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was the fall of the qin due to leadership or some other factor, and could Confucian philosophy have prevented it? 

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was the fall of the qin due to leadership or some other factor, and could Confucian philosophy have prevented it? 

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Why confucian ideas would not have worked 

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Why confucian ideas would not have worked 

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Confucian philosophy, which emphasizes morality, benevolent leadership, and respect for tradition, might have prevented the downfall, but only under a very different leadership style. Confucianism could have provided a foundation for more stable and humane governance, focusing on the welfare of the people, reducing harsh punishments, and ensuring that the government was seen as legitimate by the people. However, Confucian ideals were too idealistic and ineffective in the brutal, conflict-driven environment of the Warring States period. The Qin Dynasty needed a more pragmatic, centralized approach like Legalism to consolidate power in such turbulent times. Confucianism alone wouldn't have been able to address the urgent need for control and military strength during that period.

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"Confucianism may have been adequate to govern in peacetime, but it was felt by many not to be robust enough for the ensuing warring states period and the struggle to form a unified chinese empire" - confucian reading

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counter to the statement ("It wasn't that he was too hard, it was that he wasn't hard enough") 

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counter to the statement ("It wasn't that he was too hard, it was that he wasn't hard enough") 

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Inconsistent enforcement of Legalism: While Qin Shi Huang adopted Legalism, which emphasized harsh punishment, strict laws, and a powerful, centralized government, his actions were often excessive and counterproductive. The oppressive measures he enacted, like the burning of books, the execution of intellectuals, and forced labor, went beyond what was necessary for maintaining control. It wasn't a matter of being "not hard enough," but of excessive harshness that alienated vital segments of the population, including intellectuals, nobles, and peasants. Legalism itself advocates for a strong and controlled state, but there are limits to how much repression can be tolerated before resistance grows.

(the idea was formed during a time of censorship)

this idea was taken from the "newspaper article" meaning that it is not applicable since it was written during a time of extreme censorship in China during this time any criticism of the government would be met with some form of extreme punishment

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"Punishment should not be other than severe and definite, thus making the people fear them; and laws should not be other than uniform and steadfast, thus making the people comprehend them... the enlightened [ruler] uses his men's strength but does not listen to their words, rewards them for their meritorious services but always eliminates the useless." - Han Fei (280 - 233 BCE) Han's definition of legalism which the qin emperor abused

Han Feizi was a chinese legalist philosopher. the qin emperor based his abuse of legalism on hanfeizi's writings.

Definition of legalism in ancient china:

Legalism in ancient China was a philosophical belief that human beings are more inclined to do wrong than right because they are motivated entirely by self-interest and require strict laws to control their impulses. It was developed by the philosopher Han Feizi (l. c. 280 - 233 BCE) of the state of Qin.

current definition of legalism:

excessive adherence to laws or formula

dependence on moral law rather than on personal religious faith

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Confucius lived during a time of peace meaning that it would be hard to adapt his ideas to the warring states era........ 

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Confucius lived during a time of peace meaning that it would be hard to adapt his ideas to the warring states era........ 

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He lived at the end of
China’s Spring and Autumn
period—around 300 years of
prosperity and stability during
which there was a flowering of art,
literature, and in particular,
philosophy. This gave rise to the
so-called Hundred Schools of
Thought, in which a wide range of
ideas was freely discussed. In the
process, a new class of thinkers and scholars emerged

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If maxes group begins the debate with their opening statement mention this. 

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If maxes group begins the debate with their opening statement mention this. 

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The key issue was that the Qin Dynasty, by design, was built on a foundation of repression, with harsh policies and an emphasis on centralized power that prioritized control over collaboration. This systemic approach stifled innovation, suppressed dissent, and created widespread resentment among various groups, including intellectuals, nobles, and peasants. No system—be it Confucian, Legalist, or otherwise—could have thrived in such an environment because the leadership failed to foster trust, stability, or a sense of shared purpose among its people. The lack of adaptability and the absence of meaningful reforms to address these underlying issues meant that even the most well-structured philosophy or administrative system would ultimately collapse under the weight of its internal contradictions.

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The fall of the Qin Dynasty can largely be attributed to leadership failures rather than external factors. Emperor Qin Shi Huang's authoritarian rule, coupled with a centralized power structure, created widespread resentment among his people. His disregard for the well-being of intellectuals, nobles, and the general population, as well as his failure to plan for succession and his alienation of cultural traditions, all played a crucial role in undermining the stability of his empire. These leadership failures, fueled by paranoia and harsh policies, ultimately led to unrest and the collapse of the Qin Dynasty.

(SOURCE)

The first Emporer unifies china

Qin’s subjects saw him as a cruel tyrant who had lost the Mandate of Heaven.

