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Legalism

Legalism. Rule by harsh law & order. SOURCE : http://www.powerpoint-search-engine.com/legalism-ppt.html. Han Fei. 280? - 233 B.C.E. Han Fe Zi . Lived during the late Warring States period. Legalism became the political philosophy of the Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty .

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Legalism

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  1. Legalism Rule by harsh law & order SOURCE : http://www.powerpoint-search-engine.com/legalism-ppt.html

  2. Han Fei 280? - 233 B.C.E. Han Fe Zi. Lived during the late Warring States period. Legalism became the politicalphilosophy of the Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty.

  3. Major Legalist Principles 1. Human nature is naturally selfish. 2. Intellectualism and literacy is discouraged. 3.Law is the supreme authority and replaces morality. 4. The ruler must rule with a strong,punishinghand. 5. War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s power.

  4. Authoritarian One who favors the principle that individuals should obey a powerful authority rather than exercise individual freedom. The ruler, therefore,“cracks his whip” on the backs of his subjects!

  5. Belief Systems – China: Religions & Philosophies Legalism • Han Feizi– founder of the Legalist school of thought. • Disputed Confucius and Mencius’ view that humans are naturally inclined towards good. • Legalists believed that people are by nature evil and need to be forced to do good by harsh laws and stiff punishments. • Only a strong ruler could create an orderly society / Only firm action by the state could bring about social order.

  6. Belief Systems – China: Legalism in Practice • Shi Huangdi, leader of the Qin Dynasty made Legalism the first “ruling ideology” in China’s history. • Created an authoritarian system: - non-Legalist political philosophies (including Confucianism) were banned - books offering views contrary to Legalist principles were burned - all disagreements with the government was made a capital crime • The dynasty was overthrown because it was too oppressive

  7. Belief Systems – China: Legalism in Practice People were conscripted for mandatory state projects: Irrigation projectsConstruction of sections of the Great Wall

  8. Dynastic Rule & Structure Of Government • Shi Huangdicentralized political power in his hands. • His way of ruling became a model for future Chinese dynasties. • He did this by: - Appointing officials at the provincial and county level / they did not inherit their positions like under the Zhou - Unified the system of weights and measures - Standardized the money system & the written language - Constructed a system of roads all over the empire

  9. Other Social Groups: Eunuchs • Shi Huangdi established a class of eunuchs who served as personal attendants of the emperor and female members of his family. - Why? Since eunuchs could not have children, they would not rise up against the emperor to seize power for his sons. - To restrict the influence of male courtiers. • Eunuchs became a standard fixture of the Chinese imperial system.

  10. Legalist Influence on China’s Leaders Han FeiZi Mao Ze Dong Qin Shi Huang Di

  11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoHOQ0pyNpI&feature=related (Han FeiZi, animations in Mandarin, 1 min) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DInxfYjPqKU • (video on emperor Qin, what legalism can do)

  12. Additional Resource: http://www.authorstream.com/tag/Qin (ppt on Qin and Han dynasty)

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