This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 49 (Five Vermin) argues governance must adapt to changing eras. It denounces five harmful social groups sapping state strength, advocating strict law‑reward‑punishment and prioritizing farming‑warfare over empty moral rhetoric.
This is an ancient myth and legend. Yu (大禹) was the chieftain of the Xiahou clan (夏后氏), also known as Xia Yu or Rong Yu (夏禹、戎禹). According to tradition, his father, Gun (鲧), was ordered by Emperor Yao to control the floods. Gun stole the Heavenly Emperor’s “living soil” (息壤, Xirang) to build dikes,…
Mencius explains Shun enfeoffed his murderous brother Xiang out of fraternal love yet stripped him of real power via appointed officials, balancing kin affection and public justice. Shun met Xiang often under political pretexts to sustain their bond.
In ancient times, the human population was small while birds and beasts were numerous. People could not withstand the harm inflicted by wild animals, insects, and snakes.