Information Card: How Legalism Worked

Legalism was a way of governing developed in ancient China. The thinker Han Feizi is strongly associated with it. Legalist thinkers believed that people often acted out of self-interest, so a ruler should not rely only on kindness or good advice. They argued that clear, strict laws should apply across the state. People who obeyed could be rewarded; people who broke laws should face predictable penalties. Legalist rulers aimed to strengthen the state and keep order through firm authority. The Qin dynasty, which unified China in 221 BCE under Qin Shi Huang, made extensive use of Legalist ideas. These policies helped the Qin ruler organise a powerful state, but harsh controls and penalties also caused resentment.