What is Legalism
- Legalists believed that institutions should be based on the realities of human behavior
- It is strict application of laws
- Showing accountability
- Manipulation of political purposes
- The best type of government is one who is controlling and strict
Although Legalism helped unify China as a whole it also ended the Qin Dynasty prematurely and in chaos. Qin Shi Huangdi burned all of the books related to confucianism and other philosophies. This upsetted many people who eventually decided that legalism was not the way to rule and started a rebellion to end the Qin Dynasty once and for all. “All persons in the empire, except members of the Academy of Learned Scholars, in possession of the Classic of Odes, the Classic of Documents, and discourses of the hundred philosophers should take them to the local governors and have them indiscriminately burned. ”(3) Many people believed in the philosophy of confucianism; so through the annihilation of confucist scholars and burning of books, many were angry and upset. When Qin Shi Huangdi died his son took the throne. This caused many arguments and conflicts in the administration. “The advisors squabbled among themselves, however, which resulted in both their deaths and that of the second Qin emperor. Popular revolt broke out a few years later, and the weakened empire soon fell to a Chu lieutenant, who went on to found the Han Dynasty.”(4)
Why the Qin Dynasty Ended
- The first Emperor held to much power
- The Qin Dynasty had to many extensive and harsh policies
- the advisors struggled for power
WORKS CITED:
- "Qin Dynasty." Ancient History Encyclopedia. http://www.ancient.eu/Qin_Dynasty/.
- Qian, Sima. “Excerpts from Sima Qian's Biography of Qin Shihuang.” http://wps.pearsoncustom.com/wps/media/objects/2427/2486120/chap_assets/documents/doc4_5.html
- "Qin Dynasty." Princeton University. http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Qin_Dynasty.html.
- "Qin Dynasty." Princeton University. http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Qin_Dynasty.html.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bZXxGv52t8
- http://pages.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/Symaa/Symaa25e.html
- http://uwm.edu/libraries/exhibits/burnedbooks/
- http://www.china-tour.cn/Chinese-History/Qin-Dynasty.htm
ANTHONY WENG