The Han dynasty's legal code was similar to Qin's legal
code, but it was also different in many ways. The Qin dynasty had harsh
legal codes involving Legalism. Most peasents in China did not agree with
these legalist laws because they did not treat them with respect. These
legalist legal codes hurt the peasents with heavy tax laws. These tax laws
crushed the peasents because the tax laws usually involved how much propery
they owned. Since most of the peasents did not have much money the limited
land they had would hurt them.
Limited information on the legal codes because everything has detierated.
Han legal code was the same as Qin legal code, just less harsh.
Punishment for most crimes was mandatory public work
Public work would include building Great Wall, canals, constructing roads, or serve in the army
Other punishments would be tattoing the face, beheading, cutting off nose, cutting off feet, and castration
Legal code was modified on Confuciust way of thinking.
Emperor Wen first enforced Confucianism philosophy of China.
Took away book burning of any other philosophy
Han legal code contained 60 chapters and over 1 million characters
These legal codes during the Han dynasty were sometimes held strong, or sometimes weren't
A couple of times during the Han dynasty an emperor or empress would change the philosphy of the land
Confucianism ruled throughout China most of the time, but Daoism would sometimes rule
During Daoist time periods the laws were not enforced as much, especially tax laws
Han enforced a new legal code
Anybody between the age of 23-56 were required 2 years of army service
Army was mostly conscripts but some were volunteers and convicts
Government hired officials of each territory would
police these laws and give punishments
Han Gaozu (Liu Bang) founder who originally established Confucianism as
China's philosophy
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