Chinese Dynasties: Qin vs. Han

It is difficult to isolate the primary reasons why the Qin Dynasty of China failed after only a few years while the subsequent Han Dynasty persisted for 400 years. However, it does appear as if one of the factors was the guiding philosophy of the rulers. Whereas the Qin Dynasty was guided by Legalism, the Han Dynasty was guided by Confucianism.

Legalism, as the textbook authors note, was a philosophy that emphasized the minimization of the division of labor into two streams: agriculture and the military.[1] Moreover, the Legalists believed in "clear and strict laws" to facilitate this stratification of society, providing both the expectations for citizens and the punishments if they fell out of line.[2]  While Legalism was useful in unifying China under a single government for the first time, it lent itself easily to authoritarianism, with the Qin Emperor Qin Shihuangdi ultimately instituting capital punishment for mere criticism and engaging in massive book burnings.[3] Although Emperor Qin was able to maintain rule until his death, the dynasty collapsed soon thereafter. It is possible to surmise that the arming of the peasantry through the militarization of the state played a role in the dissolution of the Qin state. Moreover, the expropriation of farm land from the hereditary aristocracy[4] likely stoke resentments, resulting in score-settling in the absence of a strong ruler. Given that Legalism contributed to both policies, it can be said that Legalism ultimately contributed to the destruction of the Qin Dynasty.

In contrast, the Han Dynasty's rulers emphasized Confucianism over Legalism. In making this choice, the rulers implemented a ruling philosophy that stressed the importance of obedience to political authority (embodied in part in the principle of li), as well as benevolence and loyalty in the rulers themselves (embodied in ren).[5] Finally, Confucius advocated a system of education to reinforce these values. The result under the Han Dynasty was another centralized state with a large bureaucracy that also engaged in land redistribution but that nevertheless showed a more humanitarian face and thus commanded greater respect from its subjects. When social disorder arose under the Han Dynasty, it did so more out of the economic inequality that arose over time than out of resentment against governmental cruelty. Plus, the longer-term success of its agricultural policies resulted in rapid population growth,[6] which in turn gave rise to greater societal complexity and the consequent innovation expected in such an environment.

The extent to which Confucianism was recognized as a factor in the success of the Han Dynasty is testified to in Confucianism continuing to be a major philosophical school of thought in China through the 20th century. Although with the advent of Mao, Confucianism  was at least officially superseded by Marxism, it has nevertheless continued to show its impact on Chinese society and culture. The comparative insignificance of Legalism historically speaking further proves this point.

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1. Jerry Bentley and Herbert Ziegler, Traditions and Encounters, Volume 1: To 1500, 3rd ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012), 104.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid, 105.

4. Ibid, 104.

5. Ibid, 101.

6. Ibid, 112.