Abstract: Faced with "rites collapsed and music disappeared" in the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius put forward the thought of governing society by ritual (li). Confucius inquired into the "the basis of ritual" and made a thorough investigation into the basis and rationality of ritual. Thus, Confucius put forward the thought of benevolence and thought that benevolence is the basis of ritual, and found a new inner spirit for ritual. "Complying with the Zhou (Cong-zhou)" is the historical starting point for the formation of Confucian thoughts on ritual. Confucius emphasized the practice of mastering oneself (Ke-ji) and self-cultivation, transforming the external constraints of rites into internal moral consciousness. "Explaining rituals with benevolence" in the Confucius thought established the thought system of unity of benevolence and ritual, and laid the theoretical foundation of Confucianism.