Fierce Dogs and Temple Rats: How Unchecked Power Leads to a Nation’s Downfall

The Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period were a golden age for Chinese fables. These allegorical stories were often used in politics to convey satire, warnings, and moral lessons. Unlike fables from ancient Greece or India, Chinese fables were deeply intertwined with political philosophy, making them a unique literary tradition.

The works of Han Feizi, a key figure in Legalist thought, contain numerous fables that illustrate the dangers of unchecked power. Two such stories, The Fierce Dog and the Sour Wine and The Temple Rats, serve as powerful metaphors for political corruption and the difficulties rulers face in governing wisely.

…

Read the full article on Nspirement