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Book/Printed Material Han Feiz.i 韓非子

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About this Item

Title

  • Han Feiz.i

Other Title

  • 韓非子

Translated Title

  • Works of Han Feizi

Summary

  • Han Feizi is a collection of writing attributed to Han Fei (circa 280-233 BC) of Eastern Zhou. Presented here is a facsimile handwritten copy of a Song edition that was owned at one time by bibliophile Qian Zeng (1629-1701) of early Qing. Han Fei was a prince of the State of Han at the end of the Warring States period. A student of Confucian philosopher Xunzi, Han Fei collected the writing of his predecessors of the pre-Qin period, synthesized the methods of the authors, and wrote more than 100,000 words of his own. Among his works were Gu fen (Solitary indignation), Wu wei (Five vermin), Nei chu (Inner collected sayings), Wai chu (Outer collected sayings), Shuo lin (Collection of persuasions), and Shuo nan (On the difficulties of persuasion). Han Fei summarized the treatises of Shang Yang (395--338 BC), Shen Buhai (385--337 BC), and Shen Dao (395--315 BC), the three leading legalist thinkers of the fourth century BC. His philosophy centered on the authority of the ruler, who was to maintain firm control using three concepts, fa (laws), shu (administrative techniques), and shi (authority). He proposed that the ruler, who was to maintain firm control, had to create laws that would severely punish any unwanted actions but also reward those who obeyed them. He emphasized agriculture and warfare. He expressed his criticism of Confucius and Mozi, and advocated reform of laws. The work was compiled as early as the beginning of Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), and focused on Han Fei's theory of state power by domination. The work was skillfully constructed, its language was humorous, and it contained cautionary meanings. The copy presented here is a facsimile handwritten copy of a Song edition that Qian Zeng kept at his Shugutang Library, and it includes the complete text. The original text was a block printed edition of Huangsanbalang, the publishing house in Jian'an, during the Qiandao era (1165-73) of Southern Song. This copy had been held in the collections of famous bibliophiles Ji Zhenyi, Huang Pilie, and others, and it is considered a celebrated work, copied and collected by famous people.

Names

  • Han, Fei, died 233 B.C. Author

Created / Published

  • [Place of publication not identified] : [Publisher not identified], [1600 to 1650]

Headings

  • -  China
  • -  280 B.C. to 233 B.C
  • -  Chinese classics
  • -  Kings and rulers
  • -  Legalism (Chinese philosophy)
  • -  Philosophy, Ancient
  • -  Statutes and codes

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 4 volumes : accordion binding ; 22 x 13.4 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: National Library of China.
  • -  Content in Chinese.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.
  • -  Title revised per Asian Division.--cc28 2023-01-06

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021666503

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Han, Fei, Died 233 B.C. Author. Han Feiz.i. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1650, 1600] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666503/.

APA citation style:

Han, F. (1600) Han Feiz.i. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1650] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666503/.

MLA citation style:

Han, Fei, Died 233 B.C. Author. Han Feiz.i. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1650, 1600] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021666503/>.