Legalism forbade the study of all existing philosophies and doctrines. When legalism came into effect, the rulers burned all the study material associated with other philosophies (Debary 137). Legalists also oversaw the type of education offered to their citizens. The founder of Confucianism, Confucius, was a teacher and politician from Lu and taught between the 5th and 6th centuries BC. Confucius valued tradition and his teachings always encouraged the study of history, poetry, music, and rituals. The central message of Confucius` message was an ideal society in which people from all walks of life were dedicated to responsibility for others. Confucius, who lived in the 6th century BC, was one of the leading Chinese philosophers. He regarded the Western Zhou period with its strong centralized state as an ideal. He was pragmatic and sought to reform the existing government by promoting a system of mutual duties between superiors and subordinates. Confucius emphasized tradition, believing that an individual should strive to be virtuous and respectful and conform to his or her place in society. After his death in 479 BC. His followers wrote his ethical and moral teachings in the Mon-yü, or analects. There is a similarity between the view of Taoism and the worldview of Confucianism on human nature, because both philosophies agree that morality can be achieved in man without outside influence.
On the contrary, legalism advocates harsh and severe penalties to ensure that people abide by rules and regulations. In addition, legalists insist on severe penalties, even for simple mistakes. These three philosophies were Taoism, legalism, and Confucianism. The three philosophies have parallel teachings that have both similarities and differences. However, Confucianism remains the most influential school of thought among the three philosophies. Legalists could be divided into three types. The first dealt with shi, or investing the position of ruler with power (not the person) and the need to obtain facts to govern well. The second dealt with laws, regulations and standards. This meant that all under the ruler were equal and that the state was governed by law, not by a ruler. The third was the concept of shu or tactics to ensure state security. Legalism generally competed with Confucianism, which advocated a just and reciprocal relationship between the state and its subjects. The Chinese period of the Zhou is marked by a great philosophical awakening.
During the Zhou period, the ruling dynasty tried to find philosophical ways to manage power and effectively govern its subjects. Therefore, the Zhou period led to an era of intellectual pursuit, marked by opposing schools of thought, regional philosophical divisions, and public debate. Nevertheless, at the end of the Zhou period, only three schools of thought emerged at the top. Another important philosopher at that time was Lao-tzu (also called Laozi), who founded Taoism (also called Taoism) along with Confucianism. Lao Tzu is a legendary figure – it is not known if he really existed. According to legend, Lao-tzu was born an old man around 604 BC. When he left home to live a life of solitude, the city porter asked him to write down his thoughts. He did this in a book called Tao Te Ching and was never seen again. Representation of Mozi. The Chinese philosopher who founded Mohism is shown here. Taoism as a religion emerged over time and involved the worship of gods and ancestors, the cultivation of “chi” energy, a system of morality, and the use of alchemy to achieve immortality.
This is still in practice today. Being a good and virtuous person in all ordinary situations was the goal of Confucianism. This virtue was called “Jen,” and humans were considered perfectible and fundamentally good creatures. Ceremonies and rituals based on the five classics, especially the I Ching, were heavily introduced. Some ethical concepts were Yì (the moral disposition to do good), Lǐ (ritual norms for everyday life), and Zhì (the ability to see what is right in the behavior of others). Although Confucianism and Taoism are the Chinese philosophies that survive the most to this day, a lesser-known philosophy called legalism was even more important in this early period. This states that people are inherently evil and must be kept online by a strong state. After legalism, the state was much more important than the individual. While legalism believed that laws should be clear and public, and that everyone should be subject to them, it also asserted that rulers had supreme power and should use secrecy and secrecy to stay in power. Legalists also believed that society should strive to dominate other societies. Taoism differs from Confucianism on the question of government because the latter insists on the existence of an informed and capable system of government (Ebrey and Walthall 27). However, legalism insists that the government is the supreme organ of society and should use its power.
For example, legalist leaders considered “the Confucian idea that government could be based on virtue” to be naïve (Ebrey and Walthall 31). Mohism emerged at about the same time as the other philosophies discussed here under the philosopher Mozi (c. 470-391 BC). The concept most commonly known under mohism was “impartial care,” also known as “universal love.” This meant that people also had to take care of others, regardless of their true relationship with that person. This contradicted the ideas of Confucianism, which held that love for close relationships should be greater. Mohism also emphasized the ideas of self-control, reflection, and authenticity. Moreover, rulers exist only in legalism and Confucianism. In legalism, however, rulers are supreme beings who strive to bring discipline to society by any means necessary. The role of the individual is different in all three philosophies. For example, in Confucianism, the individual plays a major role in the cohesion of society. Representation of Shang Yang. Shang Yang was a legalistic reformer among the Qin.
Both Taoism and legalism differ from Confucianism in their view of the family. Legalism does not deal with family matters. In addition, legalism focuses only on family members as citizens. On the other hand, Confucianism consisted of roles to be assumed by family members in an ideal society. Taoism advocated that the individual follow a mysterious force called The Way (Dao) of the universe and act in accordance with nature. Taoism emphasized the unity of all things and was strictly individualistic, unlike Confucianism, which advocated acting as society expected. For example, after Confucianism, children had to care for their aging parents. Confucianism dealt with family matters with the intention of bringing order and peace to society, while legalism saw no need to include the family unit in its system of government.
Taoism dealt with family matters in order to exploit natural harmony. Therefore, Taoism`s views on the family are closely related to Confucianism. For example, Taoism teaches that both men and women should assume their natural roles. Similarly, Confucianism offers women a more important role in the family environment. The basis of civil trials in imperial China and the Confucian canon. They consist of the Book of Odes, the Book of Documents, the Book of Changes, the Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. While according to Taoism, plants and animals are able to align with the natural way of life, people insist on planning, planning, organizing, and analyzing. On the other hand, legalism focused on the use of state powers. Legalism was triggered by the existence of disorder in Chinese society. Since then, leaders have tried to take tough measures to curb the growing disorder. Ebrey, Patricia and Anne Walthall.
East Asia: A Cultural, Social and Political History, New York, NY: Cengage Learning, 2013. Drucken. Confucianism deals with ultimate virtue, or the ability to attain “humanity, perfect goodness, benevolence, philanthropy, and nobility” (Ebrey and Walthall 27). Laozi is the personality behind Taoism. The Taoist school of philosophy disapproves of anything artificial and unnatural. Confucianism remained widespread in Han Dynasty China in 202 BC. AD until the end of dynastic rule in 1911. It was reformulated as Neo-Confucianism during the Tang Dynasty (618–907) and became the basis for imperial trials.
On the other hand, Taoism advocates a reclusive individual who wants to be one with nature. In legalism, the role of the individual is to serve the state by engaging in activities such as forced labor and military service (Ebrey and Walthall 32).
