Final answer:
A major tenet of Confucian thought is the need for rulers to exhibit moral leadership and virtuous conduct, reflecting the hierarchy and structured social roles Confucius advocated for an orderly and harmonious society.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the major tenets of early Confucian thought is the concept of harmony through hierarchy. Confucius emphasized the importance of an ordered, hierarchical society where individuals know their place in relationship to others and fulfill their roles according to the five key relationships: ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger siblings, and friends. This social structure was aimed at creating moral order and social harmony. Leaders in such a society were expected to exhibit moral leadership and virtuous conduct, an aspect known as the importance of ren, or benevolence. Confucian ideas greatly influenced governance, morality, and social relations not just in China but also in Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.
The right answer to the question is d. the need for rulers to exhibit moral leadership and virtuous conduct.