The distinction between public and private in Chinese traditional thoughts involves some different themes and connotations due to the different meanings of the terms of "public" (gong/公) and "private" (si/私). As far as the core notion concerned, it refers to the relationship between the state and the people, between community and individual. Confucianism holds an idea named "the world belongs to all the people" (tian xia wei gong/天下為公), and thinks that the world and the state aren't the private property of sovereign. Therefore, the sovereign's rule should be according to the principle of justice. This needs not only the sovereign's virtue of impartiality, but also establishing some institution. Confucianism insists that the essential conception of Public(gong/公) lies in realizing every individuals basic interests and their basic private rights universally and sufficiently. Since the traditional monarchy hampered these ideas to be realized, then democracy and rule of law are inner requirements of Confucian idea of public and private.