Abstract

Confucius' restorationist, backward line in thought and behavior received the sympathy of the declining slave-owning aristocrats during that time and was opposed by the laboring people, but it also received the flattery and acclaim of the reactionary ruling class in later times. Confucius wanted to "reestablish the extinct states, restore families whose lines of suecession had been broken, and praise those who had retired t oprivate life." Those who had retired t o private life of whom he spoke were the declining slave-owning aristocrats. He sympathized with these retired people, and they also sympathized with him.