SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Legalism

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 55

    •

    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

    •

    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 53

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 53 (Rectifying Decrees) advocates stable laws, swift judgments and merit‑based official grants. It argues for heavy penalty to eliminate crime and a single state‑controlled profit channel to strengthen state power and curb empty rhetoric.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 52

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 52 (The Ruler) warns powerful ministers and court favorites rob the ruler of his crucial authority. It notes statecraft thinkers face mortal peril under corrupt cliques and advocates merit‑based appointments to block private factional influence.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 51

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 51 (Loyalty and Filial Piety) challenges traditional sage‑king narratives. It stresses unchanging hierarchical order, prioritizing law over reputed worth, and dismisses empty diplomatic vertical‑horizontal alliance theories.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 50

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 50 (Prominent Schools) critiques contradictory Confucian‑Mohist doctrines. It rejects moral rhetoric and popular sentiment, advocating merit‑tested officials, strict laws and state power instead of ancient, unverifiable sage‑king teachings.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 49

    •

    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.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 48.7

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 48.7 warns unchecked official power breeds chaos. It demands merit‑based appointments, aligning praise‑reward and blame‑punishment, ensuring rank‑salary are sole legitimate benefits and eliminating mixed public‑private signals.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 48.8

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 48.8 condemns private‑righteousness and benevolence overriding statutes. It argues honor and merit must stem solely from state law. Titles, rewards‑punishments and decrees form three pillars for building a well‑ordered “state possessing the Way”.