SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Han Fei

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 7.2

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    Juan

    If a ruler wishes to stop treachery, he must carefully verify the match between title and performance – that is, between ministers’ words and deeds.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 7.1

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    Juan

    What an enlightened ruler uses to guide and control his ministers consists of only two handles: punishment and reward. What are punishment and reward? Killing and penalizing mean punishment; praise and granting mean reward.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 6.5

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    Juan

    Ministers encroach upon their ruler gradually, just as terrain erodes little by little. They make the ruler lose his bearings, confuse east and west, without his awareness. Hence ancient sage‑kings created the south‑pointing compass to determine directions.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 6.4

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    Juan

    If a ruler personally inspects every official one by one, he will lack time and energy. Moreover, if the ruler relies on his eyes, subordinates will disguise their appearance; if he relies on his ears, they will polish their words; if he relies on his judgment, they will confuse him with verbose rhetoric.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 6.3

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    Juan

    When a worthy man serves as minister, he submits to the ruler facing north with complete loyalty and no divided heart. At court he never shirks humble posts; in military service he never evades dangers. He follows the ruler’s conduct and obeys his laws, waiting for orders with an empty mind without judging right…

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 6.2

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    Juan

    Therefore, in the present age, those who abandon self‑serving crooked ways and uphold public law will bring peace to the people and order to the state. Those who discard private interests and enforce public law will strengthen their army and weaken enemies.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 6.1

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    Juan

    No state is permanently strong nor permanently weak. A state grows strong when those who uphold the law are resolute, and weak when they are feeble.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 5.3

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    Juan

    The way of a ruler values tranquility and reserve above all. Without handling affairs personally, he distinguishes clumsiness from skill in his ministers. Without planning personally, he foresees fortune and misfortune.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 5.2

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    Juan

    The Dao lies in being invisible, and its application lies in being unfathomable. Remain empty, tranquil and inactive, and observe subordinates faults in secret. See as if unseen, hear as if unheard, know as if unknown.