Download
1 / 12
140 likes | 177 Views
Legalism was used by the Qin dynasty to establish a centralized government with strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain peace and order. This belief system prioritized practical professions and sacrificed individual freedom for the state. The founder Li Si and co-founder Han Feizi emphasized the use of law and rewards to ensure social harmony. Despite its effectiveness in unifying China, Legalism was met with resentment and drove people towards Confucianism and Daoism.
E N D
Legalism The Qin dynasty used legalist ideas to build a strong central government and well-organized society. Rulers should establish strict laws with rewards for good behavior and harsh punishment for bad behavior. Peace and order in society
Belief Systems (Not Religion) • Legalism • Human nature is wicked and selfish, people behave only if they are ruled by laws and punishments – becomes basis of many states • Individual freedom should be sacrificed for the state • Highest emphasis on ‘practical professions’ such as farming or military
Rise of Chinese PhilosophiesLegalism • Founders: • Li Si, Hanfeizi • Ideas About Social Order: • Efficient & powerful gov’t is key to social order • Ideas About Government • Gov’t should control ideas & use law & harsh punishment to restore harmony • Rewards for people who carry out their duties well
Co-Founders • Han Feizi • Was taught in Confucian tradition • Wrote the Han Feizi, the main book of Legalism • Died as a result of political duel in 233 B.C.
Han Feizi Text • 55 chapters • Some Taoist in theme • Inform ruler what pitfalls to avoid • System of rewards and punishments
Legalism • The Ruler requires • shì (勢): authority • the power to make his commands be obeyed • shù (術): methods • the ability to handle his subordinates • fǎ (法): law • to guarantee impartiality and justice
Fa (The Law) Legalist Criticisms • Rulers made laws when they came to power. • Purpose was to allow rulers to be “benevolent” • Really this meant laws could be enacted arbitrarily and lead to corruption. Solution • Legalism sought to make a public, written legal code. • This system would run the state, not the ruler. • Laws were enforced by strict rewards/ punishments.
Legalism • Because of self-interest, Legalists believed that only harsh laws imposed by a strong ruler would ensure order. • Han Feizi noted: “The ruler alone possesses power, wielding it like lightening or like thunder.” • In 221 B.C., the Qin emperor Shi Huangdi used Legalist ideas to unite China.
Education • Scholars and books that disagreed with Legalists beliefs were destroyed. • Legalists wanted people to think the same way and not gain too much knowledge. • The legalist government would burn books that were not in favor of the way they wanted their government to run.
Household • Family came second to obeying the laws. One's duty was to turn his or her family members into the government if one of their family members broke a law. • Families were overall controlled and organized
Legacy of Legalism • Unified China under the Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty • The Qin dynasty adopted Legalism’s strict laws and controls • Helped to unify territory quickly and with large construction projects (Great Wall) • Caused great resentment amongst populous • Drove people to Confucianism and Daoism • Legalism was brutally applied--forced labor, harsh taxes, ruthless penalties-- and Chinese always looked on it with distaste from a historical perspective
