Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hsün Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu

by Burton Watson (Translator)

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 (470-391 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 Mohist 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 (280 233 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.

Genres: Philosophy, China, Classics, History

480 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 1967

About the author

Burton Watson was an American sinologist, translator, and writer renowned for his English translations of Chinese and Japanese literature. Over his prolific career, he brought classical works of poetry, philosophy, and history to a wider audience, earning numerous accolades, including the PEN Translation Prize and the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation.
Born in New Rochelle, New York, Watson served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before studying Chinese at Columbia University. He later moved to Japan, where he worked as a scholar and translator, remaining there for most of his life. His translations, influenced by Arthur Waley and Ezra Pound, emphasized clarity and poetic resonance. Among his most notable works are translations of The Analects of Confucius, Records of the Grand Historian, The Lotus Sutra, Cold Mountain: 100 Poems by Han Shan, and The Tale of the Heike.
Watson’s work played a crucial role in introducing Chinese and Japanese literary traditions to the English-speaking world, and his translations continue to be regarded as both scholarly and literary achievements.

Reviews

[John Redmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great translation, and an excellent compilation of three main ancient Chinese philosophers.

[Manuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

J

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good translation of some odd Chinese philosophers of the ages of Mencius and the Qin. Mozi, described by Oswald Spengler as a "socialist", has an oddly autistic worldview which absolutizes some elements and demands the elimination of others. Xunzi is a pessimistic Confucian who believes that rituals make us human and without rituals we would revert to animality; I cannot help but have some sympathy for his views. Han Fei, the only actual prince among the Chinese philosophers, is a distrustful Machiavelli constantly seeing the seeds of treason and assassination around him. Burton Watson pulls no punches and gives us the real flavor of the philosophers with carefully chosen excerpts.