These days, you have to realize that there are at least 2 very schools/styles/streams of Confucianism -- the authentic version, and the Mainland China-ized version. Essentially, the China-ized version emphasizes/distorts the loyalty (忠) and filial piety relationships (孝) between the ruler and the ruled, while downplaying/distorting the fact that peasants are in fact encouraged to hold the rulers / authority figures accountable to a certain extent, and overthrow him if the rulers / authority figures are abusing their powers. Obviously, the distortion is meant to help the PRC governemnt in keeping the 1.3 billion people obedient and sheep-like.
-Lik |