The Confucian School founded by Confucius was the first folk academic group in ancient China. The so-called "Confucianism" in ancient times generally refers to civil servants or intellectuals who have mastered certain cultural knowledge, that is, "the study of six arts" (etiquette, military system, archery, martial arts, calligraphy and mathematics). Confucianism represents the interests of feudal nobles evolved from slave owners. At the same time, they live at the bottom of society, so they are more sympathetic to the working people. Although Confucianism advocates improvement, it still adheres to the ancient patriarchal clan system. They advocate restraining the excessive behavior of the members of the ruling group through reconciliation, and advocate that "the benevolent loves the people", that is, to reduce the exploitation and oppression of the people and let the people live a rich life. And on this basis, educate the people, so that the people can establish moral and ethical concepts and self-discipline awareness, so as to achieve a unified, peaceful and orderly society.
Mohism was the first to criticize Confucianism and contend with it. Confucianism and Mohism were both called "outstanding schools" at that time. Zhuangzi's theory of everything says: "Confucianism and Mohism have right and wrong, so it is right and wrong, not right." Han Feizi said: "There is a school in the world, and Confucianism is also ink." Lu Chunqiu once said, "Confucius. Mohism severely criticized the aristocratic regime in Shi Qing Shi Lu from the interests of small producers. They accused the nobles of "getting rich for nothing" and "getting rich for no reason". (Mozi Shang Xian) roared that "officials are impermanent and expensive, and the people have no final base" (Mozi Shang Xian). They demanded that "a sage should praise his capacity" and "a sage should praise it and think it is an official; if he is unscrupulous, he should suppress it and abolish it; if he is poor, he should be cheap"; (Mozi Shang Zhong Xian) "People in agriculture and industry should be promoted and rewarded with high honors if they have the ability." (Mozi Shang Xian Ⅰ) requires "rewarding the virtuous and punishing the violent". (Mozi Shang Zhong Xian) "Don't be the party father, not the brother, not the partial wealth." What is above must be all, and what is not above must be all "("Mozi Shang Zhong Xian "). They hope to have an emperor who is supreme and above everything, and shed sunshine from above. In addition, they also accused the Confucian "love of the benevolent" as "love of the poor" and demanded that it be replaced by "fraternity" of equality, mutual benefit and "everyone in the world loves each other".
Keeping pace with Mohism at the same time is Yang Zhu School's criticism of Confucianism. Yang Zhu School dares to despise the moral concepts such as respecting the old order and filial piety defended by Confucianism, and advocates "valuing life" and "serving me". Namely: "The whole life is real and not complicated by things". (General comment on Huainanzi) "Forced to live and not die". (Lv Chunqiu Guisheng) "Andy takes a dime from me, which is beneficial to the world" (Mencius wholeheartedly) "It is unfavorable to the world and easy to lose a dime" (Han Feizi, therefore, everything that hinders "life" is immoral and worthless. This concept is a reflection of the extreme economic relationship of private ownership in people's minds. It is a betrayal of the moral and ethical concepts of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, a reaction to the concept of hierarchy, and a challenge to the legal system that safeguarded aristocratic privileges at that time. Yang Zhu School attributed the value of life to the satisfaction of material desires, thus rationalizing the behavior and thought of pursuing material interests. This is a denial of Confucianism's "emphasizing righteousness over profit". They abandoned the traditional view of heaven and the view of the first king, and explained morality from the perspective of human sensory needs, which was another impact on the traditional concept.
Mohism and Yang Zhu School once formed an invisible "anti-Confucianism alliance". As Mencius said, "Yang Zhu's words are all over the world, and the words of the world are not returned to Yang, but to Mo". Mencius took Xue and Yang Mo as his own responsibility. "yang mo's way is endless, and Confucius's way is endless." "Yang is for me, and there is no gentleman's intention; Mohist universal love is fatherless. Without a gentleman and a father, it is an animal. " (Mencius on Teng Wengong) shows hatred for Yang and Mo.
Taoism is an academic school mainly represented by Laozi and Zhuangzi. It is named after emphasizing the way of "doing nothing without doing anything" (Chapter 57 of Laozi). They basically represent the negative and pessimistic attitude of declining slave owners and nobles, unwilling to perish and not cooperating with those in power. They advocate "the natural law of quietism", that is, to act according to the laws of human society without interference. Therefore, we oppose "promising" politics. They criticized the Confucian "rule by courtesy" as "the thin and chaotic head of loyalty" (Chapter 38 of Laozi), and the legalist "rule by law" as "prospering the law and increasing the number of thieves" (Chapter 57 of Laozi). It is impossible to rule the world. They laughed at those in power as "thieves" and "princes' doors without benevolence and righteousness". (Zhuangzi You) The meanness and hypocrisy of the rulers are exposed more. Often hit the nail on the head, hit the nail on the head
Legalism is an academic school that appeared in the middle of the Warring States period, representing the interests of the emerging landlord class. Legalists also stepped onto the political stage with the attitude of criticizing Confucianism. Moreover, Legalists' criticism of Confucianism is more powerful than other schools. Legalists oppose "kissing", "respecting relatives" and "ruling by courtesy" and demand the "rule of law" of distributing rights according to the size of contributions. Their slogan is "punishment has no hierarchy", and the "rule of law" of "no kinship, no dignity, no separation from the law" (Biography of Taishigong in Historical Records) is implemented, and a centralized monarchy is established on the basis of the bureaucrats in the county system. One of the important theories of Legalists is the theory of human nature that "likes good and evil". Under this theory of human nature, the moral norms such as benevolence, loyalty, filial piety and kindness to brothers and sisters advocated by Confucianism have become hypocritical things that violate human nature. Legalist school is one of the schools that attach the most importance to the role of law and study the law the most. Legalists have put forward unique views on the definition, characteristics, functions and origins of law. Legalists not only put forward a systematic theory of "rule of law", but also put forward specific legislative and judicial suggestions.