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.
This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 37.3 disputes Confucius’ praise for King Wen of Zhou. It argues King Wen’s land‑ceding gesture aggravated Shang King Zhou’s suspicion, bringing about his imprisonment; prudent non‑display would have been wiser statecraft.
This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.9 Legalist excerpt collects diverse short tales. It stresses strict ritual‑political hierarchy between superiors and subordinates, warning against reversed noble‑base order which may bring political ruin.
This is Explanation Six from Han Feizi: Inner Congested Sayings, Part II. Han Fei reveals a political law: a foe’s deadliest attack is not military invasion, but espionage and stratagems to manipulate a ruler’s official appointments. Enemies seek to muddle the ruler’s judgment and steer his decisions astray.
This excerpt is from “Canon Six: Dismissal and Appointment” in Han Feizi. It shifts focus from domestic governance to international relations, exposing a cross‑border power tactic: hostile states undermine a realm by meddling in its official appointments instead of waging war.