法家
Legalism
Chinese Philosophy · traditionA 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.
故治民无常，唯法为治。
— Han Feizi, Chapter 49 (Han Fei)
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What Are the Key Facts About Legalism?
- Tradition: Chinese Philosophy
- Chinese: 法家
- Category: Tradition
- Definition: 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.
What Concepts Are Related to Legalism?
Han Feizi 韩非子Frequently Asked Questions About Legalism
What is Legalism?
Legalism (Fajia) was a Chinese political philosophy emphasizing firm law (fa), state power, and reward-punishment to order the state, prominent in the Qin dynasty.
Who were the Legalists?
Key figures: Shang Yang (administrative law), Shen Buhai (administrative technique), Shen Dao (power/position), and Han Feizi (synthesizer).
What are fa, shu, and shi?
Fa = public law/standards; shu = administrative methods of the ruler; shi = positional power/authority. Han Feizi combined them into a realist statecraft.
How did Legalism relate to Confucianism?
Legalists rejected Confucian reliance on virtue and rites, arguing people respond to incentives and deterrence; the Qin used it to unify China in 221 BCE.