韓非 Han Fei

韓非子

Hanfeizi

A collection of essays on Legalist political philosophy by Han Fei, a prince of the state of Han who studied under the Confucian scholar Xunzi. Despite being a stutterer who could not speak persuasively, his writings so impressed the King of Qin that Qin invaded Han partly to acquire Han Fei's services. He was later poisoned in a Qin prison by his former classmate Li Si.

By Augustin Chan with AI · Published January 2025 · Updated March 2026

Historical Context

Han Fei synthesized the Legalist traditions of Shang Yang (emphasizing law), Shen Buhai (emphasizing administrative technique), and Shen Dao (emphasizing power/authority) into a comprehensive political philosophy. His work draws heavily on Daoist concepts, particularly Laozi's ideas of emptiness and non-action, reinterpreting them as techniques of governance rather than personal cultivation.

The ten chapters presented here represent the core of his political theory, his most famous parables, and his direct engagement with the Warring States diplomatic situation.

Chapters 篇

1初見秦First Audience with Qin 2存韓Preserving Han 3難言The Difficulty of Persuasion 4愛臣On Loving Ministers 5主道The Way of the Ruler 6有度Having Standards 7二柄The Two Handles 8揚權Wielding Power 9八奸The Eight Treacheries 10十過The Ten Faults 11孤憤The Solitary Indignation 12說難The Difficulty of Persuasion 13和氏Master He 14奸劫弒臣Treacherous, Coercive, and Regicidal Ministers 15亡征Signs of Ruin 16三守The Three Safeguards 17備內Guarding Against the Interior 18南面Facing South 19飾邪Adorning Wickedness 20解老Interpreting Laozi 21喻老Illustrating Laozi 22說林上A Forest of Persuasions, Part I 23說林下A Forest of Persuasions, Part II 24觀行Observing Conduct 25安危Safety and Peril 26守道Upholding the Way 27用人Employing People 28功名Achievement and Reputation 29大體The Grand Structure 30內儲說上七術Inner Collected Sayings, Part One: The Seven Techniques 31內儲說下六微Inner Collected Sayings, Part Two: The Six Subtle Signs 32外儲說左上Outer Collected Sayings, Left Series, Part One 33外儲說左下Outer Collected Sayings, Left Series, Part Two 34外儲說右上Outer Collected Sayings, Right Series, Part One 35外儲說右下Outer Collected Sayings, Right Series, Part Two 36難一Difficulties, Part One 37難二Difficulties, Part Two 38難三Objections and Refutations III 39難四Objections and Refutations IV 40難勢Objections to Positional Advantage 41問辯On Disputation 42問田Questioning Tian Jiu 43定法Fixing the Standard of Law 44說疑Explaining Suspicion 45詭使Perverse Employments 46六反The Six Reversals 47八說Eight Persuasions 48八經Eight Canons 49五蠹Five Vermin 50顯學Prominent Schools of Thought 51忠孝Loyalty and Filial Piety 52人主The Ruler 53飭令Rectifying Ordinances 54心度The Measure of the Heart 55制分Regulating Distinctions