The earliest Li (rites) in ancient China refers to regulations on the articles and ritual formalities for offering sacrifice to god. A sophisticated system of Li came into being in the Zhou Dynasty, so as to regulate people’s conducts, reconcile conflicts, coordinate interpersonal relationship and ensure perfect management of personnel affairs through implementation of certain regulations and systems. Li makes social order, puts an end to contentions and scourge of war and moderates extravagance and dissipation. Li is the premises of people’s happiness about their lives and work.

Li is a desirable standard and norm of conduct advocated by Confucius. During the Confucius period, people gradually drifted away from the rites of the Zhou, and this is the reason why Confucius began to advocate it once more.

Confucius attached great importance to rites and carried it out personally. He held the opinion of paying equal attention to benevolence and rites and wished to revive the ideal cultural value contained through the form of "Li". He put a high premium on the spirit of "Li" and managed to be flexible, expedient and apt to change in implementation. For example, in the rite of the Zhou, hemp was used to make hats. Later people changed the material into silk for simpler production. Confucius agreed to do as others did since the change wouldn't hurt the connotations of Li.