If you want to understand China, you must first understand Legalism

Conversely, if you want to understand the US, you must understand:

1. Less educated, but successful, founding merchant emigrants

2. Old West (American frontier until 1920)

3. Slavery (and firearms and police)

4. Alexis de Tocqueville's American exceptionalism

I don’t think legalism is prerequisite for understanding China. No, if one wants to understand today China, one should seek to understand Confucianism and its effects on the social fabric, then the role of the emperor, his officials and the typical response of the people to these figures. After that, investigate the propaganda and mass control techniques of the communist, the unique blend of Chinese characteristics and communism and the effect of capitalism and cronies economies then you will understand China quite well.

Legalism sounds like capitalism.