This chapter examines the philosophical debate between Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming regarding “the highest goodness” and moral cultivation. It analyzes how ancient rituals embodied “honoring the honorable” and “showing affection for one’s kin.” The chapter explores the distinction between goodness and the highest goodness, comparing Zhu Xi’s investigation of principles with Wang Yangming’s cultivation of innate knowledge. Using the Great Rites Controversy as a case study, it demonstrates how philosophical differences translated into political conflicts.