The Chinese and the Indians communities are some of the oldest civilizations known to mank. The Chinese for instance are believed to have had a stable form of government and political system over tens of thousands of years ago. The Indians too had emperors and rulers several thousands of years ago. These civilizations had different forms of government and their method of ruling was equally varied. The Chinese seemed to have preferred a high handed rule based on leader of government demanding loyalty from the subjects. However, the Indians seemed to have a leadership-by-example method of government and a leadership that aspires to meet the needs of the subject. This research paper will ascertain that the Chinese view of government has since appeared as a dictatorial closed-knit rule while the Indian view may have preferred a democracy.
Chinese view of government based on the Legalist view
The Chinese form of government can be viewed from the legalist views as expressed by Hanfeizi (Elizabeth, 244). It is the view of Hanfeizi that a country that has a strong following for the law appears united and therefore much stronger. And similarly, a country with a weak following for the law is very weak. However, the option to follow the law should not be left to the citizens. The legalist view argues that a ruler does not depend of the good will of the subjects to follow the law. The legalist view of the Chinese government warns that only one in ten persons can willfully follow the law (Elizabeth,244).
Thus the legalist implores on the leadership to assert rule of law and make the subjects follow the laid laws. Further, Hanfeizi argues that attention of government should not be based on virtues or the struggle to appear admirable. A depiction of this view has been captured by the artist’s impression. The then Chinese government was facing opposition in form scholars expressing contrary view in their books and writing. To stem such opposition, a legalist form of government should execute such scholars and burn all books expressing opposing sentiments. It is in the best interest of this view government that the law is imposed on the people at whatever cost, a form of dictatorship.
Indian view of the government based on the Mauryan view
The founder of India’s Mauryan Empire was emphatic is setting up a form of government that was different from that of the Chinese. This view of government argues that a leader defines the nature of the country and vice-versa. An enthusiastic leader leads to an enthusiastic nation. In the same regard, the happiness of a king relies on the happiness of the subjects. Thus,whatever pleases the subjects pleases the king. It may therefore be argued that the Muaryan view consider the will of the people to be superior to will of the king,a form of democracy.
In conclusion, it can be argued that the Chinese view of government consider the king to superior while the Indians consider the will of the people as the guiding principle. However, the Confucius view consider an ideal government as one led by virtues and decorum. Virtues and restrain on the side of the leader will inspire the rest of the country.
Works Cited
Elizabeth, Susan. World History Human Legacy. Orlando, FL: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2008.
