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Two thinkers, side by side

Life

c. 350 BCE – c. 275 BCE

LegalistChinese

The thinker who found the secret of order not in virtue but in position, and prepared the ground for the Legalist state.

Han Feizi

c. 280 BCE – 233 BCE

ChineseLegalist

Born State of Han

Forget virtue. People follow incentives. A state runs on law, methods, and power, not the goodness of its ruler.

Connection

Shen Dao legalist predecessor Han Feizi — Han Feizi absorbed Shen Dao's doctrine that authority rests on position into the core of Legalist thought.

Shared Ideas

Legalism

Ideas

Legalism

Legalism Justice Li (Ritual Propriety)

Words

“The flying dragon rides the clouds; when the clouds disperse, it is no different from an earthworm. It is the position, not the creature, that commands.”
— Shen Dao

“When the wise ruler governs his people, he relies not on their doing him good, but on making it impossible for them to do wrong.”
— Han Feizi

Key Moments

c. 350 BCE

Born in Zhao

c. 300 BCE

Scholar of the Jixia Academy

c. 295 BCE

The Power of Position

c. 280 BCE

Bridge to Legalism

c. 280 BCE

Born a Prince of Han

c. 240 BCE

Writing on Power and Law

c. 234 BCE

The King of Qin Reads His Work

233 BCE

Poisoned in Prison

Works

The Shenzi

Han Feizi

Explore

Compare

Two thinkers, side by side

Life

Shen Dao

c. 350 BCE – c. 275 BCE

LegalistChinese

The thinker who found the secret of order not in virtue but in position, and prepared the ground for the Legalist state.

Han Feizi

c. 280 BCE – 233 BCE

ChineseLegalist

Born State of Han

Forget virtue. People follow incentives. A state runs on law, methods, and power, not the goodness of its ruler.

Connection

Shen Dao legalist predecessor Han Feizi — Han Feizi absorbed Shen Dao's doctrine that authority rests on position into the core of Legalist thought.

Shared Ideas

Legalism

Ideas

Legalism

Legalism Justice Li (Ritual Propriety)

Words

“The flying dragon rides the clouds; when the clouds disperse, it is no different from an earthworm. It is the position, not the creature, that commands.”
— Shen Dao

“When the wise ruler governs his people, he relies not on their doing him good, but on making it impossible for them to do wrong.”
— Han Feizi

Key Moments

c. 350 BCE

Born in Zhao

c. 300 BCE

Scholar of the Jixia Academy

c. 295 BCE

The Power of Position

c. 280 BCE

Bridge to Legalism

c. 280 BCE

Born a Prince of Han

c. 240 BCE

Writing on Power and Law

c. 234 BCE

The King of Qin Reads His Work

233 BCE

Poisoned in Prison

Works

The Shenzi

Han Feizi