# Main text: purpose and sequence: summary

Introduces the central aims and a sequence from examining things and cultivating oneself to wider responsibilities.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/great-learning/chapter-01-main-text-purpose-and-sequence

## Source and summary

[Zhu Xi’s Great Learning chapters · Main text: purpose and sequence](https://zh.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E5%9B%9B%E6%9B%B8%E7%AB%A0%E5%8F%A5%E9%9B%86%E8%A8%BB/%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8%E7%AB%A0%E5%8F%A5&oldid=2647788)

> 大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。知止而后有定；定而后能靜；靜而后能安；安而后能慮；慮而后能得。物有本末；事有終始。知所先後，則近道矣。古之欲明明德於天下者，先治其國。欲治其…

Introduces the central aims and a sequence from examining things and cultivating oneself to wider responsibilities.

## Editorial interpretation

The example below adapts this chapter’s questions to modern work. Evaluate it against the actual purpose and conditions; ancient politics, warfare or ethics do not establish business results.

## Business application

For organizational change, state the purpose and map investigation, decisions and execution with their dependencies.

1. Choose one relevant case and record its objective, available resources, verified facts and unknowns.
2. Compare options using this chapter’s perspective; choose a limited trial, owner, deadline and a measure to assess the result.

Deliverable: A comparison using main text: purpose and sequence, with conditions for acting or declining.

## Limits

The summary selects main points rather than translating every sentence. The example is not a demonstrated business method; check it against stakeholders’ conditions and actual evidence.

## Validation question

How does this chapter’s perspective change the selected option or priority, and what further evidence could change the decision?

[The Great Learning: purpose and practice](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/great-learning)

[This material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/great-learning/chapter-01-main-text-purpose-and-sequence.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0