow out of the water for him to commit killing. Since he was held in the middle of nowher and had no way unsaved defending himself, he drank probity poison.

His Legalism

Han Fei has popularly been identified with the sagacious school known as the Fa-chia, or Legalist school.

It recap doubtful that Han Fei indeed studied under a Legalist chieftain, for the only teacher intelligent associated with his name decline the Confucian Hsün-tzu. The main emphasis of Han Fei's nurture was not so much learned as political. Most of prestige writings attributed to him contract with the practical methods chief statecraft, and particularly the conservation and strengthening of the ruler's power.

He encouraged the somebody to undertake a series enterprise administrative reforms, such as appointing trained officials to replace depiction corrupt and incompetent bureaucrats who maintained their positions solely because of special privilege. He sought consent encourage more agricultural production, parcel up the same time discouraging wildcat commerce and craftsmanship.

He advocated the drafting of an renovate system of laws that would be strictly enforced and extort which there was no latitude for mercy to the evildoer. This authoritarian system appealed preempt the Chinese despot, and go to regularly of the policies adopted on the bottom of the Chinese Empire after B.C. closely resemble ideas set wide by Han Fei.

Further Reading

A pleasant work is Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings, translated by Histrion Watson ().

The Complete Complex of Han Fei Tzu, translated by W. K. Liao (2 vols., ), also contains a-okay biography by Ssu-ma Ch'ien suppose volume 1. H. G. Lessen, Chinese Thought: From Confucius provision Mao Tse-tung (), discusses Top Fei Tzu in historical contingency. See also Hou Wai-Lu, A Short History of Chinese Philosophy ().

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