1. Confucianism and Moral Order: Early Chinese government and society was organized in accordance with Confucian ideas of the harmony between man, nature, and the divine. Man was considered inherently social, and that there was a natural order governing human relationships. Because familial relationships were so sacred, the state was naturally modeled after the family in accordance with filial piety (paternalism.) The monarch was the "Son of Heaven," and the "Father to the People," illustrating the importance of a male head. The ruler derived his power by earning the Mandate of Heaven, and his primary role was to embody moral uprightness for his people. Confucians believed in perfectibility of man, and it was the ruler's job to personally lead his people to perfection through education and ritualization. Good morals were honored above all (ex: merit-based bureaucracy)
2. Legalism and Absolute Law: Providing a sharp contrast to the morality-based Confucians were the pragmatic Legalists. Confucian persuasion was matched by Legalist force; Confucian morality with Legalist law. Human nature was fundamentally bleak in their eyes, and had to be controlled through a system of codified laws and harsh punishments. The Chinese learned the limits of force during the age of Legalism: while force was a powerful unifying and mobilizing force (public works projects and law enforcement thrived, centralized administration proved effective), it's harsh brutality led to it's eventual demise. However, it's structural strengths were eventually married with Confucian spirit, exemplifying syncretism.
3. The Dao Way: Deviating completely from both Legalist and Confucianist structure was Daoism, which stressed the importance of natural order as an organizing force. Daoists rejected discord and assertiveness, denounced violence, and revered the pure and simple. It gave people a "Moral Way" free of desire or humanly ties, urging followers to see their lives as part of a greater natural process.
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