Little is known about the person of Han Feitzu except for a brief biographical description in the Historical record (completed in 86 B . C. ) . Han Feitzu was born into the Royal House of the Kingdom of Han; he studied widely the then prevailing philosophies – Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism, among others – with the aim of deriving sound methods of government; he recommended to the King of Han measures aimed at increasing the wealth of the Kingdom and strengthening its military capability; finding himself unable to persuade the King, however, Han Feitzu committed his thought to writing. After reading a few chapters of Han Feitzu’s writing, the crown prince of Ch’in, who soon ascended to the throne and conquered all of China, was most anxious to meet Han Feitzu in person; a political intrigue induced the King of Han to send Han Feitzu to Ch’in as an envoy; Han Feitzu, however, was put to death by Li Ssu, the prime minister of Ch’in, a former fellow student who feared that Han Feitzu’s brilliance might overshadow him.