How great was the influence of Legalism on China? How far-reaching? How does it compare to Confucianism?

The Legalist ruled the country by the family, and it came up with the slogan: fairness, justice, equity! Anyone who breaks the law is subject to criminal law. Only its law was not the rule of law we have today, but the law of the king, the law that only benefits the Son of Heaven.

And Confucianism promotes benevolence and righteousness, Confucianism talks about being kind and loving, pro-relationship love. It is what Confucius said: the king and the minister, the father and the son. It is love with hierarchy and difference.

From the point of view of the concept of governance: Confucianism's political philosophy is the rule of virtue, using morality to educate the people. Whereas Legalism uses criminal law to discipline the people. In other words: the philosophy of Confucianism is that as long as everyone is good, while the philosophy of Legalism is that everyone does not do bad things. This is the biggest difference between Confucianism and Legalism.

As for the practical point of view, it is still the Legalists who are far-reaching! From a cultural point of view, Confucianism is more far-reaching.