Han Feizi
(280 - 234 BCE)

 

About Han Feizi

·        Prince of the royal family of Han

·        Studied under the philosopher Xun Kuang (Xunzi)

·        Had a serious speech impediment - Led to first thinker to record his ideas

 

Han’s Philosophy

·        Criticized the Confucianists

·        State needed to rely on laws and regulations

·        Innate nature of man was bad

·        Education was functional

 

Han’s Philosophy Influences

·        Gradual and constant decline of the state of Han

·        Ru and Mohists philosophers, Knight-errant

·        disorder of society

·        distracted rulers

 

Who Han Influenced

·        The state of Qin

·        King Zheng saw his writings

·        Li Si, Chancellor of Qin, identified the writings as Han Feizi’s

·        Yoa Jia accused Han Feizi of not being loyal

·        Han Feizi imprisoned by King Zheng

·        Han Feizi commits suicide

 

What Han Left Behind

·        About 55 of his books survive - most notably:

·        The “Five Vermin”

·         The “Eminence in Learning”