ABSTRACT
The modernity scheme developed in modern Europe has, through centuries of expansion, become a global model to a large extent. In a manner of speaking, in classic Confucianism, the concept of “government’s obligations” rather than “individual rights” was used to express certain requirements of modern human rights concept and these requirements mainly concentrate on the basic subsistence rights. Therefore, Confucianism always took inherently as the primary requirement responsibilities and virtues assumed to society and concern over public affairs. In spite of the restrictions on thoughts, monarchical power, authority and fame were of primary importance. Confucius had advised making people wealthy before educating them, which stipulated the primary obligation of the ruler was to “making people wealthy”. The standpoint of Confucianism is surely not priority of rights but priority of the individual. Confucianism was used as the thought of scholar-officials, who were intellectuals and government officials.
