The Study On The Ideological Origin Of Hanfei And Laozi

There was one issue that caught much attention of intellectuals since the era of Si Ma qian, a famous historian in Han Dynasty, that was, whether the thought of Master Lao was the origin and resource of that of Master Han Fei, and even now this topic still shows its power in academe. However, a great many researches on the review of the concepts or the relationship between them considering the power tactics flood comparing with the little attention of their essential relationship from the angles of their thought properties. People in Han Dynasty divided them into two different schools: Taoism and Legalist School. In fact, that division ignored the essential sameness of their systems of theory which both focused on the ruling strategies. This thesis makes meticulous inspection on practical value trend in the theories of Master Lao and the critical and developing aspects of the doctrines of Master Han Fei toward Master Lao by tracing the origin of the two so as to make a further research on the cognition of the people in Han Dynasty including Si Ma qian mentioned before.Master Lao focused his effort on the means to be a perfect ruler while Master Han Fei emphasized the holiness of a king and the supremeness and exclusiveness of the sovereign power which formed a complete monarchy thought system. Moreover, the language concepts and the reasoning methods of the two differ from one another. Both of their thought systems are about sovereign power strategies on how to make a perfect ruling social order regardless of the difference in their process of reasoning. Consequently the proof of their similarity lies in this which powerfully testifies the view that Han Fei inherits and develops the thought of Master Lao.From the analysis of the three important concepts in the thought systems in Master Lao and Han Fei: the reasoning on fundamental principles, the original properties of human beings and intelligence, the obvious impacts about the essential ?frame of the thought system from Master Lao on Han Fei can be easily felt.On the reasoning of the first concept, three facets are discussed respectively. As for the ontology of Tao, both of them claim that Tao is very origin of the world; as for the law of Tao, they stress the existence of the principles of Tao which can be used for further discussion. As for the aspects of practical reality, however there is some difference. Master Lao believes that the principles of nature is prior to realistic social order which is governed by the former while Master Han Fei emphasizes the importance of the guiding value of previous social reality to contemporary practice.Han Fei makes use of the abstract reasoning of Master Lao and develops his own standpoints which lay emphasis on the exclusive position of the ruler and reasonability of absolutism. Evidently, the thought of Han Fei is served for a better governing order for the ruling class. Regardless of some difference of their specific expatiation, the conclusions of them are the same, that is, to obtain perfect ruling strategies. On the second concept, Master Lao deems that the natural property of human beings is existent and modesty while Han Fei claims the essential properties of men are to be fond of benefits and abhor harm. Accordingly their attitudes toward human beings differ from each other. Mater Lao advocates that the social properties of men should be returned to natural condition and Han Fei believes the best way is to make use of the properties. Their goals are of the same in spite of the means they take, that is to achieve a best ruling social order to fulfill the sovereignty dream by proper instruction and conduction of the properties of men.On the third concept of intelligence, both of them oppose improper dexterity and subtilty. Master Lao praises great wisdom as original and pure as infants which will certainly brings a better social order without much government interference. However, Master Han Fei is for that the king possesses all the intelligence, especially political wisdom while the citizens do not have even a little wisdom. Han Fei believes that such ?a condition will be good for sovereignty. Hereby their aims are the same, that is, the perfect implement of the king.From the comparison of the texts, it is easy to find that Master Lao and his works make a great impact on Han Fei and his thought much of which can be found in Master Lao's works. Furthermore, Master Han Fei interprets Master Lao's thought in his own style sometimes with distortion, deepens and enlarges some of the previous one. Therefore there is much difference between their thought systems. In spite of the diversity, the same goals to achieve an ideal social order for the ruler are so strong that cannot be ignored. This is the ultimate sameness of their thought and also the common property of their thought. Thus the essential property should be considered and emphasized when making a review of their thought.Regardless of some distortion and improper interpretation, however, the inheriting action should not be severely criticized. On the contrary, the inheriting means Han Fei takes provide us much experience for contemporary cultural construction. People in any era will definitely make an innovation of the previous thought when inheriting. This is a common and proper way that the thought and history develops. Han Fei interprets and develops Master Lao's thought in his own way out of the particular social demand. When facing the development of traditional culture, we should also make a careful consideration on the contemporary social needs.