元
yuan2Mathews: 7707GSR: 257a
Dictionary Definition
(to be) (the) (most) supreme, sublime, first, first-rate, first class, preeminent, superlative, excellent, outstanding, ultimate, superior, unique, leading, finest, best, greatest, prime, primary, priority, principle; principal, chief, top, head, leader, lead, eldest, basic, fundamental, original, essential; (a, the) beginning, source, cause, basis, commencement, origin; most, supremely, extremely; -est; (the meaning was later watered down, and so this is incorrectly glossed in the Wings and elsewhere as Da4, 5943, great, grand, big, etc. Yuan in the Zhouyi is a superlative, not a superior comparative: most instead of more; best instead of better)
Radical: 10+2 | First occurrence: Hexagram 01.0
Concordance & Context (43 occurrences)
Entries shown in Hatcher's reference chain order. First Witness at 01.0
Gua Ci★
first-rate, supreme, the finest, greatest 19.0
乾：元，亨，利，贞。
The greatest fulfillment rewards persistence
Stats: 10+2→ 02.0
Gua Ci
first-rate, basic, fundamental, supreme 03.0
坤：元，亨，利牝馬之贞。君子有攸往，先迷後得，主利。西南得朋，東北丧朋。安贞，吉。
Supreme fulfillment
Rewarding the mare’s persistence
The noble young one has somewhere to go
To lead is confusion
To follow is to learn mastery
Worthwhile west to south:* find companions
East to north:* forgo companions
Secure the certain good fortune*
→ 02.5
5th Line
most, supremely; excellent, outstanding 06.5
黃裳，元吉。
Golden dress
Most promising
→ 03.0
Gua Ci
first-rate, basic, fundamental, supreme 14.0
屯：元，亨，利，贞。勿用有攸往，利建侯。
Supreme fulfillment
Worthwhile to be persistent
Not at all useful to have somewhere to go
Worthwhile to enlist delegates
→ 06.5
5th Line
(is) most, supremely, extremely 10.6
訟，元吉。
The contest is most promising
→ 08.0
Gua Ci
first-rate, supreme, fundamental, essential
比：吉。原筮，元永贞，無咎。不寧方來，後夫凶。
Promising
For a first consultation, supreme and enduring commitment
Not a mistake
Wanting peace, approach directly
The late are the unfortunate ones
→ 01.0
Tuan Zhuan
source, beginning, basis, origin (!)
大哉乾元，萬物資始，乃統天。雲行雨施，品物流形。大明終始，六位時成。時乘六龍以御天。乾道變化，各正性命，保合太和，乃利贞。首出庶物，萬國咸寧。
How great (is) creation’s source!
The myriad beings (are) provided beginnings
Along with all of the sky
Clouds pass, rain falls
The varieties of beings flow into form
Great light completes (then) begins
The six positions (are) by season fulfilled
Seasons to mount the six dragons
(And) with these to master the skies
Creation’s way (is) emergence (and) transformation
Each being true to inner nature (and) higher law
Security (is) joining in the highest attunement
It is this that rewards persistence
(As) leaders emerge from the numberless beings
The myriad realms come together in peace
Xiao Xiang 5
(is) most
黃裳元吉，文在中也。
02.5x Golden dress (is) most promising:
Refinement dwells within
Tuan Zhuan
source, beginning, basis, origin (!)
至哉坤元，萬物資生，乃順承天。坤厚載物，德合無疆，含弘光大，品物咸亨。牝馬地類，行地無疆，柔順利贞。君子攸行，先迷失道，後順得常。西南得朋，乃與類行；東北丧朋，乃終有慶。安贞之吉，應地無疆。
How consummate (is) receptivity’s source!
