Confucius'principleshadabasisincommonChinesetraditionandbelief.Hechampionedstrongfamilialloyalty,ancestorworship,respectofeldersbytheirchildren(and,accordingtolaterinterpreters,ofhusbandsbytheirwives),andthefamilyasabasisforanidealgovernment.Heexpressedthewell-knownprinciple,"Donotdotootherswhatyoudonotwantdonetoyourself",oneoftheearlierversionsoftheEthicofreciprocity.