The Effectiveness Of Shi Huangdi

482 Words2 Pages

Tiana Kaga
January 17
Global I Essay
Mr. Darby
The Effectiveness of Shi Huangdi The leadership of Shi Huangdi was effective because he successfully maintained social order and laid the foundation for future dynasties. The emperor, Shi Huangdi, governed people with a stick, or punishments to get people to obey. Due to his harsh ruling, he resembled vinegar: a strong and bitter person. Shi Huangdi “turned China from a patchwork of squabbling kingdoms into a state” (Honey and Vinegar 69). The first ideology of Shi Huangdi was legalism, the philosophy that harsh laws are more beneficial than moral kindness to receive obedience. One would be executed or given severe punishment if one committed a crime. Due to the severity and strictness he upheld, …show more content…

The fewer crimes show how his harsh beliefs maintained a smooth society. Additionally, Asoka, a Mauryan emperor that ruled by moral coercion to receive obedience, or the carrot, incorporated legalism. Asoka was a people-pleaser that led with love toward the people, looking out for their health and religious freedom. Although he had a positive stigma, he was not naive and said, “he exercise[d] the power to punish … in order to induce them to desist violence” (Honey and Vinegar 67). Today’s society also practices some parts of Shi Huangdi’s leadership; it continues to push laws and enforce harsh punishments against crimes. The usage of Shi Huangdi’s ideologies proves that his leadership is necessary for all aspects and is a component of creating a successful empire. Secondly, Shi Huangdi also abolished feudalism, a government system that let local lords take control of land in return for support towards the ruler. In exchange for land, the local lords organized militaries, which would be brought to the leader when needed. The peasants worked the land and brought wealth to the local lords. Eventually, the lords’ wealth was uncontrollable by the ruler. Since Shi Huangdi abolished feudalism, he could watch over the lords’ actions and prevent rebellions and crime. This