Final answer:
The Ming Dynasty emphasized Confucian principles, moral behavior, and a proper social hierarchy, therefore option (a) is the correct answer to the student's question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ming Dynasty's ideas and characteristics about the lives of people largely revolved around Confucian principles, highlighting moral behavior and a structured social hierarchy. Various scholars, like Wang Yangming, began to propose that moral understanding was more intuitive rather than purely based on extensive education, as previously thought by earlier Confucian scholars such as Zhu Xi. This period saw a revival of Confucianism and a shunning of Mongol influences, with early Ming emperors undertaking a return to traditional practices and beliefs. They aimed to rebuild society by emphasizing moral standards, hierarchical family structures, and the importance of Confucian education for societal administrators. Therefore, concerning the student's question, option (a) is the most accurate: The Ming Dynasty valued Confucian principles, emphasizing moral behavior and proper social hierarchy.