Good Confucianism book (pdf) - Department of Physics

128 Confucians, “Confucian” Texts, the Qin DynastyBooks ” – the Analects , the Mencius , the Great Learning , and the Doctrineof the Mean – as the most representative of Confucius ’ teachings. Textshave been preferred or neglected depending on how Confucius ’ thoughthas been interpreted.The First Emperor and the Reunification of ChinaIn the past the empire was fragmented and in confusion. … Now your Majestyhas unified all under heaven … yet these adherents of private theories bandtogether to criticize the laws and directives … each one proceeds to discuss itin light of his private theories. At court they disapprove in their hearts; outsidethey debate on the street. They hold it a mark of fame to criticize the ruler,regard it as lofty to take a dissenting stance. … I request that all writings,The Book of Poetry , The Book of History , and all the sayings of the hundredschools of philosophy be discarded and done away with. 26The state of Qin, located in the west of Warring States China, had alwaysbeen considered semi - barbaric, backward, and uncouth by people in thecentral states. In 361 BCE, the duke of the state of Qin hired Shang Yang,who put into practice his ideas about government (see chapter 5 ). The resultwas a strong, centralized government where noble families had little power.In a change that ended the old feudal system, taxes were paid directly tothe ruler. Government was based on the military model and military leadershad, in many cases, risen through the ranks – following Shang Yang ’ s ideaof rewarding meritorious service. While the army was strong, taxes werehigh to maintain it. In Legalist fashion, people were encouraged to spy onone another, a legal code was established, and the laws were harsh andstrictly enforced. Families were divided into groups of five or ten and eachgroup was responsible for the behavior of the individuals in it: if one brokethe law, they were all punished. 27One difficulty that Legalists found with Legalist thought, when put intopractice, was that it made life uncertain for everyone, but especially forthose at the top. People were concerned only with power and their ownself - interest, intrigue and plots were common, and many of Qin ’ s top officials,or those who wanted to be, died early and often gruesomely. Whenthe Duke of Qin, who had hired Shang Yang, died, Shang Yang was killedby assassins employed by the new duke. Li Si, one of Xunzi ’ s students, tookover as prime minister and was likely the source of the orders to kill hisfellow student, Han Feizi, when he visited Qin in 233 BCE. 28In the decade from 230 to 221 BCE, Qin conquered the last of itsenemies, the states of Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan, and Qi. Some of thestates in the central region had belatedly formed an alliance against Qinand sent assassins to try to kill the ruler of Qin. Following the Strategists ’