Legalism, a school of thought centered on the rule of law during the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period in China. This school denied the naturally inherited hierarchical system of hereditary nobles and believed that "a sage can only strengthen the country, but can only benefit the people if he does not follow the law." , do not follow the etiquette." ("Historical Records? Biography of Shang Jun") In their political practice, they rewarded farming and warfare, destroyed poems and books, completely broke with traditional culture, and advocated ruling the country by law.
This kind of The school was mainly popular in the three kingdoms of Han, Wei, and Zhao during the Warring States Period, and early Legalist figures also came from these three countries, such as Shang Yang from Wei, Shen Buha from South Korea, and Shen Dao from Zhao. There are three schools of thought in Legalism. : Caution emphasizes "power", Shen Buhai emphasizes "technique", and Shang Yang emphasizes "law". These schools of thought were culminated by Han Feizi, a Korean, and constitute the ultimate core of Legalism.
Legalism This theory is a purely utilitarian ideological system. The core of the content is mainly aimed at how the monarch can strengthen his rule. In the Warring States Period, "donating gifts and paying tribute to war, abandoning benevolence and righteousness and using deception, just to gain strength" In the case of desperate competition, Legalist ideas are indeed quite practical in the struggle, as evidenced by Qin's unification of the six kingdoms. However, Confucianism's mild political views that stick to tradition seem a bit "foolish and far-reaching." ("Historical Records? Biography of Mencius and Xunqing"). In the late Western Han Dynasty, Legalist thought was absorbed by Confucianism, which "deposed hundreds of schools of thought to only respect Confucianism", and began to govern the country with both Confucianism and Legalism and the theory of "Confucianism expounds the law", and became independent The Legalist school was gradually excluded.
Some people believe that Legalism represents the ideology of the emerging landlord class.
Representative figures
Spring and Autumn Period
Guan Zhong
Zi Chan
Warring States Period
Han Fei
Shang Yang
Li Si
Shen Buhai
Wu Qi
Li Kui
Representative Works
"Shang Jun Shu"
"Han Feizi"
Guan Zhong (? - 645 BC), named Yiwu, courtesy name Jingzhong, known as Guanzi in history, was born in Yingshang (now Yingshang County, Anhui), a politician in the Spring and Autumn Period. Philosopher. "Historical Records: Biography of Guan Yan", "Guan Zi", and "Zuo Zhuan" record his life biography. "The Analects" (14th Xianwen) also contains Confucius' comments about him. "The Biography of Guan Zhong" written by Su Xun of the Northern Song Dynasty 》There are also some analyses.
When he was young, his family was poor. Bao Shuya discovered that Guan Zhong was talented and became a good friend. He often interacted with Guan Zhong. Guan Zhong often took advantage of him. Bao Shuya did not take it seriously, but instead did everything for him. It is assumed that Guan Zhong has always been kind to Guan Zhong (it is said in history that he was the "friend of Guan and Bao"). Later, Guan Zhong assisted Qi Gongzi Jiu, and Bao Shuya assisted his younger brother Xiaobai.
In 686 BC, Qi State When Duke Xiang passed away, his nephew Gongsun Wuzhi usurped the throne.
In the spring of 685 BC, the Qi official Yong Lin killed Gongsun Wuzhi, and his son Xiaobai ascended the throne and was appointed Duke Huan of Qi. However, the state of Lu supported his brother Gongsun Jiu. , so a war broke out between Qi and Lu. Guan Zhong shot an arrow and hit Duke Huan of Qi's hook. Duke Huan of Qi pretended to be dead and deceived Guan Zhong. Later, after the victory of Qi, Bao Shuya asked Duke Zhuang of Lu to execute Prince Jiu and had Guan Zhong executed. Handed over to the State of Qi.
Under the strong recommendation of Bao Shuya, Duke Huan of Qi ignored Guan Zhong as his prime minister and even respected him as "Father Zhong". Guan Zhong implemented a series of reforms in the State of Qi and advocated "respecting the king". "Repulse the barbarians", and finally helped Duke Huan of Qi achieve hegemony.
Confucius once said: "For Guan Zhong, I was sent to the left." Sima Guang said: "Guan Zhong carved Gui and Zhu Hong, and the mountains were filled with algae and catalpa." , Confucius despised his small utensils." ("Exercise thrift to show health")
Zichan (? ~ 522 BC), with the surname Gongsun, the given name Qiao, the courtesy name Zichan, also the courtesy name Zimei, Zheng Cheng Gongsun. A politician and thinker of the Zheng State during the Spring and Autumn Period. He was praised by Wang Yuan of the Qing Dynasty as "the first person in the Spring and Autumn Period".
