Legalism

A school of Chinese political philosophy that flourished during the Warring States period (5th–3rd centuries BCE), emphasizing strict laws, clear rewards and punishments, and centralized state control as the foundation of social order. Unlike Confucianism, which relied on moral cultivation and ritual, Legalism argued that human nature is inherently self-interested and must be governed through a comprehensive system of law (法 fa). Its most prominent proponents include Shang Yang, Han Feizi, and Li Si. Legalism profoundly shaped the Qin dynasty's unification of China and continues to influence Chinese governance and legal thinking.

Within the vast Chinese philosophical tradition, from the Hundred Schools of Thought to the classical texts that shaped East Asian civilization, Legalism represents a key concept that continues to inform philosophical thought and practice today.