SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 42

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    Juan

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 42 covers two dialogues. It stresses testing officials in low‑level posts, and records Han Fei’s stance: reformers should pursue public benefit via laws despite personal peril, rejecting self‑preserving cowardice.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 41

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    Juan

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 41 traces empty scholarly disputation to rulers’ lack of clarity. It advocates judging speech and deeds by practical utility, with law and commands as standards, rejecting pointless sophistries harmful to farming‑warfare state interests.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 40

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    Juan

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 40 debates Shen Dao’s “shi” (positional‑power). It argues relying solely on power or sage‑rulers fails; ordinary middling rulers need both power and law to sustain stable political order.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 39.4

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    Juan

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 39.4 debates the dwarf’s stove‑dream allegory. It questions whether merely replacing royal favorites with supposedly worthy officials can truly stop ministers from obstructing the ruler’s political vision.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 39.3

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    Juan

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 39.3 offers dual rebuttals over Zhao Gong’s murder by Gao Qumi. It debates statecraft: whether rulers should promptly execute hated ministers or avoid excessive, untimely punishments that breed widespread enemies.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 39.2

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    Juan

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 39.2 presents two successive rebuttals over imprisoning fugitive rebel Yang Hu. It debates whether punishing known rebels deters hidden treachery, examining ministerial loyalty, human greed and royal deterrent statecraft.