先河

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Chinese

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early; prior; former
early; prior; former; in advance; first
 
river
simp. and trad.
(先河)

Etymology

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From the Book of Rites, Book 18 (《禮記·學記》):

三王先河務本 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
三王先河务本 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Sānwáng zhī jì chuān yě, jiē xiān hé ér hòu hǎi, huò yuán yě, huò wěi yě, cǐ zhī wèi wùběn. [Pinyin]
When the three sovereigns sacrificed to the waters, they did so first to the rivers and then to the seas; first to the source and then to its result. This was what is called "Paying attention to the root".

Pronunciation

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Noun

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先河

  1. (figurative) origin of things; precursor; forerunner