Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings [Paperback]

Burton Watson (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1964 | ISBN-10: 0231086091 | ISBN-13: 978-0231086097 0

Representative of the Fachia, or Legalist, school of philosophy, the writings of Han Fei Tzu (280?-233 B.C.) confront the issues of preserving and strengthening the state. His lessons remain timely as scholars continue to examine the nature and use of power. Burton Watson provides a new preface and a helpful introduction.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Burton Watson is one of the world's best-known translators from the Chinese and Japanese. His translations include The Lotus Sutra, The Vimalakirti Sutra, Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan, Saigyo: Poems of a Mountain Home, and The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry: From Early Times to the Thirteenth Century, all published by Columbia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 134 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (1964)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231086091
• ISBN-13: 978-0231086097
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A chilling classic, November 4, 2004

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings (Paperback)

Han Fei's "Legalist" writings on government may be the most brutal and amoral in China's long written history. I can't even call it vicious - his grasping, avaricious view of human nature displays the same bizarre innocence as a snake crushing a rat.

The Legalist school built itself around laws or duties that defined every part of life. Enforcement was rigid, both in punishment and in reward. This, oddly, was where the Legalists diverged from the duty-bound Confucians. Han Fei stopped short of openly criticizing Confucius, but would have reversed every Confucian decision based on compassion or familial bonds. (Han Fei's "everyone vs. the world" view accepted even wives, parents, and children as potential enemies.)

Although Legalist punishments were permanent and severe - mutilation or death - rewards were intentionally small. No farmer should ever have a reward that let him stop farming, no under-lord should ever have wealth that could support his own power base. A happy populace was important to Han Fei's government, but only because a satisfied peasantry was harder to stir to revolt. Han Fei also argued against a large educated class. That argument helped me understand (but not justify) purges in more recent history.

There is a lot more to say about this book, but I have to rein myself in. However repulsive I find Han Fei's philosophy, though, this book has given me plenty to think about. It's a slim book, Burton Watson's extracts from Han Fei's ouvre, but well chosen. Also, it is another sample of Watson's outstanding translations. I've read a number of Watson's works, and I find his translations uniformly well written. His scholarship appears impeccable, and he has done the English language a wonderful service by making these classics available.

I have to recommend this book to anyone who's read Macchiavelli. I don't expect any sane person with a trace of compassion to follow this way. I do hope that readers will let Han Fei teach them the signs of tyrrany. I take this book as a warning light that has shined for over 2000 years, and still illuminates current dangers.

//wiredweird

PS: This material appears to be repeated in Watson's "Han Feizi" (ISBN 0231129696). The only difference seems that the two are Romanized, given English spellings, according to different conventions.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, July 16, 2005

By 

Boris The Blade (Hell, Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings (Paperback)

This is a fantastic read - I really recommend this one! This is the first time ever I review a book on Amazon, but this one I simply have to mention. Usually I've thought that the books I enjoy get enough good reviews; so therefore, there is no need for me to add another one repeating the same views. This one simply seems to have been overlooked by way too many people for some reason though.

The basic writings of Han Fei Tzu are certainly the Chinese equivalent to "The Prince", but even more harsh. It's like Machiavelli on steroids and a really good snort of cocaine ;-) Absolutely amazing! Seriously though, Han Fei Tzu writes with profound understanding on power and leadership. For students of strategy, management and war; this is totally a must have book. Han's insights are valid to this day. A good guide to maintaining the upper hand in the battle of life; a real gem!

Oftentimes Chinese books are a little too poetic in their language, but that is not the case here. Watson, the boy wonder, has done a killer job with the translation indeed. Very accessible.

I guess the only downside with this book is the price. It is a little expensive. Still, with the quality of the work in mind, I reckon it's worth it.

Might is Right!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Han Fei Tzu-Misunderstood!, December 3, 2005

By 

Victor L. Smith (Richmond,Va. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings (Paperback)

I finished reading the philosophy of Han fei Tzu and it was one of the best books I have ever read.It tells of basic human nature and how to confront it.It tells of how to use power against those that try to aquire power for their own use.Some people think its Machiavellian and tell how to climb to power.But the author is not telling how to cut throats but to keep cutthroats out of power and to be aware of them.
At the them China was in turmoil.State fought against state,family against family and brother against brother.Permissiveness was widespread.The future first emperor
read the book and was pleased with it. He used it to unify China.Too bad he did not heed all of Han Fei Tzu's warnings on ambitious ministers like Li Si(who by the way had Han Fei Tzu murdered by manipulating the future emperor).
The book is not saying to cut throats,but to "get real".