"rule Of Law" And "han Feizi" Ideological Similarities And Differences Theory

Shang-chtin shu and Han Fei tzu are two basic classics reflecting Shang Yang's and Han Fei's thought. Shang Yang is a representative Legalist in the early Warring States Period while Han Fei is in the late period, and thus there are both similarities and differences between them. This paper, through studying the two classics, makes a systematic comparison between these two Legalists' thought.In Skang-Chun shu and Han Fei tzu, there are four theoretical pillars of the thought: historical evolution theory, human nature towards profit, materialistic view of the nature, and materialistic epistemology. Basically speaking, both Shang Yang and Han Fei approach the world materialistically and dialectically, but in terms of specific content, Han Fei's theory is a furthur and deeper development of Shang Yang's, and hence makes Legalism more systematic.Although Shang Yang and Han Fei are both initiators of monarchy, they are different so far as the law, method, and power-base are concerned. Shang Yang attaches great importance to law but pays little attention to method and power-base, while Han Fei not only carries forward Shang Yang's thought of law but also puts spcial emphasis on method and power-base.As for agriculture and warfare, Shang-chun shu and Han Fei tzu are greatly compatible. Shang Yang and Han Fei both emphasize agriculture and warfare. To develop agriculture and inspire people's fighting spirit, they spare no effort to reject knowledge, industry and commerce as if they were a formidable enemy of agriculture and warfare.In a word, being two representative Legalists in different historical periods,Shang Yang's and Han Fei's thought is characterized by different epochal characters as well as similarities.