ancient Chinese philosophy

  • Why “Being a Good Person” Is Not Enough

    This article explains Han Feizi’s “Two Handles” thesis: mere personal goodness and moral appeals cannot sustain authority. Reliable governance requires institutional reward‑punishment mechanisms, applicable to management, parenting and personal relationships.

  • The Art of Seeing Through People

    This article unpacks Han Feizi’s Legalist principles of “shu”, “examine reality against its name” and cross-checking. It advocates verifying claims via real world conduct rather than mere words for everyday personal and professional interactions.

  • The Ancient Chinese Art of Calling Someone’s Bluff

    This article interprets Han‑Feizi’s “xún míng zé shí” (name‑reality checking) via the spear and shield fable. It applies this Legalist accountability principle to everyday scenarios and serves to judge whether a person deceives you.

  • The Wagon‑Maker and the Coffin-Maker

    This article unpacks Han‑Feizi’s famous carriage make and coffin maker parable. It compares his interest‑centered insight with Adam Smith, warning people’s motives are shaped by self‑interest rather than inherent goodness or malice.

  • 窃钩者诛,窃国者侯(Qiè gōu zhě zhū, qiè guó zhě hóu)

    This entry explains idiom “Qie gou zhe zhu, qie guo zhe hou” from Zhuangzi ‑ Quqie. It bitterly satirizes legal‑moral hypocrisy: petty thieves get executed, while powerful usurpers gain noble titles.

  • Mozi – Chapter 45

    This core Mohist logic text defines four reasoning modes and semantic rules. It categorizes four proposition forms and resolves the “killing robbers is not killing people” paradox to justify its universal love doctrine.

  • Mozi – Chapter 41

    Chapter 41: Canons – Part II Rest (Zhi): Staying within a category of motion. Explanation lies in sameness.The coexistence of subject and attribute: Which truly exists? There are four divergent theories.The difficulty of analogical reasoning lies in the difference in size.The Five Elements do not constantly overcome each other. Explanation lies in suitability.Things share…

  • Mozi – Chapter 40

    Chapter 40: Canons – Part I Cause (Gu): That which is obtained before something is accomplished.Rest (Zhi): Persistence over time.Part (Ti): That which is divided from a whole (Jian).Necessity (Bi): That which does not cease.Cognition (Zhi): The innate material capacity to know.Level (Ping): Having the same height.Deliberation (Lv): The act of seeking.Equal Length (Tong…

  • Huangji Jingshi and Journey to the West

    Authored by Shao Yong (Shao Kangjie) during the Northern Song Dynasty, Huangji Jingshi (The Supreme Principles Governing the World) is a seminal work of Chinese philosophy. It employs Yijing (Book of Changes) principles to explore the universe’s origins, natural evolution, and historical societal transformations. Rooted in the He-Tu and Luo-Shu numerological traditions and Xiang-Shu…