book burning

One major event that happened during the Qin dynasty was the infamous burning of books burying scholars. Emperor Qin did not agree with the philosophy of Confucianism, but rather the philosophy of Legalism. Legalism is a political philosophy that didn’t address higher questions such as the purpose of life. Since Qin disagreed so much with Confucius’ views of life, and to ultimately get rid of this belief, he ordered for books about this philosophy to be burnt, and as well as ordering to burying scholars alive. Whoever refused to throw books into the fire, Qin ordered for them to be buried alive as well. The only books not allowed to be burned were books on war, medicine, agriculture and prophecy.