Legalism Rachael Scott P.1

Ancient China B.C.E.-Before Common Era The Qin Dynasty (Ch’in) was China’s first imperial dynasty. (It was a very short-lived dynasty, lasting only about 15 years.) It was formed on the basis of Chinese Philosophy. Chinese Philosophy: New ideas started to form about how the government and religion should be run. This took place during the Warring states era, when different parts of China were fighting for power.

What is Legalism? Legalism is very strict obedience to the law, giving complete power to the authority, and making sure others are completely following the law. Legalists believe that they can attain salvation only by perfectly upholding the law, and making sure others do too.

Who Started Legalism? When Legalism was first established in the Qin Dynasty, there were three men who mainly influenced the practice of Legalism.They are: Li Si Shang Yang Han Fei

Li Si Minister and adviser to the Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Li Si was harsh and brutal, and devised new ways to torture those who were not perfectly obedient to the law. He did not want people to learn and think for themselves, so he had almost all the books burned. He believed the common people were only good for working, and they weren’t smart or good enough to be educated. One of his rival nobles, Zhao Gao, had Li Si executed by his own torture inventions; called the Five Pains or Punishments. The victim's forehead was branded; then his nose was cut off; then his foot was cut off; then he was castrated; and then he was executed.

Shang Yang Shang Yang’s greatest priority was power. He believed that power could only be maintained through a large army and full food storages. He introduced many government procedures such as the appointment of governors over different divisions of land. He also created new measures for length, capacity, and weight. He did only what he wanted and eventually violated the interests of the other nobles. They had him executed by tying him to chariots and tearing him apart. Shang Yang’s Execution

Han Fei He is also known as Han Feizi and Han Fei Tzu. Greatest of China’s Legalist philosophers. He had a speech defect, so he mostly wrote essays on how Legalism should work, and how the government should be run. He was highly favored by the King. Li Si was afraid that the King would replace him with Han Fei, so he put Han Fei in prison for false accusations. Later, Li Si ordered Han Fei to commit suicide. Han Fei drank poison and died. Han Fei wrote many things, among them he wrote his beliefs on Legalism. He thought that the common people were selfish, stupid, and undependable. He believed that duty and political obedience came above everything else. Han Fei wrote that all the common people should farm, and there should be no scholars or teachers. He believed that giving to and helping the poor was unwise and unfair. And that collecting taxes from the rich for the poor is “robbing the diligent and frugal and indulging the extravagant and lazy.”

When and Where did Legalism occur in China? The concept of Legalism was started in the state (or land) of the Qin Dynasty. Legalism mostly began and ended with the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.E.) About 15 years.Many principles of Legalism are still practiced throughout the world today, even some of the torture methods.

Why was Legalism practiced and how was it enforced? Legalism was practiced because the leaders believed that humans are naturally selfish and greedy. So they made strict laws and harsh punishments called Legalism. People with perfect behavior received rewards. They believed a society could only have harmony through strong state control and absolute obedience to authority. The Legalist leaders enforced Legalism by very strict laws and harsh punishments. They used their armies to threaten the people, and tortured those who were not perfect to the law. In the end, the Legalists were so brutal that the Qin Dynasty was overthrown, and Legalist philosophy was not used or liked in China.

Examples of Legalism Today In 1994, Michael P. Fay, than age 18, was sentenced to four months in prison and four strokes of the cane in Singapore for vandalism and stolen road signs. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-05-16/news/9405160007_1_michael-fay-singapore-punishment http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/26/us/us-student-tells-of-pain-of-his-caning-in-singapore.html

Legalism Throughout the Years Though Legalism is very unpopular with most people, some still do practice Legalism; though not quite as extreme. They believe in upholding the law perfectly, and may discriminate those who do not.

Sources ancientstandard.com britannica.com izquotes.com ancienthistoryblog.com appletmagic.com articles.chicagotribune.com nytimes.com