Legalism is an influential school among the pre-Qin philosophers. If Confucianism and Mohism were the "outstanding people" in ideological and academic research during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, then Legalism was the outstanding one in politics at that time.

The characteristics of traditional politics: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism complement each other. It can be seen that legalism has a great influence on successive dynasties. Shang Yang, a representative figure of Legalism, advocated "the rule of law rather than the rule of man" through reform, which turned Qin from a ruined place where private struggle became a common practice into a vast country. Shen Buhai, a representative of Legalism, reformed the political system of Chu State and strictly observed military discipline, which is undoubtedly a moat of a country. Legalists restrict politics by law, strictly enforce military discipline by law, and strengthen the army to govern the army ... The rise and fall of a country depends on the government and the army, and legalists have done both at the same time.