This term means widely held ideas and attitudes among the general public. The term is made up of two Chinese characters, with the first yu (舆)referring to the general public and the second lun (论)to commentaries, perspectives, or opinions. All wise rulers in history paid attention to consulting the general public for their opinions before making policy decisions, hoping that the resultant policy would meet the needs of the people and be rational and feasible. In modern times, the term is used as the Chinese equivalent of “public opinion” and generally refers to the views of people in the society or prevailing points of view reflective of what most people think. Therefore it has become a basic concept for many disciplines, such as politics, ethics, and social psychology. In ancient times, the term reflected the governing principle of “for the people.” In modern times, however, it reflects the governing principle of “by the people.” These two are different in nature, but are interchangeable and interrelated.