law and statecraft

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 44

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 44 classifies five minister‑types and five treacherous court tricks. It stresses rulers must master official‑assessment techniques, curb power‑usurping rivalry, rather than merely relying on personal virtue or frugality.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 13.2

    Han Feizi extends the jade metaphor: legal statecraft, like raw jade, is valuable yet opposed. Rulers must back reformers against elites.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 6.4

    Han Feizi argues rulers cannot supervise all personally. Replace personal checks with laws, strict rewards and punishments to control officials and secure power.