Confucianism, which had arisen about 500 BCE, stressed the

importance of filial allegiance and ritual and probably was the

dominant philosophy of the time.
- The Confucians asserted that humans were basically good and
that evil came from the failures of the systems under which they
lived.
- Cosmological theorizing, yin and yang, five phases (fire, water,
earth, metal and wood)
- Wants a stable government
Qin were Legalists, Han were Confucianists
The Han period is associated with the victory of Confucianism.
- Did not eradicate other ways of thinking
- Historical importance lies in the ways it coloured the
connections between the elite, the society, and the state.
Wendi favored Daoism, finding value in its laissez-faire message.
Wudi recognized the advantages to the throne of employing men who
had learned Confucian self-restraint, concern for others, love of ritual,
devotion to principle, and loyalty to superiors.
One of the aims of Qin Legalism was direct rule by the emperor of
everyone in society.
Legalism went beyond the proposition of the need for a comprehensive
set of laws. The three elements of proper government according to
Legalist theory were:
- Shih: Power and position
- Shu: Administrative techniques and methods
- Fa: A comprehensive system of laws
The Legalists not only asserted that humans were by nature evil but
they expanded their notion of evil to include those activities which
were not deemed socially productive, such as reading and scholarship.
The Legalists believed that the only productive occupations were
farming and weaving. This meant that reading was simply a waste of
the labor resources of the society. So all books other than those on
farming, weaving and divination were burned, and those scholars who
refused to heed the administrators' edicts against pursuing useless
activities were punished and some were even buried alive.
Daoism
action through non-action
compassion, moderation, and humility