Confucius advocated that rulers should pay more attention to education than punishment; Oppose excessive extraction and advocate "making the people righteous"; At the same time, the rulers are required to set an example, "be upright and do things without orders." The core content of Confucius' political thought is "courtesy" and "benevolence", and "the world is public" is Confucius' highest political ideal.
The background of Confucius' thought of governing the country;
During the Spring and Autumn Period, wars between governors continued, and the social reality of "losing the king, abolishing the etiquette and righteousness, losing political power, and having different customs at home" appeared. "No monarch, no minister, no father and no son" became the characteristic of that era. Based on this background, it is the noblest way for Confucius to govern the country by virtue, by courtesy, strictly following the hierarchical system and restoring the etiquette system of Zhou Dynasty.
This strategy of governing the country is also called "rule by virtue" or "rule by courtesy". This strategy applies morality and politeness to the people, and divides nobles and civilians into rulers and ruled. Broke the original important boundary between nobles and civilians.