a man of enhanced virtue." These four contexts describe de as a measurable force that one can "return," "cultivate," "extend," and "heighten". Tseng Tzu said: "When they are careful (about their parents) to the end and continue in reverence after (their parents) are long gone, the virtue of the people will return to its natural depth." (1:9) Confucius said: "Having virtue and not cultivating it; studying and not sifting; hearing what is just and not following; not being able to change wrongdoing: these are the things that make me uncomfortable." (7:3) Tzu Chang said: "Keeping one's virtue without extending it; trusting the Tao without enriching it. What can you gain? And what can you get rid of?" (19:2) Fan Chih, while strolling with the Master among the Rain Dance altars, said, "May I ask how to heighten virtue, overcome wickedness and resolve delusion?" The Master said, "An excellent question! If you take care of your responsibilities before you seek your own gain, won't this heighten your virtue? If you attack your own evil rather than the evil of others, won't you overcome wickedness? If, because of a moment's anger, you endanger your own life, as well as that of your parents, is this not delusion?" (12:21) The Great Learning The Da Xue or "Great Learning" is an early Confucianist text that was transmitted as a Liji chapter. The brief main passage, which is attributed to Confucius, repeats the phrase ming mingde ( "brighten the bright de"), which Legge translates "illustrate illustrious virtue". The way of great learning consists in manifesting one's bright virtue, consists in loving the people, consists in stopping in perfect goodness. ... The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states. (tr. Muller) The received Great Learning includes nine commentaries. The first one was supposedly written by Zeng Zi, a disciple of Confucius. It explains mingde by quoting three Shujing sections, an otherwise unknown bathtub inscription of King Tang of Shang, and a Shijing ode. In the "Announcement to K'ang" it is said, "He was able to [] manifest his virtue." The "T'ai-chia" says, "He contemplated Heaven's unveiled mandate." The "Canon of Yao" says, "he was able to [] manifest his lofty virtue." The inscription of the bath of King T'ang said, "If you renew yourself for one day, you can renew yourself daily, and continue