The Great Learning · 2 of 11

Commentary Chapter I: Illustrating Illustrious Virtue

1.In the Announcement to K’ang, it is said, “He was able to make his virtue illustrious.”

2.In the Tai Chia, it is said, “He contemplated and studied the illustrious decrees of Heaven.”

3.In the Canon of the emperor (Yao), it is said, “He was able to make illustrious his lofty virtue.”

4.These passages all show how those sovereigns made themselves illustrious.

[Zhu Xi’s editorial note]

The above first chapter of commentary explains the illustration of illustrious virtue.