The myriad beings (are) provided with life
And so, (in) acceptance, inherit the sky
Accepting (with) generosity upholds the outer world
Character accommodates without drawing boundaries
Comprehending vastness, exemplifying wholeness
The varieties of beings (are) joined in fulfillment
The mare (is) the earth’s kindred spirit
(And) wanders an earth with no borders
Gentleness (and) acceptance reward persistence:
The noble young one’s purpose in going
To initiate confusion (is) to stray from the way
To follow (with) acceptance (is) to learn the principles
West (to) south, find companions:
And so, with the help of one’s kind, make progress
East (to) north, forgo companions:
Although, in the end, there will be rewards
Securing the certain holds promise:
The response to a world without limits
Xiao Xiang 5
(is) most
訟元吉，以中正也。
06.5x The contest (is) most promising:
Make use of the balance correctly*
6th Line
supreme, extreme; most, supremely 11.5
視履考祥，其旋元吉。
Studying the footsteps, examining the omens
If these come full circle, supreme good fortune
→ 01.0
Xiao Xiang 6
supreme
元吉在上，大有慶也。
10.6x Supreme good fortune at the top:
A well-earned reward
5th Line
(and) first-rate, sublime, supreme 24.1
帝乙歸妹，以祉元吉。
Lord Yi’s gift of his maiden daughter in marriage
Showed the way to happiness and supreme good fortune*
→ 01.0
Xiao Xiang 5
(and) supreme
以祉元吉，中以行願也。
11.5x (Showing) the way to happiness (and) supreme good fortune:
In the center (is) the way to bring about the promise
Gua Ci
most ; first-rate, supreme, excellent 17.0
大有，元亨。
Supreme fulfillment
→ 01.0
Tuan Zhuan
supremely
大有，柔得尊位，大中而上下應之，曰大有。其德剛健而文明，應乎天而時行，是以元亨。
Big domain
The flexible finds a distinguished position, in the great center,
While high (and) low respond to this
So this is called big domain
Its qualities (are) firmness (and) vigor and also refinement (and) clarity
Resonating with heaven and moving with the seasons
This is, accordingly, supremely fulfilling
Gua Ci
most; first-rate, supreme, excellent 18.0
隨，元亨利贞，無咎。
Most fulfilling
Worthwhile to be dedicated
Not a mistake
→ 01.0
Gua Ci
most; first-rate, supreme, excellent 25.0
蠱，元亨，利涉大川。先甲三日，後甲三日。
Most fulfilling
Worthwhile to cross the great stream
Before the beginning, three days
After the beginning, three days
→ 01.0
Tuan Zhuan
(is) most
蠱，剛上而柔下，巽而止，蠱。蠱元亨，而天下治也。利涉大川，往有事也。先甲三日，後甲三日，終則有始，天行也。
Detoxifying
The firm (is) above while the flexible (is) below
Adaptive and yet motionless
Fixations
Detoxifying (is) most fulfilling:
As all under heaven (is) healed
Worthwhile to cross the great stream:
(In) moving on there is work to do
Before the beginning, three days,
After the beginning, three days:
In the end, in due order, there will be a beginning
As heaven behaves
Gua Ci
first-rate, supreme, priority, the finest 49.0
臨，元亨，利贞。至于八月有凶。
The greatest fulfillment rewards persistence
To arrive in the eighth month* would be unfortunate
→ 01.0
1st Line
most, supremely; excellent, outstanding 26.4
不遠復，無祗悔，元吉。
Not far to return
Nothing worthy of regret
Most promising
→ 01.0
Gua Ci
most; first-rate, supreme, excellent 46.0
無妄，元亨，利贞。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。
Most fulfilling
Worthwhile to persist
For one without integrity there will be suffering*
And not much reward in having somewhere to go
→ 01.0
4th Line
most, supremely; excellent, outstanding 30.2
童牛之牿，元吉。
A young bull’s corral
Most promising
→ 01.0
Xiao Xiang 4
(is) most
六四元吉，有喜。
26.4x Six fourth (is) most fortunate:
To (still) have well-being
2nd Line
most, supremely, extremely 41.0
黃離，元吉。
Golden radiance
Most promising
→ 01.0
Xiao Xiang 2
(is) most
黃離元吉，得中道。
30.2x Golden radiance (is) most promising:
Finding the middle path
4th Line
( ^) (a, an) first-rate, superior, original, unique
睽孤，遇元夫，交孚，厲，無咎。
Estranged and alone
Meeting someone unique
Exchanging confidences
The distress
Is no longer wrong
→ 01.0
Gua Ci
most, supremely; excellent, outstanding 41.5
損，有孚，元吉，無咎，可贞。利有攸往，曷之用？二簋可用享。
Be true
Outstanding opportunity
Nothing is wrong
But it calls for persistence
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
How is this applied?
A pair of simple rice baskets may be used for the offering
→ 01.0
5th Line
most, supremely; excellent, outstanding 42.1
或益之十朋之龜，弗克違，元吉。
Somebody grants one ten matched pairs of tortoise shells
One cannot refuse
Outstanding opportunity
→ 01.0
Xiao Xiang 5
outstanding
六五元吉，自上祐也。
41.5x Six fifth’s outstanding opportunity:
Assistance from above
Tuan Zhuan
(is) (an) outstanding
損，損下益上，其道上行。損而有孚，元吉，無咎，可贞，利有攸往。曷之用？二簋可用享。二簋應有時，損剛益柔有時，損益盈虛，與時偕行。
Decreasing
Decreasing the subordinate to increase the superior
This process elevates conduct
Decreasing and still holding true
(Is) outstanding opportunity
Nothing (is) wrong
(But it) calls for persistence
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
How is this applied?
