origin; beginning; to originate
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
origin; source; beginning (of things)
literaryOriginally referred to the source of a river where water is so shallow it can only float a wine cup (觞). Now used metaphorically to indicate the origin or beginning of something. Literary usage.
The Yellow River basin is the birthplace of Chinese civilization.
The origin of this art form can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty.
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Ancient Greek philosophy is the origin of the Western rational tradition.
verb
to originate; to begin; to arise
literaryUsed with the preposition 于 to indicate time or place of origin. Literary register.
This literary style originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty.
Ci poetry originated in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty.
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This tradition originated in ancient sacrificial rituals.
The European Renaissance originated in Italy.