Han Fei
influential political philosopher of the Warring States period "Chinese Legalist" school
Years: 280BCE - 233BCE
Han Fei (c. 280 – 233 BCE), also known as Han Fei Zi, is an influential political philosopher of the Warring States period "Chinese Legalist" school.
He synthesizes the methods of his predecessors, as described in his eponymous work, the Han Feizi.
He is often considered to be the greatest representative of Chinese Legalism, his work Han Feizi consisting of the combination of the core Legalist principles.
His writings are very influential on the future first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
After the early demise of the Qin Dynasty, Han's philosophy is officially vilified by the following Han Dynasty.
Despite its outcast status throughout the history of imperial China, his political theory continues to heavily influence every dynasty thereafter, and the Confucian ideal of a rule without laws will never again be realized.
Shu Han's chancellor Zhuge Liang demands emperor Liu Shan read the Han Feizi for learning the way of ruling.
Han borrows Shang Yang's emphasis on laws, Shen Buhai's emphasis on administrative 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 (Shì); technique (Shù), and law ( Fǎ).
