SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Legalism

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.7

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    This Legalist exposition from Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.7 presents four stories. It prioritizes impersonal law and positional power over personal affection, advocating merit‑centered rewards and officials’ prudent self‑reliance.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.6

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    This Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.6 Legalist exposition uses chariot‑driving and zither metaphors. Through Zihan and Tian Chengheng’s cases, it illustrates that shared sovereign power over rewards‑punishments will trigger usurpation and political ruin.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.5

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    This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.5 states sound statecraft brings effortless success. Through carriage‑related parables, it warns of corruption when tax officials act arbitrarily, causing empty treasuries and public hardship.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.4

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    This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.4 advocates “governing officials instead of common people”. With vivid metaphors, it urges rulers to grasp core power, warning of catastrophic usurpation if statecraft is neglected.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.3

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    This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.3 advises rulers to draw lessons from external and historical cases. It warns against power‑lending even to close kin and stresses upholding strict ranks to avoid political obstruction.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.2

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    This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.2 holds that order stems from law rather than favoritism. It urges impartial rewards‑punishments based on merit and crime, citing three figures to oppose private benevolence and blind personal loyalty.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.1

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    This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.1 warns against shared rewards‑punishments. With chariot‑driving and zither metaphors, it cites Zihan and Tian Heng’s usurpations to show divided sovereign power leads to the ruler’s downfall.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 34.6

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 34.6 Legalist passage uses “fierce‑dog” and “altar‑rat” metaphors. It illustrates that credible laws must apply even to nobles and favorites, to block corrupt insiders and consolidate royal authority.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 34.5

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    This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 34.5 draws on Shen Buhai’s ideas. Through various anecdotes and metaphors, it stresses rulers must keep secrets, hide personal desires and make independent decisions to evade ministerial manipulation.