The three cardinal principles are to be clear and virtuous, to be close to the people, and to strive for perfection. The eight eyes are to investigate things, to gain knowledge, to be sincere, to have a correct mind, to cultivate oneself, to regulate the family, to govern the country, and to bring peace to the world. The words come from "University".

"The Great Learning" put forward the "Three Programs" and the "Eight Items", emphasizing that self-cultivation is the prerequisite for governing people, and the purpose of self-cultivation is to order the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. The inner connection of personal moral cultivation.

Some people also summarized the "Six Cards" based on the connection between the "Three Cardinal Guides" and the "Eight Eyes".

Six certificates: stop, concentration, tranquility, tranquility, worry, and gain.

Nan Huaijin, a famous master of traditional Chinese culture, put forward new insights into the Three Cardinal Guides and Eight Eyes. He pointed out that it should be the Four Cardinal Guides, Seven Certificates and Eight Eyes.

Four Cardinal Guidelines: The way of a university is to be clear about virtue, to be close to the people, and to end in perfection.

Seven certificates: knowledge, cessation, concentration, tranquility, tranquility, worry, and attainment.

Eight Eyes: Investigate things, achieve knowledge, sincerity, correct mind, cultivate oneself, manage the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world.

The beginning of "The Great Learning" says: "The way of a great university is to be virtuous, to be close to the people, and to strive for perfection." This is what later generations call the "Three Programs" of "The Great Learning". The so-called "bright morality" refers to the bright morality that promotes the inherent talents of adults. The so-called "being close to the people" means to make people abandon the old and pursue the new, to abandon evil and do good. The words "close" and "new" here mean innovation, abandoning the old and seeking the new.

The so-called "stopping at the highest good" is to achieve the highest good state of Confucian feudal ethics. "Being a king should end with benevolence, being a minister should end with respect, being a son should end with filial piety, being a father should end with kindness, and communicating with the people of the country should end with trust." This is the educational program and training goal proposed by "The University".