Nobles were angry because he had destroyed the aristocracy Over 100,000 noble families were relocated to the emperor’s capital city Xianyang. And their arms were confiscated, melted down, and then cast into giant statues." The shift in power away from the traditional feudal system angered the aristocratic class, as their long-held privileges and influence were stripped away.

Qin had a highly negative impact on scholars, suppressing intellectual freedom by burning books that did not align with the legalist philosophy, and executing scholars who disagreed with the reseem. This led to a time of fear and censorship among the intellectual class

"Peasants hated his forced labor gangs," which were a significant source of resentment. This dissatisfaction was further exacerbated by the brutal extortions of money and the many years of forced labor.

Qin’s downfall was ultimately the result of making too many enemies on his rise to power. His harsh policies and oppressive rule alienated key groups, from intellectuals to nobles and peasants, sowing the seeds of rebellion that led to the collapse of his dynasty.

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Strict Legalism

The Qin Dynasty was governed by the philosophy of Legalism, which emphasized strict laws, harsh punishments, and absolute obedience to authority.

Minor infractions could result in severe penalties, such as mutilation, execution, or family punishment, instilling fear and resentment among the population.

Qin Shi Huangdi implemented legalism, emphasizing strict laws and centralization. He standardized language, currency, weights, measures, and even cart axle widths.

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The Qin government abolished the feudal system and replaced it with centralized administrative units. While efficient, this stripped local elites of their power and alienated many influential groups.

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The Zhou agreed that since worldly affairs were supposed to align with those of the heavens, the heavens conferred legitimate power on only one person, the Zhou ruler. In return, the ruler was duty-bound to uphold heaven's principles of harmony and honor. Any ruler who failed in this duty, who let instability creep into earthly affairs, or who let his people suffer, would lose the mandate.

wikipedia, don't quote this one just mention what the mandate of heaven means

"Han success in building and maintaining a unified, centralized China was based on the foundations that had been laid down by the First Emperor. The Han dynasty finally collapsed in 220 CE, amid a foment of civil unrest and natural disasters that convinced the
Chinese that their dynasty had lost 'the mandate of heaven,'" - Qin History Article

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The Warring States period and the Spring and Autumn period

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The Warring States period and the Spring and Autumn period

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The warring states period was at the end of the Zhou dynasty where the constant warfare between states characterized it. It was right after the Spring and Autumn period when many smaller states had claimed independence from the Zhou dynasty.

The Zhou Empire:

The Zhou empire existed for 789 years from 1046 BC until 256 BC, being the longest dynasty in the history of China. The emperor had control over most of the mainland but had divided much of his land among officials to try to control his power better. They followed the mandate of heaven to officialize to the emperor's power

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The Qin government imposed high taxes to fund massive construction projects, such as the Great Wall, roads, canals, and the emperor's lavish mausoleum.

Citizens, especially peasants, were forced into corvée labor, often under brutal conditions, leading to exhaustion, famine, and death.

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More Ideas and summarization of History Of Qin  

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More Ideas and summarization of History Of Qin  

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He divided society into four classes: gentlemen (Shi), peasants (Nong), artisans (Gong), and merchants (Shang).

Qin Shi Huangdi's civil engineering achievements were monumental but costly in human lives.

After Qin Shi Huangdi's death in 210 BCE, his youngest son, Hu Hai, took the throne under the influence of advisor Zhao Gao. Hu Hai exiled and executed Chancellor Li Si but was murdered after three years. His successor, Zi Ying, ruled briefly as king instead of emperor before the Qin dynasty fell into rebellion.

206 BCE, Liu Bang, a Han general, overthrew the Qin and founded the Han dynasty, which ruled for 400 years and expanded China’s territory significantly

Han reintroduced Confucianism as the state philosophy, emphasizing ethics, education, and the civil service exam system to create a meritocratic bureaucracy.

The Han dynasty collapsed in 220 CE due to civil unrest and natural disasters, marking the start of the chaotic Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties Period

Confucius also shaped Chinese culture profoundly, promoting morality, humility, and self-discipline.

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"Yea, and I bealieve that this idea is perfectly exemplified by"

"to provide some context into what ______ said lets look at document _______

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The Han dynasty was directly after the Qin dynasty, being founded by Liu Bang, a man of humble birth who led the revolution against the Qin. "The Han copied the highly centralized Qin administrative structure, dividing the country into a series of administrative areas ruled by centrally appointed officials and developing a salaried bureaucracy in which promotion was based primarily on merit" However the Han also adopted a Confucian ideology, prioritizing virtue and good deeds. The first leader set up the next leaders for success but according to the qin history reading there was still much civil unrest showing that Confucianism was not the best ideology to keep everyone at ease.

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your gonna get tapped out for not talking

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the power is mostly given to the higher officials and concentrated not within the people, but within the emperor and the high ministers.