Paul R. Goldin
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- September 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780691200798
- eISBN:
- 9780691200811
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691200798.003.0010
- Subject:
- Philosophy, General
This chapter examines Han Feizi. This text was named after Han Fei, a prolific philosopher who was executed on trumped-up charges in 233 BC. Although Han Fei is probably responsible for the lion's ...
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This chapter examines Han Feizi. This text was named after Han Fei, a prolific philosopher who was executed on trumped-up charges in 233 BC. Although Han Fei is probably responsible for the lion's share of the extant Han Feizi, this does not permit readers to identify the philosophy of Han Fei himself with the philosophy (or philosophies) advanced in the Han Feizi, as though these were necessarily the same thing. The case of Han Fei and the Han Feizi is more complex because Han Fei was slippery. What Han Fei said varied with his expected audience, a point that scholarship has not always accounted for. Most of his chapters are addressed to kings; at least one, “The Difficulties of Persuasion” (“Shuinan”), is addressed to ministers; and for many chapters one can only guess at the intended audience.Less
This chapter examines Han Feizi. This text was named after Han Fei, a prolific philosopher who was executed on trumped-up charges in 233 BC. Although Han Fei is probably responsible for the lion's share of the extant Han Feizi, this does not permit readers to identify the philosophy of Han Fei himself with the philosophy (or philosophies) advanced in the Han Feizi, as though these were necessarily the same thing. The case of Han Fei and the Han Feizi is more complex because Han Fei was slippery. What Han Fei said varied with his expected audience, a point that scholarship has not always accounted for. Most of his chapters are addressed to kings; at least one, “The Difficulties of Persuasion” (“Shuinan”), is addressed to ministers; and for many chapters one can only guess at the intended audience.
Yuri Pines
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- November 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780824832759
- eISBN:
- 9780824870171
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Hawai'i Press
- DOI:
- 10.21313/hawaii/9780824832759.003.0005
- Subject:
- History, Asian History
This chapter presents how the late Zhanguo thinkers made painstaking efforts to find a more practical solution to the inherent conflict between their ideals and gloomy reality. The answer was to ...
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This chapter presents how the late Zhanguo thinkers made painstaking efforts to find a more practical solution to the inherent conflict between their ideals and gloomy reality. The answer was to limit the ruler's direct involvement in policy-making while retaining the symbolic importance of his position. The chapter examines two major late Zhanguo thinkers—Xunzi and Han Feizi—to trace the ways in which this bifurcation between the symbolic and practical aspects of the rulers' power occurred. The writings of both may be considered the apex of Zhanguo political thought. Hence, each of the two contributed decisively toward shaping the imperial political culture.Less
This chapter presents how the late Zhanguo thinkers made painstaking efforts to find a more practical solution to the inherent conflict between their ideals and gloomy reality. The answer was to limit the ruler's direct involvement in policy-making while retaining the symbolic importance of his position. The chapter examines two major late Zhanguo thinkers—Xunzi and Han Feizi—to trace the ways in which this bifurcation between the symbolic and practical aspects of the rulers' power occurred. The writings of both may be considered the apex of Zhanguo political thought. Hence, each of the two contributed decisively toward shaping the imperial political culture.
Erica Fox Brindley
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- November 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780824833862
- eISBN:
- 9780824870768
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Hawai'i Press
- DOI:
- 10.21313/hawaii/9780824833862.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, Asian History
This chapter examines debates about xing dating from the third and second centuries BCE. These debates generally presented two basic orientations on human agency: “internal,” individualistic ...
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This chapter examines debates about xing dating from the third and second centuries BCE. These debates generally presented two basic orientations on human agency: “internal,” individualistic orientations, which placed faith in universal processes of bodily cultivation, promoting the development or preservation of xing or other personal, cosmic agencies as a means to individual attainment and authority; and “external” orientations, which advocated institutional methods of control and discouraged individual reliance on the powers of xing as a primary means of achieving personal and social ideals. While the former orientation proclaimed the existence of positive, innate agencies in need of cultivation and/or preservation, the latter orientation insisted on the existence and power of negative innate agencies that must be fiercely combated through institutional and social means. On the other side of the debate, there were authors of the third and second centuries BCE who explicitly condemned such overreliance on the powers of the self. Two important authors, Xunzi and Han Feizi, supported the active restraint, suppression, and avoidance of what they deemed to be negative, innate agencies associated with the self. To these thinkers, the individual was the locus for a complex interaction of dynamic and often selfish forces.Less
This chapter examines debates about xing dating from the third and second centuries BCE. These debates generally presented two basic orientations on human agency: “internal,” individualistic orientations, which placed faith in universal processes of bodily cultivation, promoting the development or preservation of xing or other personal, cosmic agencies as a means to individual attainment and authority; and “external” orientations, which advocated institutional methods of control and discouraged individual reliance on the powers of xing as a primary means of achieving personal and social ideals. While the former orientation proclaimed the existence of positive, innate agencies in need of cultivation and/or preservation, the latter orientation insisted on the existence and power of negative innate agencies that must be fiercely combated through institutional and social means. On the other side of the debate, there were authors of the third and second centuries BCE who explicitly condemned such overreliance on the powers of the self. Two important authors, Xunzi and Han Feizi, supported the active restraint, suppression, and avoidance of what they deemed to be negative, innate agencies associated with the self. To these thinkers, the individual was the locus for a complex interaction of dynamic and often selfish forces.
