Good qualities of the ideal ruler according to the classical philosophies of India, China, and Greece was following advice, using The Golden Rule, and taking responsibility for themselves. With this advice, rulers and leaders of these countries were able to provide peace and prosperity for their people. Even though many of the philosophies disagreed on beliefs, they still had similar ideas for the ideal ruler. India, China, and Greece had different ways on emphasizing on this qualities but managed to still get the same concepts across. These three qualities were shared ideas philosophers approved.
Following advice was a quality India, China, and Greece emphasized because it helped the ruler be more selfless. One example of following advice was used in the Hindu religion. Rama, a son of a newly retired king was asked by his stepmother to let his young brother Bharata to rule. Rama replied, “Of course I will go. A son should always his parents.” (2) His wife, Sita agreed to go with him since “a wife’s place is with her husband.”(2) Bharta later went to his brother and sister-in-law in the forest asking him to come home. Rama refused, saying he “cannot disobey [his] father’s command.”(2) China also supported this quality. Confucius often traveled around China, giving advice to rulers like The Duke Gae. Mencius also traveled around China, spreading Confucius’s word around to rulers to help them. These rulers would follow their advice, helping their people. Without Mencius or Confucius, Chinese rulers may have not been able to help their civilizations proper. In Greece, many philosophers would give out advice. However, Greek rulers did not often listen to philosophers such as Socrates or Aristotle, so their empires may of not done as well as they could have. Alexander the Great, a student of Aristotle, followed his advice and is now known as one of the most iconic rulers of the ancient Greek dynasty. Some advice that philosophers and religious figures gave was how to treat people, another important quality for an ideal leader.
Using The Golden Rule was also a concept many philosophers and religious figures supported for rulers because it would fulfill peace and prosperity. In China, Laozi, a religious figure that founded Daoism, wrote “Do good to him who has done you an injury.” (6) Not only did Laozi suggest to be kind to another, but be good to people who have hurt you. Confucius advised to rulers to “Be filial and kind to all; then they will be faithful…”(4) He also suggests to lead by virtue because if he advances “the good and teacher the incompetent”, his people “will eagerly seek to be virtuous.” (4) and follow their ruler in a respectful way. In India, Ashoka, a ruler who followed Buddhism suggested to have “Proper behavior towards servants and employees, respect for mother and father, generosity to friends, companions, relations, Brahmans and ascetics, and not killing living beings.” (3b) If a ruler followed this, his people will trust him and follow his leadership. He also writes about how a leader must desire “Security, self-control, calm of mind, and gentleness.” (3a) Those who “achieve” those characteristics and teaches them, his people “will follow it.” (3a) Greek Philosopher Socrates once said, “power be in the hands of men who are rich not in gold, but in the wealth that brings happiness, a good and wise life…” (8) Socrates encouraged rulers to have wisdom and happiness, so the common people understand and follow the laws that their government made because their ruler can relate to them. In order to for a ruler to understand and follow The Golden Rule, they should work responsibility for themselves.
Responsibility for one’s self was a greatly emphasized quality for leaders who wanted to help their people because the civilizations could trust their ruler. The Laws of Manu recommended “A king who knows the sacred law must inquire into the laws of castes, of districts, of guilds, and of families, and settle the peculiar law of each…”(1) If the king took responsibility for understanding his people, then they were be able to relate and trust him. Thus, civilizations could live in peace and prospered if their ruler could have related to them. In China, religious figures also recommended to do this. Hanfeizi, the founder of Legalism, wrote “An enlightened ruler holds up facts and discards all that is without practical value” (7) and should have take responsibility for bringing order for his people because they had “the minds of little infants”(7). Socrates believed that “a well-governed society only if you can discover for your future rulers a better way of life than being in office…”(8) If a ruler brought philosophy in politics, then he would be able to handle responsibility and his people were able to trust him, even during tough time. Rulers also could admit mistakes and take blame if they understood the concept of responsibility. Without responsibility for one’s self, rulers could not help their people and their government.
China, India, and Greece were only some of the few countries that had governments thrive and grow during ancient history. Without their religious scholars and philosophers advising them to have certain qualities, their empires would have fell, like Ancient Rome. China, India, and Greece still have strong empires even though that have changed over time. These qualities not only help rulers, but common people because they could live productive, peaceful lives. Without these qualities, the government systems and rulers of the world may have been very different than it is today