Legalism: The Religion of the Qin Dynasty

Legalism: The Religion of the

Qin Dynasty

   During the Qin Dynasty, there was not a religion.  There was a belief system.  The system was known as Legalism.  The word Legalism simply means strict laws.  This Legalism was given out by the government’s laws.  The government’s laws were given out by Emperor Qin.  The people of China followed these laws.   

There were also different types of practices going on during the Qin dynasty.  People would try to get to the other world by praying to the spirits.  They did this praying at sacrificial alters.  These praying ceremonies took place in local shrines and sacred areas.  When this happened the senses of the witnesses would be dulled with incense.

    There was one more religion during the Qin Dynasty.  This wasn’t exactly a religion.  It was called Divination.  This was the religious practice of predicting or influencing the future.  Different types of Divination took place during the Qin Dynasty.  People thought that comets might be the next thing to come.