David Schaberg
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- March 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199218158
- eISBN:
- 9780191804243
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199218158.003.0017
- Subject:
- History, Cultural History
This chapter discusses the significance of the anecdote in Chinese historiography. It considers the circumstances which dictated that this would be the form to which writers gravitated in their ...
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This chapter discusses the significance of the anecdote in Chinese historiography. It considers the circumstances which dictated that this would be the form to which writers gravitated in their efforts to make sense of the past and to cite it in their arguments. These circumstances left their mark on the emergent disciplines of history and philosophy, and consolidated a connection between them that would last throughout China's imperial period. The chapter is organized as follows. The first section defines the anecdote as a narrative form; notes some of its enduring features; explains the various functions to which the form was adapted; and then gives a sense of its prevalence in the surviving texts of the Warring States (480–221 BC), Qin (221–206 BC), and Western Han (202 BC–AD 8) periods. The second section examines the philosophical implications of anecdotal historical narration through an extraordinary early critique: the Nan or ‘Problematizing’ chapters of the Han Feizi. The final section addresses the models of historical development that emerged from anecdotal history and from various strategies for putting anecdotes in order, some of which long antedated Han Feizi, and some of which responded to the problems he had raised.Less
This chapter discusses the significance of the anecdote in Chinese historiography. It considers the circumstances which dictated that this would be the form to which writers gravitated in their efforts to make sense of the past and to cite it in their arguments. These circumstances left their mark on the emergent disciplines of history and philosophy, and consolidated a connection between them that would last throughout China's imperial period. The chapter is organized as follows. The first section defines the anecdote as a narrative form; notes some of its enduring features; explains the various functions to which the form was adapted; and then gives a sense of its prevalence in the surviving texts of the Warring States (480–221 BC), Qin (221–206 BC), and Western Han (202 BC–AD 8) periods. The second section examines the philosophical implications of anecdotal historical narration through an extraordinary early critique: the Nan or ‘Problematizing’ chapters of the Han Feizi. The final section addresses the models of historical development that emerged from anecdotal history and from various strategies for putting anecdotes in order, some of which long antedated Han Feizi, and some of which responded to the problems he had raised.
Eirik Lang Harris
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- September 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780231177665
- eISBN:
- 9780231542166
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Columbia University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7312/columbia/9780231177665.003.0003
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy
Works to situate Shen Dao in the early Chinese intellectual milieu and upon the philosophical landscape. The goal of this chapter is not merely to demonstrate that Shen Dao was deeply tied into the ...
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Works to situate Shen Dao in the early Chinese intellectual milieu and upon the philosophical landscape. The goal of this chapter is not merely to demonstrate that Shen Dao was deeply tied into the intellectual milieu of his time and addressing similar issues as his contemporaries. Rather it is to demonstrate how he actually influenced a range of early Chinese thinkers. In doing so, it focuses on Shen Dao’s place in debates about the nature and role of Heaven as well as his influence on Xunzi, Han Feizi, and the compilers of the Lüshi Chunqiu and the Huainanzi.Less
Works to situate Shen Dao in the early Chinese intellectual milieu and upon the philosophical landscape. The goal of this chapter is not merely to demonstrate that Shen Dao was deeply tied into the intellectual milieu of his time and addressing similar issues as his contemporaries. Rather it is to demonstrate how he actually influenced a range of early Chinese thinkers. In doing so, it focuses on Shen Dao’s place in debates about the nature and role of Heaven as well as his influence on Xunzi, Han Feizi, and the compilers of the Lüshi Chunqiu and the Huainanzi.
Paul Goldin
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- September 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780691200798
- eISBN:
- 9780691200811
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691200798.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, General
This book provides an unmatched introduction to eight of the most important works of classical Chinese philosophy—the Analects of Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Sunzi, Xunzi, and Han ...
