Confucianism, which had arisen about 500 BCE, stressed the importance of filial allegiance and ritual and probably was the dominant philosophy of the time.

- The Confucians asserted that humans were basically good and that evil came from the failures of the systems under which they lived.

- Cosmological theorizing, yin and yang, five phases (fire, water, earth, metal and wood)

- Wants a stable government

Qin were Legalists, Han were ConfucianistsThe Han period is associated with the victory of Confucianism.

- Did not eradicate other ways of thinking- Historical importance lies in the ways it coloured the connections

between the elite, the society, and the state.

Wendi favored Daoism, finding value in its laissez-faire message.

Wudi recognized the advantages to the throne of employing men who had learned Confucian self-restraint, concern for others, love of ritual, devotion to principle, and loyalty to superiors.

One of the aims of Qin Legalism was direct rule by the emperor of everyone in society.

Legalism went beyond the proposition of the need for a comprehensive set of laws. The three elements of proper government according to Legalist theory were:

- Shih: Power and position- Shu: Administrative techniques and methods- Fa: A comprehensive system of laws

The Legalists not only asserted that humans were by nature evil but they expanded their notion of evil to include those activities which were not deemed socially productive, such as reading and scholarship.

The Legalists believed that the only productive occupations were farming and weaving. This meant that reading was simply a waste of the labor resources of the society. So all books other than those on farming, weaving and divination were burned, and those scholars who refused to heed the administrators' edicts against pursuing useless activities were punished and some were even buried alive.

Daoismaction through non-actioncompassion, moderation, and humility