A pair of (simple) rice baskets may be used for the offering:
Two (small) rice baskets will correspond with the time
Decreasing the firm to increase the flexible presumes timeliness
Decrease (and) increase (are) excess (and) want
Interacting in time (and) functioning together
1st Line
most, supremely; excellent, outstanding 42.5
利用為大作，元吉，無咎。
Worthwhile and productive to perform great deeds
Excellent opportunity
Without errors
→ 01.0
Xiao Xiang 1
(an) excellent
元吉無咎，下不厚事也。
42.1x (An) excellent opportunity (to be) without errors:
(To be) humble regardless of weighty concerns
5th Line
sublime, supreme, excellent, unique 48.6
有孚惠心，勿問，元吉。有孚惠我德。
Be true and kind-hearted
Do not question sublime opportunity
Be assured that kindness is our worth
→ 01.0
5th Line
(means) (an) extremely, supremely, (a) most
萃有位，無咎，匪孚，元永贞，悔亡。
Convening presumes a position
This is not wrong
But an absence of trust
Means extremely prolonged persistence
Regrets pass
→ 01.0
Gua Ci
most; first-rate, supreme, excellent 02.0
升，元亨。用見大人，勿恤，南征吉。
Most fulfilling
Productive to encounter a mature human being
Do not worry
To go boldly southward* is promising
→ 01.0
6th Line
(is) most, supremely, extremely 50.0
井收勿幕，有孚元吉。
As the well comes in, do not cover
Being true is most promising
→ 01.0
Xiao Xiang 6
outstanding
元吉在上，大成也。
48.6x Outstanding promise at the top:
A great outcome
Gua Ci
first-rate, supreme, priority, (the) finest 01.0
革，已日乃孚，元亨利贞，悔亡。
Complete the day and then be sure
Supreme fulfillment is worth persistence
Regrets pass
→ 01.0
Gua Ci
first-rate, excellent; (a, the) most 59.4
鼎，元吉，亨。
The most promising offering
→ 01.0
Tuan Zhuan
first-rate
鼎，象也。以木巽火，亨飪也。聖人亨以享上帝，而大亨以養聖賢。巽而耳目聰明，柔進而上行，得中而應乎剛，是以元亨。
The cauldron
(is) a model
With wood submitted to flame
The offerings (are) transformed
The wise ones (are) fulfilled with offerings to the highest divinity
And (there is) great fulfillment (in) nourishing wisdom (and) excellence
Reaching in with ears (and) eyes, quickening (and) clarifying
The flexible advances with elevated conduct
Gaining the center and resonating with the firm
And so this is, accordingly, supreme fulfillment
4th Line
most, supremely; excellent, outstanding 02.5
渙其群，元吉。渙有丘，匪夷所思。
(Fan Yao* 06.4: unable to contend, take up a higher purpose)
Scattering those groups
Most promising
Scattering claims the high ground*
This is not commonplace thinking
→ 01.0
Xiao Xiang 4
(is) most
渙其群，元吉。光大也。
59.4x Scattering those groups (is) most promising:
Exemplifying maturity
Homophones (yuan)
淵yuan1(the, this) deep, depth, abyss, chasm原yuan2(if, for) (a, an, the) early, first, original, natural園yuan2(and) (in) gardens, parks, orchards遠yuan3(to be) distant, remote, alien, afar, long, beyond, removed, (so) far (away, reaching, removed) (from); (to) depart, leave, go away, keep away, keep at a distance, keep far from, send away, extend, distance (oneself), remove, deviate far (s, ed, ing); (a, the) distant, far (away), remote; reach, extent, remoteness, distance, detachment; (long in space or time)願yuan4(a, the) hope, aspiration, wish, desire, longing, vow, pledge, promise, dream; (to) long (for), think (of, about), be willing, hope, expect, aspire, wish, desire (s, ed, ing) (for, to); (to be) ready, willing, hopeful, desirous, aspiring掾yuan4an officer, a substitute; to wield. Perhaps u.f. yuan
Previous淵 yuan1
Nextyuan2 原
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