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This book provides an unmatched introduction to eight of the most important works of classical Chinese philosophy—the Analects of Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Sunzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi. The book places these works in rich context that explains the origin and meaning of their compelling ideas. Because none of these classics was written in its current form by the author to whom it is attributed, the book begins by asking, “What are we reading?” and showing that understanding the textual history of the works enriches our appreciation of them. A chapter is devoted to each of the eight works, and the chapters are organized into three sections: “Philosophy of Heaven,” which looks at how the Analects, Mozi, and Mencius discuss, often skeptically, Heaven (tian) as a source of philosophical values; “Philosophy of the Way,” which addresses how Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Sunzi introduce the new concept of the Way (dao) to transcend the older paradigms; and “Two Titans at the End of an Age,” which examines how Xunzi and Han Feizi adapt the best ideas of the earlier thinkers for a coming imperial age. In addition, the book presents explanations of the protean and frequently misunderstood concept of qi—and of a crucial characteristic of Chinese philosophy, nondeductive reasoning. The result is an invaluable account of an endlessly fascinating and influential philosophical tradition.Less
This book provides an unmatched introduction to eight of the most important works of classical Chinese philosophy—the Analects of Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Sunzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi. The book places these works in rich context that explains the origin and meaning of their compelling ideas. Because none of these classics was written in its current form by the author to whom it is attributed, the book begins by asking, “What are we reading?” and showing that understanding the textual history of the works enriches our appreciation of them. A chapter is devoted to each of the eight works, and the chapters are organized into three sections: “Philosophy of Heaven,” which looks at how the Analects, Mozi, and Mencius discuss, often skeptically, Heaven (tian) as a source of philosophical values; “Philosophy of the Way,” which addresses how Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Sunzi introduce the new concept of the Way (dao) to transcend the older paradigms; and “Two Titans at the End of an Age,” which examines how Xunzi and Han Feizi adapt the best ideas of the earlier thinkers for a coming imperial age. In addition, the book presents explanations of the protean and frequently misunderstood concept of qi—and of a crucial characteristic of Chinese philosophy, nondeductive reasoning. The result is an invaluable account of an endlessly fascinating and influential philosophical tradition.
Erica Fox Brindley
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- November 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780824833862
- eISBN:
- 9780824870768
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Hawai'i Press
- DOI:
- 10.21313/hawaii/9780824833862.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, Asian History
Conventional wisdom has it that the concept of individualism was absent in early China. This book provides an important corrective to this view and persuasively argues that an idea of individualism ...
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Conventional wisdom has it that the concept of individualism was absent in early China. This book provides an important corrective to this view and persuasively argues that an idea of individualism can be applied to the study of early Chinese thought and politics with intriguing results. It introduces the development of ideological and religious beliefs that link universal, cosmic authority to the individual in ways that may be referred to as individualistic and illustrates how these evolved alongside and potentially helped contribute to larger sociopolitical changes of the time, such as the centralization of political authority and the growth in the social mobility of the educated elite class. Starting with the writings of the early Mohists (fourth century BCE), the book analyzes many of the major works through the early second century BCE by Laozi, Mencius, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi, as well as anonymous authors. Changing notions of human agency affected prevailing attitudes toward the self as individual. It goes on to show how distinctly internal (individualistic), external (institutionalized), or mixed (syncretic) approaches to self-cultivation and state control emerged in response to such ideals. The book reveals the ways in which authors innovatively adapted new theories on individual power to the needs of the burgeoning imperial state.Less
Conventional wisdom has it that the concept of individualism was absent in early China. This book provides an important corrective to this view and persuasively argues that an idea of individualism can be applied to the study of early Chinese thought and politics with intriguing results. It introduces the development of ideological and religious beliefs that link universal, cosmic authority to the individual in ways that may be referred to as individualistic and illustrates how these evolved alongside and potentially helped contribute to larger sociopolitical changes of the time, such as the centralization of political authority and the growth in the social mobility of the educated elite class. Starting with the writings of the early Mohists (fourth century BCE), the book analyzes many of the major works through the early second century BCE by Laozi, Mencius, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi, as well as anonymous authors. Changing notions of human agency affected prevailing attitudes toward the self as individual. It goes on to show how distinctly internal (individualistic), external (institutionalized), or mixed (syncretic) approaches to self-cultivation and state control emerged in response to such ideals. The book reveals the ways in which authors innovatively adapted new theories on individual power to the needs of the burgeoning imperial state.