Shen Buhai c. 400 BC – 337 BC
Shen Buhai (c. 400 BC – 337 BC) was a Chinese philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Legalism.
Shen Buhai was a Chinese statesman and philosopher of the Warring States period, the chancellor of the small state of Han for fifteen years, and one of the founders of the Legalist school of Chinese political thought. Where Shang Yang stressed the use of clear law and severe punishment, Shen Buhai is associated with the development of administrative technique, in which the ruler holds his ministers accountable by matching their words to their results, while the personal conduct and even the name of the ruler remain unfathomable to subordinates. His writings survive only in fragments and in the polemical use Han Feizi made of them.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Chinese
- Era
- Ancient
- Movements
- Legalism
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“The ruler is empty; his ministers do the work of the state.”
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“Match the deed to the word, and reward and punish accordingly.”
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“He who lets the names of things slip into confusion has lost the means of rule.”
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“The wise ruler is unfathomable; what cannot be predicted cannot be manipulated.”
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“Method is the silent ally of the ruler against the cleverness of his ministers.”
Frequently asked about Shen Buhai
- When did Shen Buhai live?
- Shen Buhai was born in c. 400 BC and died in 337 BC.
- Where was Shen Buhai from?
- Shen Buhai was a Chinese philosopher of the Ancient era.
- What philosophical movements is Shen Buhai associated with?
- Shen Buhai was associated with Legalism.
- What was Shen Buhai known for?
- Shen Buhai was a Chinese statesman and philosopher of the Warring States period, the chancellor of the small state of Han for fifteen years, and one of the founders of the Legalist school of Chinese political thought.
- How many quotes are attributed to Shen Buhai?
- There are 5 attributed quotations from Shen Buhai in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.