Chanakya, Arthashastra, and Mauryan Empire

• Ancient and Medieval Political Theory examines the political thought of Chanakya and Confucius.

Chanakya Biography

• Also known as Kautilya, served as key advisor to King Chandragupta Maurya (c. 317-293 BCE)
• Chandragupta Maurya defeated the Nanda kings, stopped Alexander the Great's successors and united the Indian subcontinent
• Kautilya composed Arthashastra, or "science of politics," to advise kings on defeating enemies and ruling for the common good
• The Nanda dynasty gained control over the northern Indian subcontinent in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE
• They relied on tactical advice for battles and ministers for policy and government
• Takshashila, established c.600 BCE in modern day Rawalpindi Pakistan, became a hub for scholars.
• Chanakya (Kautilya, Vishnugupta) wrote Arthashastra, meaning "the science of material gain" or "the art of polity"
• Arthashastra uniquely combined accumulated political wisdom with Chanakya's original dispassionate analysis

Chanakya's Political Ideas: The State

• The state was above everything else, warranting the use of cunning tactics in politics
• Politics was viewed as a science, demanding wisdom for effective political leadership
• State efforts should focus on dharma
• He favored a powerful monarchy, believing the king should project strength
• He saw neighboring states as potential threats that warranted careful observation
• The state should be prepared for war, and the king should aim to expand the empire
• The sphere of state activity should be comprehensive, including civil and military functions
• Kautilya identified seven elements of the state: swamin (lord/sovereign), amatya (minister), janapada (territory/population), durga (fort), kosha (treasury), bala (army), and mitra (ally)
• Kautilya's Swamin was a true sovereign, with no feudal allegiances required
• Amatya must be loyal to the Swamin and a native of the country
• Janapada encompasses both territory and population and is an element of the state
• Durga, or fort, was viewed as a vital element of the state
• Kosha, or treasury, was considered significant for contributing to the expansion of it
• Bala, meaning army, of which Kautilya defined six types
• Mitra or ally, included saja and kritrima

Chanakya's Political Ideas: Advising the Sovereign

• Treatise sections address moral qualities for state leaders, emphasizing practical power gain and maintenance
• It was the first in India to describe a civil structure where ministers and advisors played the key role in state matters
• Commitment to state prosperity is central to Chanakya's political thought, which repeatedly emphasizes the people's welfare as the ultimate goal
• Ensuring people's well-being and security through just administration and leading the country to victory were responsibilities of the sovereign
• Chapter describes the various factors on which it depends such as: the personal qualities of the ruler, the abilities of his advisors, his territory and towns, his wealth, his army, and his allies
• The sovereign should learn skills such as statecraft, military tactics, law, administration, diplomacy, self-discipline, and ethics
• Counsel from trusted ministers and advisors is important
• States "governance is possible only with assistance—a single wheel does not move,” highlighting the sovereign's need to consult
• Ministers need qualifications and trustworthiness for good advice and decisions, which should prevent corrupt rulers from acting selfishly

Chanakya's Political Ideas: The Ends Justifies The Means

• Recognition of human nature defined Chanakya
• Arthashastra is a practical governance guide that advocates any means necessary to ensure state welfare and security
• Arthashastra advocates learning and self-discipline for ideal rulers, describing using underhanded methods for power
• Chanakya was observant of human strengths and weaknesses
• It advised rulers and ministers to carefully assess enemies before choosing tactics such as conciliation, dissent, alliances, or military force
• Rulers should be ruthless, using trickery, bribery, and any means necessary, substituting virtues for defeated rival vices

The Works of Chanakya: The Arthashastra

• The Arthashastra has been described as the most significant treatise on wealth and politics
• It provides amazing material for theoretical and practical political research
• It acts as a practical guide that assists the king to rule effectively with details of administration
• Kautilya's Arthashastra addresses political science, history, philosophy, economics, public administration, geography, strategic studies, and management
• Rudrapatna Shamasastry's 1909 translation, published in 1915, established study and Kautilyan research foundations during the Mauryan rule, circa 321–297 BCE
• The areas of political theory are wide ranging with areas such as interstate relations, state relations, strategic culture, and defense and security in the discussion about various political concepts
• Power derives from three sources: prabhavashakti (army/treasury), mantrashakti (advice), and utsah shakti (charisma)
• Arthashastra discusses both the substance and purpose of political power
• This book helps kings consolidate power, manage rivals, and care for their people

Additional Points

• The book aims to comprehend diverse aspects of power as Kautilya described, the political behavior and policy decision-making by the king
• Also of interest is the prosperity and well-being of people, the conduct of interstate relations, substance of power and the danger of vesting the king with absolute power
• The study proposes a look at political theory dimensions, especially in the Indian tradition
• Kautilya offered a unique integrated state view, unifying small units, welding groups, integrating linguistic populations, emphasizing the common good and social cohesion
• The Arthashastra provides archetypal political thought similar to Plato's Republic
• Kautilya was the first ancient political thinker, who adopted a scientific approach relating to politics and economics
• The text of Arthashastra was rediscovered in the early 20th century, and regained some of its importance in Indian political thinking
• Chanakya wasn't recognized outside outside until recently

