What's the difference between Legalists and Confucianists?

First, the ideological core is different.

The core of Confucianism is "benevolence", that is, "human".

Therefore, Confucianism developed its own theoretical system on the basis of emphasizing people's self-cultivation and positive relationship with people around it.

The core of Taoist thought is "Tao" as the center, that is, truth.

Therefore, the core purpose of Taoist thought is to pursue the universal law of general things. It is emphasized that man, as a member of all things, should adapt to the general law of the development of natural things, pay attention to drifting with the flow and governing by doing nothing.

The core of legalist thought is "benefit", that is, interest.

This is a very utilitarian idea, emphasizing how to help the monarch strengthen his rule by means of art, law and power. Therefore, Legalists emphasize that the production activities between people in society should be coordinated in accordance with laws and regulations, so as to act in accordance with laws and regulations.

Second, different ways of governing the country.

The Confucian way of governing the country is "benevolent governance", "kingliness" and "ritual system", and the goal pursued is "great unity"

This paper mainly expounds various relations between classes in class society, such as the relationship between monarch and minister, the relationship between father and son, etc.

The Taoist way of governing the country is very simple, which can be summed up in a few words, that is, "governing by doing nothing."

The meaning of "inaction" is not "inaction", but "action without careful consideration and purpose"

Legalists' thought of governing the country is very utilitarian, and their way of governing the country is to govern the country through national laws and regulations and consolidate the rights of the monarch.

Legalist thought has split the relationship between various social classes in traditional culture, denied the traditional class system, and achieved the goal of governing the country by means of law, technology and power, guided by interests.

Third, the theme is different.

The main idea of Confucianism is benevolence and righteousness, giving up one's life for righteousness and governing the country with benevolence and filial piety. It is an ideological system with benevolence as the core. The main contents of the system include: benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith; Loyalty, filial piety, shame, honor, etc. Advocating etiquette, music, benevolence, loyalty, forgiveness and moderation, upholding the rule of virtue and benevolent government, paying attention to the three cardinal principles and the five permanents, and attaching importance to the relationship between ethics and morality.

The main idea of Taoism is natural harmony. The core of Taoism is Tao. It is believed that Tao is the origin of the universe and the law of the movement of all things in the universe. Taoism pursues purity and inaction, practices immortality and pursues truth.

The main purpose of legalists is to lead the society by the rule of law (ruling the world by law, that is, ruling the country by law). Its theoretical basis is "everything is based on Tao". "Law" is the embodiment of Tao in society, and the fundamental purpose of legalists to advocate the rule of law is to enrich Qiang Bing.

Fourth, "inaction" is different.

The Confucian realm of "governing by doing nothing" is exactly the image of the holy king Shun Di in Confucius' mind, which just represents the three words that Confucius said about Shun Di. Confucius said in the first sentence: "It is majestic, and it has the world without any way." This is the source of strength. Getting along with the world is not by himself or by Yao privately. What is expressed here is the sovereignty view of "the world is public".

Taoism's "inaction" proposition is related to the anti-intellectualism of "abandoning saints and knowledge". The "skill of Huang Lao" in the early Han Dynasty is a typical Taoist "inaction" rule, which is manifested in the inaction of the government.

In the prosperous era of Liang Wudi, the art of Shen Chao was revived, and the politics of cruel officials became popular. Under this background, the significance of Dong Zhongshu's "retro but more" is highlighted. "Retro" is the way to partially restore the pre-Qin state, and "Geng" is the harsh legalist color in the reform of the Qin system.

The ideal state of the absolutism "inaction" of the legalist government is what Shang Yang said: "The country with a way does not listen to the monarch and the people do not obey the official." The "inaction" of the Legalists is to realize the automatic operation of the national autocratic machine assembly line, and the people and officials consciously and automatically obey the monarch's legislation, so as to "not listen to the monarch" and "not obey the official". But "Jun" still holds absolute power, which cannot be disobeyed or questioned.

Extended data:

The origin of Confucianism, Taoism and law;

Confucianism, which originated in China, influenced and spread to other neighboring countries in East Asia. Founded by Confucius in the 5th century, it was born out of the ritual and music tradition of the Zhou Dynasty, with benevolence, forgiveness, honesty and filial piety as its core values, emphasizing the moral cultivation of gentlemen, the complementarity of benevolence and etiquette, and attaching importance to five ethics and family ethics.

Advocating education and benevolent governance, ignoring taxes, attacking tyranny, trying to rebuild the order of rites and music, changing customs, protecting the country and benefiting the people, and being full of WTO ideals and humanistic spirit.

Taoism originated from the literary records of the Han Dynasty. According to records, Taoist classics include Four Classics of Huangdi, Huangdi Ming, Huangdi Jun Chen, Miscellaneous Huangdi, Li Mu, Yijing, Taigong, Xinjia, Xunzi and Guanzi.

Law originated in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. "A hundred schools of thought contend" is a great ideological debate during the period of social change, which basically laid the foundation for the development of feudal society and culture in China for more than two thousand years. In particular, the attitudes of Confucianism and Legalism towards "propriety" and "law" have been hotly debated.

Among them, legalists mostly originated from the land of Sanjin, from Li Kui, the author of the first written code of China's legal system, to Xun Kuang, who paid equal attention to etiquette and law, and Han Fei, who put forward the theory of power restriction, as well as Wu Qi, Shang Yang and Shen Dao. His spirit and thought of rule of law constitute the essence of legalist culture in Sanjin, and have made outstanding contributions to the formation and development of China's legal system.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia Confucianism

References:

Baidu encyclopedia Taoism

References:

Baidu encyclopedia legalist