Who was Confucius? Why was he famous? Confucius was China's most famous philosopher. A government official, he saw growing disorder in the system and set out to develop a moral code based on respect, honesty, education, kindness and strong family bonds. His teachings are the basis for religious and moral life in China.
Legalism was a philosophy of administration in ancient China. Upon first acquaintance with this system it seems no more than a rationalization by political administrators for their having total political control of their societies.
This website is very helpful about the purpose and origin of Legalism
This website was very helpful in the explanation of the introduction of legalism. It is very clear about the way the government adopted Legalism and helped me clarify my information about how legalism arose through the Warring States period and its main purpose.
Confucius (551-479 BCE), according to Chinese tradition, was a thinker, political figure, educator, and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. His teachings, preserved in the Lunyu or Analects, form the foundation of much of subsequent Chinese speculation on the education and comportment of the ideal man, how such an individual should live his life and interact with others, and the forms of society and government in which he should participate.
"The early thought behind Legalism was first formed by Shang Yang and was further developed by Hanfeizi and Li Si as a realist reform oriented philosophy meant to strengthen government and reinforce adherence to the law. Legalism fully emerged during the Warring States Period, a critical point in ancient Chinese history......."
This web site was very helpful. It said who created Legalism and when it was introduced and outlined what Legalists believed.
The Importance of the Great Wall The Great Wall, China's legendary defense line, is the country's number one historic monument and a national symbol. Although the vast majority of the remaining sections of the Great Wall were erected during the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall represents a collective effort of millions of people from many of China's imperial dynasties and pre-imperial states, dating back to over 2500 years ago.
this website gives great factual information about the Great Wall. this website tells you the height of the Great Wall, how it protected China, the measures taken by the Chinese Government to protect the Great Wall and many more handy facts.
Bureaucracy: To control his people, First Emperor Qin developed a system of bureaucracy. He divided his empire into 36 provinces. Each province was divided into districts. He put two government officials in charge of each province. It was their job to put strong people in charge of each district.
What is Confucianism? Confucianism, the philosophical system founded on the teaching of Confucius (551 - 479 BC), dominated Chinese sociopolitical life for most of Chinese history and largely influenced the cultures of Korea, Japan, and Indochina. The Confucian school functioned as a recruiting ground for government positions, which were filled by those scoring highest on examinations in the Confucian classics.