The legacy of Confucian culture in Maoist China

Even today, Confucian beliefs strongly influence the government and society of the People's Republic of China. The terms Ren and Li give different sides of this cultural tradition. Elements of Ren are the obliteration of the individual, the spirit of sacrifice, self-restraint, lack of privacy and ideological control. Elements of Li are a social order based on the work unit, residence and subordination to the elite.