The term has two different meanings. One is an individual's fine moral character,

or his proper conduct in society. At first de (德) was only related to an individual's

behavior, referring to his external moral conduct. Later, it also referred to something

that combined external behavior with internal emotions and moral consciousness.

The other meaning of de refers to the special laws and features obtained from Dao,

or the physical manifestation of the hidden and formless Dao, as well as the internal

basis for the origination and existence of all things.