先河

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Chinese

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

Etymology

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

三王之祭川也，皆先河而後海，或源也，或委也，此之謂務本。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
三王之祭川也，皆先河而后海，或源也，或委也，此之谓务本。 [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.
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

Noun

先河

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