According to records, Zichan was born into an aristocratic family of the Zheng State. His father, his son Guo is the son of Zheng Mugong. Zichan was very smart when he was young and had very mature political opinions. In the twelfth year of Zheng Jiangong (554 BC), Zheng people made Zichan the minister. He was in power for twenty-three years. In the eighth year of Zheng Dinggong (AD) 522 BC), Zi Chan died. "Jia Shi Shuo Lin" records:
Zi Chan died, and the family had no money left.
He could not be buried, and the people of the country mourned. The husband gave up his pendant, and the woman gave up her pearls and jade to give them away. The gold and silver treasures were countless. The son did not accept them, so he was buried in Xingshan.
After Confucius heard about it, Said: "The love left by the ancients." The existing tomb is located on the top of Xingshan Mountain, 17 kilometers southwest of Xinzheng City, Henan Province. The tomb is about 5 meters high and 50 meters in circumference. According to the "Xinzheng County Chronicle": "Zichan Tomb The pile of stones is a square tomb, and there is a temple in the east." On March 4, 1987, the Zhengzhou Municipal Government announced it as a cultural relic protection unit in Zhengzhou.
Zichan's judgment of the international and domestic situation at that time was: "Elementary schools However, the powerful clan favored many." After Zichan entered politics, he carried out internal affairs reforms in Zheng State, reorganized the land system, rectified the aristocratic fields and farmers' establishment, recognized the private ownership of land, levied taxes according to acres, etc. Then he spent more than 200 Jin Iron cast a tripod, cast the newly formulated punishment book on the tripod, and placed it at the entrance of the palace to let the people know the new criminal law. This is the famous punishment tripod in history. Zichan promoted the rule of law, combining leniency with violence. He appeased the people, suppressed the powerful clan, and maintained the long-term stability of the domestic political situation. He did not destroy rural schools to listen to the opinions of the "countrymen". He conducted a series of diplomatic activities externally, safeguarded the interests of the Zheng State, and saved the Zheng State from the disaster of the military revolution. He "knows people and makes good use of them, and selects those who are capable." He has been in government for decades and has made outstanding achievements. "Zuo Zhuan":
After being prime minister for one year, he did not play with his son, nor did he mention his hair when he was gray. The boy did not plow the bank; in the second year, there were no merchants in the market; in the third year, the door was not closed at night, and the road did not pick up leftovers; in the fourth year, the field utensils were not returned; in the fifth year, the scholars had no official records and had been governed without orders for a long time.
Zi Chan’s thoughts are close to Confucianism before Confucius. Zi Chan has humanistic ideas, emphasizing human affairs, but does not deny ghosts and gods. He puts forward that "the road of heaven is far away, and the road of humanity is short, and it is beyond the reach." In Zi Chan It seems that the way of humanity precedes the way of heaven. The way of heaven can be ignored, but the way of humanity cannot be ignored.
Shen Dao (about 395 BC - about 315 BC), a native of Zhao. A Taoist and Legalist thinker during the Warring States Period.
I studied Huang Lao Taoism in my early years and was famous for giving lectures under the Jixia of Qi State. I received the salary of a high-ranking official. In the seventeenth year of Qi Dynasty (284 BC), King Min of Qi left Qi and came to Han, where he became a high-ranking official. "Zhuangzi·The World" " put him into the same sect as Tian Pian, which later became the Legalist branch of Taoism, advocating "respecting the law" and "emphasis on power." From the point of view of "abandoning knowledge and abandoning oneself", it was proposed that "if the king obeys the law but does not follow the law, then The legalist political proposition of "The matter is decided by the law." ("Shenzi·Junzi") emphasizes that "officials do not have personal relationships, and the law does not abandon love." At the same time, it attaches great importance to "governing by power", believing that "virtue and wisdom are not enough to convince the public, but "The position is enough to defeat the wise" ("Han Feizi·Nanshi"), the powerful should "handle the situation according to the law" and "rule the world by doing nothing". "Historical Records·Biography of Mencius and Xunqing" states that he wrote twelve treatises. "Hanshu Yiwenzhi" records 42 chapters of "Shenzi", listed among the Legalists, of which only 7 fragments exist.
Han Fei was a young master of Korea, and he studied under Xunzi together with Li Si.
