The Guodian manuscripts show that the concepts of Dao and De have different origins and meanings. De was seen as an inner force from Heaven for self-improvement since ancient times, while Dao was either a cosmic force or a way of behaving, likely from a later period. In the past, De was considered more important, but over time, it became part of a larger concept of Dao. The texts from Guodian reflect these changes and connections between the old and new ideas.