SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

governance

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 55

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter55 (Defining Divisions) stresses sharp, impartial reward‑punishment distinctions. It advocates collective‑liability surveillance to uncover hidden deceit and prioritizes impersonal institutional systems over fallible individual judgment or hollow reputations.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 54

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 54 (Mind‑Measure) holds punishment serves public welfare. It stresses laws must adapt to eras, prioritize agriculture‑military power, block private cliques, and rely on state institutions rather than external conditions to achieve kingship.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 46

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 46 condemns reversed social values in governance. It warns private morality and factions erode royal power, advising rulers to prioritize impartial state law rather than unregulated personal reputations for political stability.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 45

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 45 (Gui Shi ‑ Perverting Directives) analyses three core state‑governing tools: benefit, authority and title. It blames disorder when rulers socially honour wrong conduct which undermines these Legalist instruments.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 43

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 43 compares Shen Buhai’s shu (ruler’s art) and Shang Yang’s fa (law). It argues both are indispensable, yet neither thinker perfected them; mere military merit should not qualify one for administrative posts.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 42

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    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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    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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    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 38.1

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 38.1 criticizes Duke Mu of Lu’s preference for Zisi. It argues rulers should reward ministers who report wrongdoing; concealing misdeeds blinds the sovereign and enables powerful clans to seize control.