In the era when Han Fei grew up, South Korea was the weakest country among the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period. However, because he suffered from a stutter, he wrote to the King of Han many times to state his thoughts, but nothing was used. Later, the book "Han Feizi" It spread to the Qin State, and the contents of the books "Gu Ang" and "Five Worms" were praised by King Yingzheng of Qin. He even said, "Sigh, I can see this person and travel with him. I will die without hatred." Li Si said: "This "The book written by Han Feizhi." So he threatened war and forced Han Fei to go to Qin as an envoy.
After Han Fei arrived in Qin, he was appreciated by the Qin Dynasty and was ready to reuse him, but he was recruited. Li Si was jealous and slandered the King of Qin, framed Han Fei and imprisoned him, and finally committed suicide by taking poison in prison.
Han Fei summarized the thoughts of Shang Yang, Shen Buhai and Li Kui, and advocated that the monarch should use laws, techniques, Shang Yang (about 390 BC - 338 BC) was a politician during the Warring States Period and a famous representative of Legalism. He was a descendant of the monarch of Wei State, Gongsun, so he was called Wei Yang , also known as Gongsun Yang, who was later granted the title of Shang, and later generations called him Shang Yang. He ruled for 19 years, and the Qin State was in great power. It was known as Shang Yang's Reform in history.
Shang Yang "study of punishment names", specializing in research Ruling the country by law was greatly influenced by Li Kui, Wu Qi and others. He later became the retainer of Wei's prime minister, Gongshu Cuo. When Gongshu Cuo was seriously ill, he said to King Hui of Wei: "Gongsun Yang has a young man with extraordinary talents, and he can be appointed as the prime minister." ” He also said to King Hui, “Since the king has no use for Gongsun Yang, he must be killed and not allowed to leave the country.” After Gongsun Yang died, Shang Yang heard that
Duke Xiao of Qin was a man of great talent and strategy, so he went to the State of Qin with Li Kui's "Book of Dharma". Through the eunuch Jing Jian, he met Duke Xiao three times, and Shang Yang talked about the strategy of reforming the country and governing the country. Duke Xiao was overjoyed. In 359 BC, he was appointed as the chief of Zuo Shu, started the reform, and was later promoted to great minister. Liangzao.
In the 13th year of King Zhou Xian's reign (356 BC) and the 19th year (350 BC), he carried out reforms twice. The content of the reforms was to "abolish well fields, open roads, and implement the system of counties and counties. "Reward farming, weaving and fighting, and implement the law of sitting together." At this time, the prince violated the law. Shang Yang said: "If the law does not work, you must violate it yourself." He punished his Taifu Gongzi Qian and his teacher Gongsun Jia. In the 16th year of Qin Xiaogong, Tai Master Fu Qian broke the law again, and Shang Yang had his nose cut off. The reform lasted for a long time, and the people of Qin were very happy. Qin State did not pick up relics on the road, and there were no thieves in the mountains. In 340 BC, he led the Qin and Zhao troops to defeat General Yan, the son of Wei State, and Wei cut the Xihe River. The land and the Qin Dynasty moved the people to Daliang. At this time, King Hui of Liang was very angry: "I hate not to use Gongshu Cuo's words." Shang Yang was granted the title of fifteen cities of Shang Dynasty for his merit.
The method of Shang Jun Too harsh and ungrateful, he instituted the law of sitting together, enacted strict laws, increased corporal punishment, large-scale slaughter, and included the punishment of gouging the top, pulling out the ribs, and cooking in a wok. The nobles of Qin State had many grievances. Zhao Liang persuaded the Shang Lord that the grievances were too deep, so he should " "Return to the 15th capital, irrigate the garden to be humble", "not greedy for business, not greedy for wealth, not favoring Qin's teachings", Shang Yang refused to listen. In 338 BC, Qin Xiaogong died, and Prince Si of King Huiwen came to the throne. The prince piously accused Shang Yang of treason. Shang Yang fled to the border and wanted to stay in a guest house, but because he did not show his ID, the innkeeper did not dare to stay overnight for fear of "sitting down", so he "killed himself"; when he wanted to flee to Wei, the Wei people attacked Wei Shuai because Shang Yang had betrayed his trust, so they also Shang Yang was unwilling to take him in. Later, Shang Yang returned to Shang Yi and sent his troops to the north to attack Zheng State. Qin State sent troops to fight against him and killed him in Zheng State's Lianchi. After his death, he was punished by King Hui of Qin in Tong, who was punished by "breaking a chariot with a chariot" and destroyed Shang Jun. Clan.
