Confucianism An Ideal Rule For The Empire example essay topic

If an empire is to be effective in maintaining power and prosperity, and preserving its legacy, then the best philosophy for it to follow is Confucianism. Confucianism shows the people to stay in order by using its teachings and having its superiors set good examples rather than forcing them by using harsh punishments. Confucianism also is a strong supporter of using education to support almost every aspect of the empire's growth and prosperity. Unlike Taoism and Legalism, Confucianism will act to prevent either war or from being conquered by using force to maintain its strength and power. The first reason Confucianism is the most effective way to run an empire is that Confucianism's rule is not harsh, which is the best way for keeping order through-out the empire. If the empire uses Confucianism's philosophy and stresses the importance of teaching people why they should follow in order and not break laws, they will be discouraged then from acting against what they " ve been taught.

This way the empire doesn't need a harsh rule, which is less effective because it eventually leads to revolt among the people which weakens the country and leads to the empire's decline. If the emperor wants to have a good legacy after his death, a fair rule leads people to like the emperor and support him and help support a good legacy for him. Another reason for having a less harsh rule is because the empire exists for the people, so if the people don't support the empire because of its harsh rule the empire will eventually fall apart. The second reason Confucianism's rule is the best way to govern an empire is that education is very important to developing intelligent citizens. Confucianism is the only rule that stresses the importance of teaching the people. Education is important for all the people in the empire so that they can learn how to do their jobs better and more productively and contribute more to local government.

It is also important for everybody to have a good education in order for business and the economy to work well so that the government runs smoothly since people will know how to better participate, which helps the nobles and upper-class people to rule more productively so that the kingdom prospers. Education plays a key role in foreign affairs because if people fear what they don't understand, and they don't understand different cultures and religions of neighboring countries, or even diverse people or ideas within their own kingdom, they will avoid having contact with them. This can also lead to distrust or revolt against those neighboring countries or even against special groups within their own empire. Having an aggressive rule, by attacking neighboring countries, is unproductive and unnecessary in governing an empire. Conquering countries means starting wars, and war involves using money, resources and citizens' lives that could be of more use in peaceful jobs building a strong economy and country. The cost for resources used in building weapons and horses and food to feed the soldiers is wasted if they die in battle, or if the battle is lost.

The other reason an aggressive empire is less effective is because if an empire is in conflict with other people, then they will become enemies. Enemies of an empire are a threat that could conquer the empire. So instead of using force to conquer, Confucianism supports the idea of creating an empire that will attract people from other kingdoms, which will create peace and prosperity. So by being an empire that does not rely on conquering, but by accepting other people to join, is more productive and more effective. The Five Relationships of Confucianism's rule, will cause people to accept their place in society, work hard and keep order. If everybody has a responsibility to follow those leaders who are superior to them, or to set a good example and protect those who are inferior to them, then everybody will accept their place in society and be encouraged to do their responsibility.

The Five Relationships is effective for encouraging inferiors to rise to positions of power, instead of revolting. If inferiors work together and create harmony, then the classes will remain closely bonded which will prevent revolts and support efficient order in society. In the Five Relationships, women are to stay at home and care for the family and manage the house to support the family to be stable. This actually makes women more important in society, according to Confucianism, and increases women's status. Confucianism believes in the importance of studying the past rulers to learn how they ruled.

This is important for leaders because it teaches what codes of conduct worked in the past, and it shows what mistakes didn't work for ruling an empire. Ancient rulers, not only in China, were faced with similar decisions on governing an empire. By learning about the decisions that were effective, you can have a better knowledge of what is effective for ruling today. Learning about previous rulers can also prevent unnecessary mistakes that have already been tried in the past and failed and not make the mistake of repeating them. So learning about the past will teach you better ways to rule an empire, and show you how not to govern. Taoism's rule, stressing the importance of living in peace with nature without concerning human affairs, would undoubtedly cause an abrupt fall to the empire.

If the empire doesn't believe in government, which protects the people from invaders and helps them to defend themselves from natural disasters such as floods, then the people will suffer and blame the empire. This will result in either them leaving to go to another empire or in overthrowing the empire. Another reason Taoism is undesirable for ruling a kingdom, is that Taoists do not follow the ideas or forces of others, so the emperor has little effect on his own people, and will not be remembered after his death either. Taoism also opposes harming nature, which means they are against using their natural resources to advance technology or expand and grow civilization with it. If an empire doesn't grow, nor have a strong government, which supplies an army, the empire will become easily taken over by neighboring countries. The third and least effective way of ruling a powerful and lasting empire is Legalism.

Legalism's belief that having a harsh rule in government to keep people in order is completely wrong in making an effective and lasting empire. According to Legalism, people are unwilling to obey the empire to began with, so to keep them in order by forcing and using harsh punishments will only make them even more opposed to obey the empire. If people fear their empire, they will not like it and they will either go to another empire or to overthrow it. Another reason is that if an emperor is harsh by ruling by Legalism, he will be disliked and will not be looked back upon in history as a good ruler.

Neither of the other two philosophies believes in putting the people in front of religion and power which makes Confucianism an ideal rule for the empire that can grow and prosper. Confucianism doesn't force people to keep order, it teaches them philosophy and allows them to willingly learn to help the empire. This is also the most effective rule that can best prevent revolt among the citizens because of the close bonds between the superior and inferior classes within the country..