Confucius Biography

• Confucius was born in 551 BCE in Qufu, in the state of Lu, China
• Kong Qiu earned the title Kong Fuzi, or “Master Kong" later in life
• Confucius worked as a servant to support his family after his father died.
• He became an administrator in the Zhou court, but left, instead concentrated on teaching
• Confucius lived when there was a turning point in China's political history, when he lived through prosperity, stability and flowering of art, literature and philosophy
• The Hundred Schools of Thought saw new ideas inspire a Chinese society shake-up where scholars were appointed on merit
• Between 770 to 220 BCE, China had cultural development
• During the Warring States period, Kong Fuzi, or Confucius sought moral values for just governance
• Confucius looked to the Zhou Dynasty, its ritual, and ancestor worship maintained via Heavenly Mandate
• Confucius integrated old ideals with emerging meritocracy for a unique moral philosophy
• The Analects, a collection of writings and sayings from disciplines, made a rule book for government made of aphorisms and anecdotes

Confucius Facts

• Little is known about Confucius’ life despite his importance
• Kong Qiu, or Confucius was of a respected and comfortably well-off family
• As a young man, he served after his father died and studied in spare time to join the civil service
• Working as an administrator at the Zhou court, he developed ideas for governance, but his advice ignored and he resigned
• For the rest of his life, he traveled throughout the Chinese empire, teaching
• Eventually, returned to Qufu, where he died in 479 BCE

Confucius: The Superior Man

• Like most of his class, Confucius pursued a career as an administrator, developing thoughts in organization of government
• Formulated a framework that enabled justice based on his moral philosophy
• Confucius' moral standpoint was had traditional virtues: loyalty, duty, and respect, personified as junzi, "gentleman” or “superior man," who would provide example to other members of society
• Society can be transformed by fair and benevolent government
• Reciprocity, just treatment will be met with a just and generous treatment underlies philosophy and political thinking
• Society's ruler must embody virtues, inspiring people
• Confucius advises “If your desire is for good, the people will be good"
• A new structure taking account of the meritocratic administrative class while respecting established noble families.
• Modeled society on family relationships, with reciprocal rights/responsibilities cohesion, loyalty and respect to create
• Confucius considers relationship of: sovereign/subject, father/son, husband/wife, elder brother/ younger brother, and friend/friend

Confucius' Political Ideas: Justifying Hereditary Rule

• Sovereigns inherited status, showing Confucius' conservativsm
• Just as the family models societal relationships, the traditional respect has roots in ancestors
• Like the father in a family the Paterfamilias figure should rule the state
• Unjust or unwise rulers should face opposition or removal
• Confucius advocated a class of skilled administrators to act as advisors
• Loyalty to both ruler and people was key, so ability and the highest moral character were very important qualities
• These ministers were picked by the sovereign, which depended on the sovereign's character, they provided services because they showed devotion, benevolence and loyalty

Confucius' Political Ideas: Crime and Punishment

• Confucius's moral philosophy had ties to law and punishment
• Humanistic methods replaced religious codes and prescribed the rules for conduct
• The golden rule was re-written into the negative: that it is about avoidance of the specific acts that cause offense
• Shun any kind of bad behaviour and the focus is removed from that
• Best to instill a sense of shame than impose rigid laws
• Learning a sense of proper and improper, it is the example given that is important

Confucius' Political Ideas: Unpopular Ideas

• Combined innate goodness with a traditional Chinese social setting
• Chinese emperor leads civil service examinations
• His advisors had no place, so his ideas faced suspicion
• Ruling families were unhappy and felt threatened by the implied dismissal of their divine right
• Administrators were critical of control as an idea instead of example, which would reign in any autocratic rulers
• Military thinkers had no time for his emphasis on morality
• During China's Warring State era Legalism, an authoritatrian, progmatic system suplanted these ideas, especially during early Chinese empire
• He believed that society would be based more on a Confucian view, with merit-based roles, peace and stability returned to China during the Han dynasty, as well as civil service exams centuries later

Confucius' Political Ideas: The State Philosophy

• The state was based upon the idea that it gave them enough adequecy under a peaceful government, but some felt it wasn't in a time of Warring States
• His ideas supplanted this period, with government as the guiding force
• Peace had resumed, however, and Confucianism was then taken as the state's offiial philosophy
• During China's Han Dynasty, he wanted for people to be hired based on testing and skill
• Confucian ideas are still active today

Explore Chanakya's Arthashastra, his role in establishing the Mauryan Empire with Chandragupta, and the political landscape of ancient India. Learn about Chanakya's strategic thinking, the significance of Takshashila, and key aspects of governance according to the Arthashastra. Understand Chanakya's views on statecraft and the priorities of a king.