The Ministers and officials of the state should make proper behavior their first principle, for if the superiors do not behave p

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The Ministers and officials of the state should make proper behavior their first principle, for if the superiors do not behave p

roperly, the inferiors are disorderly; if inferiors behave improperly, offenses will naturally result. Therefore when lord and vassal behave with propriety, the distinctions of rank are not confused: when the people behave properly the Government will be in good order. How does this passage from Prince Shotoku reflect Confucian principles? It encourages the ideal of equality among groups of people. It challenges the distinction between inferiors and superiors. It identifies the basis by which people are assigned to different classes. It explains that order results from people accepting and fulfilling their roles.

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