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Legalism

Legalism. 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).

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Legalism

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  1. Legalism

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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.

  6. Han Feizi Text • 55 chapters • Some Taoist in theme • Inform ruler what pitfalls to avoid • System of rewards and punishments

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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

  12. 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

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