Legalism (Chinese philosophy)

Fajia, or the School of fa, often translated Legalism, was a bibliographic school of primarily Warring States period classical Chinese philosophy, incorporating more administrative works traditionally said to be rooted in Huang-Lao Daoism. Addressing practical governance challenges of the unstable feudal system, their ideas contributed greatly to the formation of the Chinese empire and bureaucracy, advocating concepts including rule by law, sophisticated administrative technique, and ideas of state and sovereign power. They are often interpreted along realist lines. Though persisting, the Qin to Tang period was more characterized by the 'centralizing tendencies' of its traditions.