Death of Han Feizi (233 B.C.)

Han Feizi, or Master Han Fei, was an important Legalist thinker at the end ofthe Warring States Period. Legalism describes an intellectual movement in thelate Zhou and Qin dynasties, marked by its rejection of Confucian values, analysisof society from the point of view of its ruler, and lack of emphasis on virtueas the key to successful government. Although Han Fei studied with the Confucianmaster Xunzi (along with the future Qin minister Li Si), he saw many Confuciantheories of government as outdated and irrelevant. For him, the ultimate authoritywas the ruler, whom he believed should hold himself separate from others in orderto avoid “[falling] under that person’s control.” He likeneda ruler’s subjects to infants, unaware of what was good for them and thereforeneeding strict guidance, rather than virtuous, kind treatment. Han Feizi diedin 233 B.C., a victim of court politics engineered by his fellow student Li Si.(Laura Hill)

Patricia Ebrey, The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. (Cambridge:Cambridge University Press, 1996).

Last modified:October 23, 2004