Illustrating Laozi

韩非子Nanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

4.6

Word count: 3.2K words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

Explaining Laozi

Editor's review

This passage comes from "Explaining Laozi" in Han Feizi. It sets "when the world has the Way" against "when the world lacks the Way," using the two phrases "halt the galloping horses for manure" and "warhorses are bred in the suburbs" to ground abstract political judgment in concrete images of horses and battlefields. Han Fei is skilled at argument through terse contrasts and concrete formulation, and this passage is typical: in peace, courier relays lie idle and warhorses return to the fields; in turmoil, armor stays long in the field, soldiers do not return, and even the tents become nesting places for swallows and sparrows. The reader can see here how "Explaining Laozi" draws on Laozi's words to develop Legalist thought and can also appreciate the force with which pre-Qin argumentative prose organizes contrasts and advances step by step within a limited space. This single-passage edition serves as an entry point for studying Han Feizi's manner of argument: first clarify the paired structure of "having the Way" and "lacking the Way," then analyze the real-world scene corresponding to each quotation, and finally return to how the author substitutes concrete images for abstract propositions. Readers comparing the relevant chapters of Laozi can also observe how the same proposition unfolds in different intellectual traditions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying Han Feizi's methods of argument who need a single passage for close reading
Students interested in pre-Qin intellectual history who wish to read in comparison with Laozi
Self-learners studying classical Chinese contrastive argumentation and concrete expression
Teachers of ancient Chinese or intellectual history who need short materials

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking to read the whole Han Feizi systematically or needing a complete translation and commentary
Beginners not yet familiar with pre-Qin classical Chinese and unable to handle background concepts
Readers who want only strongly narrative fables and have limited interest in argumentative prose

Reading tips

First mark the two contrasts "when the world has the Way" and "when the world lacks the Way," and list the phenomena corresponding to each.
Restore "halt the galloping horses for manure" and "warhorses are bred in the suburbs" to concrete scenes, then reconsider why the author chose horses for the text.
Read alongside the relevant chapters of Laozi, noting which layer of meaning Han Fei emphasizes when quoting.
After reading, retell the passage's argument in a paragraph of plain Chinese to check whether the relation between contrasts and quotations is clear.

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.

版权信息
喻老第二十一

FAQ

What is the relationship between "Explaining Laozi" and Laozi?

"Explaining Laozi" is a chapter of Han Feizi that uses passages from Laozi to expound its own political views; it cites Laozi to support its own argument rather than commenting chapter by chapter. When reading this passage, see both how it takes up Laozi's statements and how Han Fei shifts the focus to the contrast between order and disorder and its real consequences; only then will the two not be confused.

What exactly does "halt the galloping horses for manure" mean?

Literally it means retiring galloping warhorses to spread manure and plow the fields; in context it describes a state of peace in which military labor has ceased. It contrasts with the later phrase "warhorses are bred in the suburbs": on one side horses return to the fields, on the other warhorses are born in the wild; together the two images give a concrete account of order and disorder.

Is this passage suitable for practicing classical Chinese translation?

Yes. The passage is short but contains parallel structures, quotations, and several terms for things; in translating, first distinguish the author's judgments from the quotations, then handle concrete expressions such as "courier relays" and "armor breeds lice." It is best to translate literally first, then adjust word order, and finally check against the notes whether the contrasts have been lost in translation.

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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.