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... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political theory > ancient political thought > Chinese legalism
... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political theory > comparative political theory > Chinese legalism
... > social science subjects > criminology and criminal justice > criminology > law and society > law and political science > Chinese legalism
... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > law and courts > law and society > law and political science > Chinese legalism

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Chinese legalism  

Definition

  • “Legalism” is the conventional translation of the Chinese fajia (school of law), referring to a tradition of thought and practice that regards law as the principal instrument of governance. Although traces of this school can be found in writings dating to the seventh century BCE, it emerged as an influential body of thought in the fourth and third centuries BCE and came to be associated with the rise of the Chinese imperial state during the Qin and Han dynasties. [Source: Encyclopedia of Political Theory; Chinese Legalism]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/Chinese_legalism

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