The Great Learning · 2 of 11

Commentary Chapter 1: Illustrating Illustrious Virtue

In the Announcement to K'ang, it is said, "He was able to make his virtue illustrious." In the Tai Chia, it is said, "He contemplated and studied the illustrious decrees of Heaven." In the Canon of the emperor (Yao), it is said, "He was able to make illustrious his lofty virtue." These passages all show how those sovereigns made themselves illustrious.