1. Origins and Founder
1.1. Shang Yang (d. 338 BCE) and Shen Buhai (d. 337 BCE) were the originators of the ideas about being law abiding.
1.1.1. Han Fei (d. 233 BCE) largely credits himself as building upon and improving the ideas of the two founders.
1.1.1.1. Sima Qian (d. 90 BCE) said these three thinkers taught "performance and title"
1.1.1.1.1. The term legalism was formed during the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). This does not mean there were no legalists before, just they did not call themselves an organized religion.
1.1.1.1.2. Sima Qian's father (d. 110 BCE) changed the term "performance and title" to "legalist school," which translates directly to 'fa jia.'
1.1.1.1.3. 'Fa jia' has been used since to categorize the legalist way of thinking.
2. Core Beliefs
2.1. Legalism emphasizes the need for order over all other human needs.
2.2. Believed all humans were evil and inclined towards selfish and criminal ways.
2.3. Believed government would only work if rulers were not deceived by principals like tradition.
2.4. Thought that the human race could not be improved by example, ethnics, or education, but only by a strong government, strict laws, and punishments for infractions of the law.
2.5. There were strict punishments for law-breaking
3. Where did it spread and why?
3.1. Where: Spread throughtout western China
3.2. Why: Since the government and a large group of people supported it, Legalism was able to spread at a fast pace
3.3. As Legalism spread, philosophers added information
4. Political and Social Impact
4.1. Farmers and soldiers are viewed as essential, and promoted and respected by the ruler.
4.1.1. Merchants, scholars, artists, aristocrats, and other classes regarded as useless.
4.2. Legalistic beliefs carved the Qin Dynasty and continues to be used today
4.3. Led to the creation of a totalitarian state
4.4. Led to creation of laws that limited aspects of Chinese life such as the number of people in a household to restraining people's personal rights.
4.5. Many books on history were burned to prevent criticism.
5. Sacred Texts
5.1. Book of the Lord
5.1.1. Everyone must follow the law
5.1.2. Obedience is the most important virtue
5.2. Han Fei-tzu
5.2.1. Law books are the only text books needed
5.2.2. Laws that give the ruler the power to govern efficiently and even ruthlessly if needed