UNIT 2 | Major Belief Systems | Daoism & Legalism

#2.5 Daoism & Legalism Name:_____________________

1.Daoism overview

Daoism/Taoism is a belief system that was founded by Lao Tzu in China in the 6th century BCE.

Daoism’s sacred text is called the Tao-Te Ching/Dao-De-Jing and supposedly contains the teachings of Lao

Tzu.

The Daoists were the most prominent critics of Confucian activism. Like Confucianism, Daoist

thought developed in response to the chaos of the late Zhou dynasty and the Period of the Warring States.

But unlike the Confucians who promoted social activism, the Daoists devoted their energies to reflection

and introspection, in hopes that they could understand the natural principles that governed the world and

could learn how to live in harmony with them. The Daoists believed that over time, this approach would

bring harmony to society as a whole.

Daoists believe that we should strive to establish peace and harmony with nature.

Core beliefs in Daoism are:

● The Dao (the Way)

The Yin and Yang symbol is associated with Daoism. It represents the idea that while there are opposing

forces in the world (light and dark; good and evil), they work together to balance the world in harmony and

each side has aspects of the other within it.

UNIT 2 | Major Belief Systems | Daoism & Legalism

2. Daoist Core belief: The Dao

The central concept of Daoism is dao, meaning “the way,” more specifically “the way of nature” or

“the way of the cosmos.” In the Daodejing, dao figures as the original force of the cosmos, an eternal and

unchanging principle that governs all the workings of the world. Yet the Daodejing envisioned dao as a

supremely passive force and spoke of it mostly in negative terms: Dao does nothing, and yet it accomplishes

everything. Dao resembles water, which is soft and yielding, yet is also so powerful that it eventually erodes

even the hardest rock placed in its path. If the principles of dao governed the world, it followed that human

beings should tailor their behavior to its passive and yielding nature.

To the Daoists, living in harmony with dao meant retreating from engagement in the world of politics

and administration. Ambition and activism had not solved political and social problems. Far from it: human

striving had brought the world to a state of chaos. The proper response to that situation was to cease frantic

striving and live in as simple a manner as possible.

Questions:

1. Comparing and contrasting Daoist and Confucian approach to solve the political chaos, which

philosophy do you think political kings would prefer? Explain your reasoning.

2. Comparing and contrasting Daoist and Confucian approach to solve the political chaos, which

philosophy do you think would work better?Explain your reasoning.

UNIT 2 | Major Belief Systems | Daoism & Legalism

3. Legalism overview

Legalism is a belief system emerged during the Warring States period in the 6th century BCE.

Shang Yang and Hai Feizi were two most prominent legalist theorists.

Neither Confucian activism nor Daoist retreat was able to solve the problems that plagued China

during the Period of the Warring States. Order returned to China only after the emergence of Legalism which

promoted a practical and ruthlessly efficient approach to governance.

Unlike the Confucians, the Legalists did not concern themselves with ethics, morality, or propriety.

Unlike the Daoists, the Legalists cared nothing about principles governing the world or nature. Instead, they

devoted their attention exclusively to the state, which they sought to strengthen and expand at all costs.

Core beliefs in Legalism are:

● Laws

● Collective responsibility before the law

UNIT 2 | Major Belief Systems | Daoism & Legalism

4. Legalist Core belief: the laws

The Legalists strongly believed in clear and strict laws—hence the name “Legalist.” Their faith in laws

separates the Legalists clearly from the Confucians.

Legalists imposed a strict legal state that clearly outlined expectations and provided severe punishment for

violators. They believed that if people feared to commit small crimes, they would hesitate all the more before

committing great crimes. Thus Legalists imposed harsh penalties even for minor offences: individuals could

suffer amputation of their hands or feet, for example, for littering in the street.

The Legalists also established the principle of collective responsibility before the law. They expected all

members of a family or community to observe the others closely, prevent crime from happening, and report

any infractions. Failing those obligations, all members of a family or community were to be punished along

with the actual violator.

The Legalists’ principles of government did not win them much popularity. Yet, Legalist principles of

government quickly produced remarkable results for rulers who adopted them. In fact, Legalism put an end

to the Period of the Warring States and brought about the unification of China.

Questions:

1. Do you think legalism was popular among commoners in Ancient China? Explain your reasoning.

2. Do you think legalism was popular among rulers in Ancient China? Explain your reasoning.