法家思想的演变与秦王朝的兴亡

法家思想产生于春秋战国时期的变法革新运动。早期法家思想受西周礼乐文化的影响，其特点是在肯定“法治”的同时不排斥“德治”。中期法家迫于战争的压力，废除“德治”原则，政策上具有国家主义特点，秦国因之而强大。后期法家将“法治”转向了“术治”，形成了一套绝对的君主专制理论，秦帝国因之而速亡。

The Development of Legalists' Thoughts and the Rise and Fall of the Qin Dynasty

Legalists＇ thoughts originated from the political innovation during the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States Periods. Influenced by the ritual and music Culture of the Zhou Dynasty, the early legalists did not oppose ＂ruling by virtue＂ but advocated ＂ruling by law＂. Faced with wars, the middle legalists thoroughly abandoned the principle of ruling by virtue and advocated a nationalist policy. Therefore Qin became the strongest kingdom among the whole. The late legalists changed ruling by law into ruling by skills and developed a theory of absolute monarchy, which brought quick downfall to Qin Empire.