Buddhism began in India in the sixth century BCE and was taught by the Buddha, who gave up his life of luxury to seek enlightenment. Buddhism teaches that suffering is caused by desire and that people live many lives. In each life, they should try to live better until they reach nirvana, a peaceful state free from suffering. Buddhism came to China through the Silk Road and became important by the ýrst century CE. 7.6.3 Laws in ancient China Confucianism has greatly inþuenced Chinese traditions, especially in respecting elders and honouring ancestors. While Confucius didn’t inþuence government during his life, his ideas became important later. He believed there was a golden age of good government in early Zhou times. After he died, many people continued to follow his teachings. One famous follower was Mencius, who lived around 372–298 BCE. He taught that ýve important relationships—father and son, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, friend and friend, and ruler and subject—help create a good society. Mencius inþuenced some rulers during the late Warring States period. Laws of the ýrst Qin emperor In 221 BCE, China’s ýrst emperor, Qin Shihuang, united the Warring States and made the laws of the state of Qin the laws for all. Confucianism had little inþuence, and Confucian scholars were not allowed to teach. Instead, the harsh laws followed Legalism (see SOURCE6 ), the school of thought that believed people were bad by nature.
SOURCE6 An extract from the laws of the state of Qin before 221 BCE. Such laws operated throughout China under the Qin emperors.
When ýve men jointly rob something worth one cash or more, they should have their left foot amputated, be tattooed, and be made convict labourers. If fewer than ýve men were involved but what they robbed was worth more than 660 cash, they should be tattooed, their noses cut off, and made convict labourers . . . Suppose the holder of a low rank stole a sheep. Before the case was judged, he falsely accused someone else of stealing a pig . . . He should be left intact and made a convict labourer. Anyone who kills a child without authorisation is to be made a convict labourer. This does not apply to killing a deformed or abnormal newborn. Suppose A ran away from her husband and married B . . . After they are caught, what should the sentence be? They should be tattooed and made convict labourers . . . Convict labourers . . . are to be manacled and fettered. SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. Read SOURCE6 . What are some key rules or laws mentioned in the extract from the laws of the state of Qin? 2. How did these laws affect the daily lives of people living in Qin during that time? 3. In what ways did the laws of Qin inþuence the legal system of China under the Qin emperors? Laws after the fall of the Qin The Han dynasty replaced the Qin in 206 BCE and hired Confucian scholars as ofýcials. They changed laws based on Confucian ideas, which shaped Chinese thought and law until 1911. These laws also inþuenced countries like Vietnam and Korea.
TOPIC7 Ancient China 203
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