Mo Tzu, Hsün Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu were three of the most important
philosophers in ancient China. This collection of their basic writings
points to three very different positions within in the spectrum of
Chinese thought and reveals the diversity of of the Chinese intellectual
tradition.
Presenting the principle doctrines of Mo Tzu (470Â-391 B.C.) and his
followers, early rivals of the Confucian school, this section includes
writings on music, fatalism, Confucians, and "universal love"--the
cornerstone of Mo-ist philosophy--Hsün Tzu (born ca. 312 B.C.) provided
the dominant philosophical system of his day. Although basically
Confucian, he differed with Mencius by asserting that the original
nature of man is evil, and also expounded on such subjects as good
government, military affairs, Heaven, and music.
Representative of the Fachia, or Legalist, school of philosophy, the
writings of Han Fei Tzu (280?Â-233 B.C.) confront the issues of
preserving and strengthening the state through strict laws of punishment
and reward. His lessons remain timely as scholars continue to examine
the nature and use of power.