Li Si (? ~ 208 BC), a native of Shangcai, Chu (southwest of Shangcai County, Henan Province today), was a famous politician, writer and calligrapher in the Qin Dynasty. Among the hundreds of scholars At home, Li Si was a student of Xunzi, and later he and Han Fei became representatives of Legalism.
In the fourth year of the Qin Dynasty (237 BC), the case of Korean waterworker Zheng Guo being a spy broke out. In response to the outcry, the King of Qin ordered the expulsion of all guest officials. Therefore, Li Si wrote a "Book of Remonstrance and Expulsion of Guests" to the King of Qin, explaining the importance of tolerance. He believed that "it is because Mount Tai does not allow soil, it can become great; rivers and seas do not allow it to be large." Choose a small stream, so you can go deep; the king does not exclude the common people, so he can understand his virtue; this is why the land has no four directions, the people have no foreign countries, the four seasons are full of beauty, ghosts and gods bring blessings, these are the reasons why the five emperors and the three kings are invincible "Now we have abandoned the head of Guizhou to capitalize on the enemy's country, but we have invited guests to join the feudal lords, so that the people of the world will not dare to go westward and cannot enter Qin. This is the so-called use of the invaders to steal food." So the king of Qin ordered that the government be cancelled. Expulsion order, reuse Li Si, and intensify attacks on other countries. Korea was afraid, so the King of Han sent Han Fei to Qin to seek peace. The King of Qin detained Han Fei in Qin. In the fourteenth year of the Qin Dynasty (227 BC), he killed his classmate. Han Fei. He assisted Qin Shihuang to unify the world, abolished the feudal system, implemented the system of prefectures and counties, "books with the same text, vehicles with the same track", and unified the national currency system. In the thirty-fourth year of the First Emperor (207 BC), Li Si suggested that the private collection of " "Poetry", "Book" and other hundreds of schools of thought, and also killed Confucian students, which is called "burning books and entrapping Confucianism" in history.
Qin Shihuang died in the sand dunes in July of the thirty-seventh year of the First Emperor (210 BC) In Taiping (now Guangzong, Hebei Province), Li Simi did not mourn, but conspired with Zhao Gao to forge an edict to support Ying Huhai on the throne, and gave Ying Fusu death. In July of the first year of Qin II (209 BC), the Chen Sheng and Wu Guang uprising broke out. Soon Zhao Gao falsely accused Li Si of wanting to cede territory and become king, and also falsely accused Li Si's son Li You, the governor of Sanchuan County, of having an affair with the rebel army. Li Si submitted a letter to express his grievances, but was detained by Zhao Gao and thrown into prison. Later, Li Si could not bear the torture and was finally forced to plead guilty. In July of the second year of Qin II (208 BC), he was beheaded in half in Xianyang. Before he died, he said to his son, "If I want to go out with Ruo Fu and lead the yellow dog to Cai Dongmen to chase the cunning rabbit, how can I get it?", father and son said to his son. Weeping, the barbarians destroyed the three tribes.
Li Si advocated the use of Xiaozhuan as the standard calligraphy style. It played a great role in the standardization of Chinese characters. Among the stone carvings that are said to have been written by Li Si are "Taishan Fengshan Carving Stone" , "Langya Stone Carvings", "Yishan Stone Carvings", "Kuiji Stone Carvings", etc.
Shen Buhai (? ~ 337 BC), a native of Xingyang, Henan. "Historical Records" is in "Laozi Han" "Non-biography" is later written that he is "the humble minister of Zheng Zheng. He studied academically and served Zhaohou of Han, and Zhaohou served as the prime minister. He studied politics and religion internally."
, externally responding to the princes, for fifteen years. In the end, Shenzi was born, the country was governed and the army was strong, and no one invaded Korea."
Shen Buhai was also an early Legalist. Historical Records include "Writing two chapters, no. "Shenzi", there are "Six Chapters of Shenzi" in the Han Dynasty, but all of them are lost. There are three schools in Legalism: Shen Dao emphasizes "power", Shen Buhu emphasizes "technique", and Shang Yang emphasizes "method".
