The Significance of Han Feizi for Contemporary China

The Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania presents a talk with Song Hongbing.

Song Hongbing 宋洪兵, Professor at Renmin University

The thought of Han Feizi has value and significance for China that should not be underestimated. Of course, it takes a new research perspective and courage to face the truth of the issue. This topic touches upon three points. Firstly, we need to overcome the prejudices of previous scholars, both pre-modern and modern, especially the prejudices of despotism and authoritarianism. Secondly, the thought of Han Feizi originated at the end of Warring States period, and undoubtedly it has characteristics peculiar to that era. However, it also has common values that transcend that monarchical era. These values primarily become apparent in how social rules are established and the cultural-psychological elements within the process of setting up social rules. Thirdly, contemporary China is currently ardently building a complete system of social rules, but on the level of how to implement that system, China faces unprecedented difficulties. The thought of Han Feizi can practically serve as a source of ideas for the problems that contemporary China faces, especially in such realms as that of punishing corruption, guaranteeing a basic level of morality, increasing the strength of punishment, and eliminating the idea that one can accidentally get away with bad deeds.

* Penn EALC Rickett Lecture