The Five Vermin

韩非子Nanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

4.6

Word count: 4.8K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

“Success came through Han Fei, and failure came through Han Fei.” Han Fei was indeed bound up with the rise and fall of the Qin dynasty, all because of "The Five Vermin," a work he wrote.

Editor's review

"The Five Vermin" is a famous political essay in which Han Feizi sharply criticizes the parasites of society. The 2024 Nanhai Publishing House edition presents it as a standalone volume so readers can focus on this classic text. With an incisive style, the essay analyzes five kinds of people who contribute nothing to farming or warfare. Its logic advances layer by layer, its metaphors are apt, and it displays the Legalist style of argumentation: confronting reality directly and not avoiding sharp edges. The phrase in the materials, “Success came through Han Fei, and failure came through Han Fei,” reminds readers that the text can be understood within the historical arc of Qin's rise and fall, but when reading, they should still focus on the essay's argumentative structure. The book is not long, yet its information density is very high, making it suitable as an entry point for understanding the political logic of pre-Qin Legalism. While reading, readers can feel the urgent force of argumentative prose and also use the discussion of the “five vermin” to reflect on the relationship between institutions and human affairs. For readers who need to closely read classic political essays, this is a text that can be chewed over repeatedly.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature and history enthusiasts who want to closely read classic political essays of pre-Qin Legalism
Writing learners who need to analyze argumentative structure and debate techniques
General readers interested in the relationship between the rise and fall of the Qin system and Legalist thought
Readers preparing materials for recitation of Chinese classics or book club discussions

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting light, story-driven reading and with low tolerance for political argumentation
Readers who only want historical conclusions and are unwilling to read the original argumentation process in detail

Reading tips

First read through once to grasp the overall argument, then mark section by section what each of the “five vermin” refers to and how the author refutes them one by one.
Keep a pen ready and annotate the argumentative techniques beside each paragraph, such as metaphor, contrast, and reductio ad absurdum.
After finishing, summarize Han Fei's argumentative logic in two hundred words to test whether you have grasped the main thread.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

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FAQ

What five kinds of people do the “five vermin” specifically refer to?

In the text, Han Fei denounces five kinds of people who contribute nothing to the state's farming and warfare; the specific references should be based on the original text. Readers are advised to mark, one by one while reading, the author's definition of each type and the reasons for criticism, rather than summarizing from memory alone.

Can I understand it without a foundation in Legalist thought?

Yes, but it requires patience. It is recommended to first read through once without seeking full understanding, then use annotations to sort out the argumentative thread paragraph by paragraph. The text contains many metaphors and historical examples; grasping the main line of “why the author criticizes” will make understanding much smoother.

What is the relationship between this book and the rise and fall of the Qin dynasty?

The materials hint that “success came through Han Fei, and failure came through Han Fei,” pointing to the complex connection between Han Fei's thought and Qin governance. When reading, pay attention to the positions emphasized in the text, such as farming and warfare and the rule of law, and then consider their actual influence in light of known Qin history; but do not simply equate the text with historical conclusions.

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About the author

韩非子 Author

Han Feizi is regarded as the great synthesizer of Legalist thought in the late Warring States period; details of his life and native place are limited in publicly available sources and cannot be verified with certainty. The collection bearing his name contains seventeen of his works, including "Nan Yi," "Nan San," "Yang Quan," "Shuo Lin Shang," "Shuo Lin Xia," "Wu Du," and "Yu Lao," most of which are political and philosophical essays. These writings are known for their cold, rigorous reasoning and their skillful use of fables and historical examples to argue their points, analyzing layer by layer the dynamics between ruler and minister, the function of law and standards, and the changes of the age. Their language is concise and sharply pointed. Pieces such as "Wu Du" embody his emphasis on law, position, and statecraft, and have had a lasting influence on later political culture and essay writing; they are often classified under Eastern philosophy and miscellaneous prose.