"Han Feizi" has a passage that talks about this point: The questioner said: "Shen Buhai or Gongsun Yang, of these two schools, which one is anxious for the country?" The answer was: "This is impossible. .If a person does not eat for ten days, he will die; in the severe cold, if he does not wear clothes, he will die. It is said that food and clothing are urgent for people, but they cannot be without them. They are all tools for maintaining health. Jin Shen is not a bad speaker, and Gongsun Yang is Those who practice law and magic are those who are appointed officials because of their duties, are responsible for their duties according to their names, use the power of killing, and teach the abilities of the officials. This is the master of the person. The law is decreed by the government, and rewards and punishments must be given to the government. In the hearts of the people, rewards come from prudent laws, and punishments come from treacherous orders. This is what people and their ministers learn from. If the king is incapable of skill, he will bring harm to the superiors, and if the ministers are incompetent, they will cause chaos to the subordinates. These are indispensable, and they are all the tools of the emperor. ."
Wu Qi (440 BC - 381 BC), an ancient Chinese military strategist and statesman.
Wu Qi, a member of the Zuo clan of Weiguo during the Warring States Period (now in the west of Dingtao County, Shandong Province) ), who once worshiped Zengzi of Lu as his teacher and studied Confucianism. He dared to reform and was good at using soldiers.
In his early years, he was appreciated by the king of Lu. Later, when Qi and Lu fought, Wu Qi married a Qi man in Lu. The people of Lu were suspicious of Wu Qi, who was about to become the commander-in-chief. In order to win the trust of Lu, Wu Qi actually killed his wife. Although the state of Lu was saved, Wu Qi killed his wife to gain the position of general. This kind of behavior He was hated by the people of Lu, so he was eventually abandoned by the king of Lu.
After that, Wu came to Wei and was reused by Wei Wenhou and Li Kui. He was appointed as the guard of Xihe and promoted Li Kui's reforms. Later he was He went to the Chu State as prime minister and also implemented reforms, wanting to abolish the estranged princes and raise warriors. However, he was too eager and harsh to do things, and was hated by many royal families.
After the death of King Chu Mourning, the Chu nobles He immediately launched a siege on Wu Qi, killing them quickly. Wu Qi knew that he would definitely die, so he borrowed a knife to kill people, and they both died. He fled to the Ancestral Temple and hid under the body of King Chu Mourning. Although Wu Qi was still shot to death by random arrows, Many arrows were also shot on the body of King Chu Mourning. After King Chu Mourning's son came to the throne, he immediately ordered people to use the arrows on the body of King Chu Mourning to capture the person who fired the arrows, and killed more than seventy people for the crime of disrespect. The nobles of the family can be regarded as avenging Wu Qi himself.
Wu Qi’s reforms were short-lived and did not have a deep foundation. His successor, King Chu Su, was not interested in Wu Qi’s reforms. Wu Qi’s reforms in Chu State The results were minimal. Wu Qi was a great military strategist as famous as Sun Tzu. He was skilled in military management and left many good stories about strategies and tactics. However, he failed to show up for his mother's death and killed his wife to seek generals, which stained his moral character. Falsely accused by the Confucian school. This kind of unscrupulous character in pursuit of goals, although his military skills made him famous all over the world, it was also doomed to a tragic fate.
Li Kui (about 455 BC - 395 BC) Years), a famous thinker during the Warring States Period in China, who presided over the Wei State Reform. His thought of combining agriculture with the rule of law had a great influence on Shang Yang and Han Fei. Therefore, he is generally considered to be the ancestor of Legalism.
Li Kui was a former The Prime Minister Wen of Wei presided over the reform and carried out the "Teaching of Efforts on the Land". The specific content is unknown, but it was mainly to encourage farmers to cultivate intensively, promote successful farming experience, and increase output. He also implemented the policy of "benefiting and buying crops". Purchase surplus grain at a fair price and sell it at a fair price in famine years to equalize grain prices; implement the rule of law in politics, abolish the Shiqing Shilu system that maintains the privileges of slave owners and nobles, reward people who have contributed to the country, and promote officials according to merit and ability, such as the appointment of Wu Qi As the guardian of Xihe, he used Ximen Leopard to rule Ye. After the reform, Wei State's national strength increased and it became one of the powerful countries in the early Warring States Period.
He also compiled the laws of various countries at that time into six "Dharma Scriptures", including the "Stealing Law" , Thief Laws, Prison Laws, Catching Laws, Miscellaneous Laws and Specific Laws are the first relatively complete code of law in ancient China. Shang Yang heard that Duke Xiao of Qin was a talented man and had great plans, so he went to Qin with the "Book of Laws". Now only the chapters remain. The content has been lost.