Most people are familiar with the characters 元旦 (“Yuán Dàn”), but do you know why the first day of the year is called 元旦?
The Meaning Behind “元旦”
The character 元 is composed of “一” (one) and “兀” (high). The horizontal stroke at the top represents the head, symbolizing “beginning” or “primary.” Since the head is the most important part of the body and is located at the top, 元 came to mean beginning, first, or foremost. For example:
元年 (first year of an era)
元月 (first month)
元日 (first day)
元旦 (New Year’s Day)
状元 (top scholar)
元首 (head of state)
元帅 (marshal)
It also extends to mean origin, source, spirit o energy, as seen in words like 本元 （origin），元气 (vital energy), 元神 (primordial spirit), etc. Additionally, it represents fundamental units in systems, like 单元 (unit) or variables in mathematics, such as in 二元方程 (binary equations). It is also the unit of currency in modern Chinese: 元 (yuan).
The character 旦 consists of “日” (sun) above “一” (horizon), depicting the sun rising over the horizon, symbolizing the beginning of a day. The original meaning of 旦 is dawn, daybreak, or morning. From this, it extended to mean day, as in 一旦 (someday or one day). The idiom “毁于一旦” (be destroyed in a single day) is an application of this meaning. “一旦” can also indicate some kind of contingency or suddenness. For example, “一旦发生地震，我们要及时从安全通道撤离。” (Once an earthquake occurs, we should evacuate promptly through the safety passage.)
In traditional Chinese opera, “旦” is the general term for female roles, such as “正旦” (leading female role), “花旦” (young female role), “老旦” (elderly female role), “武旦” (martial female role), “刀马旦” (female warrior role), etc. This may be because female roles in performances are often as soft and charming as the flowers in the morning, having a metaphorical connection with the fresh morning feeling implied by “旦”.
Combining “元” and “旦”, the first day of the new year is named “元旦”, indicating the beginning of the new year and the renewal of all things. This name not only conforms to the logic of Chinese characters but also reflects the traditional Chinese concept of emphasizing the cycle of time and the hope of new life.
The Deeper Meaning of “一“
We can see that both characters in “元旦” contain the character “一”. So, is “一” just a simple stroke in these two characters?
As the most basic and special character in Chinese, “一” is not just a simple stroke. It carries profound philosophical and cultural connotations and also plays a unique role in the evolution of Chinese characters.
I. The Philosophical and Cultural Connotations of “一”
- The Origin of the Universe and the Ontology of All Things
In ancient Chinese philosophy, “一” is regarded as the starting point and source of all things. In Taoist thought, it is said that “道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。” Here, “一” symbolizes the transition from chaos to order and is a crucial link in the universe’s transformation from nothing to something. It reflects the profound thinking of ancient Chinese people about the origin and change of the universe, and “一” is endowed with fundamental and vibrant symbolic meanings. - The Symbol of Wholeness and Unity
In Chinese culture, “一” represents wholeness and unity, emphasizing harmony and order. For example, “大一统” is the core of ancient Chinese political philosophy, representing the unity of the country and social harmony. In Confucian thought, “天人合一” expresses the harmonious relationship between man and nature and the universe. Here, “一” symbolizes the overall coordination and unity. - The Quality of Purity and Concentration
“一心一意” shows the purity of “一” at the spiritual level, emphasizing concentration on one goal or direction. This spirit is highly respected in academic research, artistic creation, and the practice of life. For example, in Zen Buddhism, “一心不乱” represents the peace and concentration of the mind. - Beginning and Uniqueness
“一” is the beginning of numbers, symbolizing the start and origin. For example, the “一” in “元旦” represents the first day of the new year, the starting point of a new time cycle. At the same time, “一” also represents uniqueness and singularity, such as “唯一” (the only one), “独一无二” (unique), reflecting its profound meaning at the logical and emotional levels. - First Place and Top Level
In the context of Chinese culture, “一” is often used to represent the first place or the top level. Words such as “一流” (first-class), “一绝” (peerless), “一等” (first grade), “一品” (highest rank), “一把手” (leader) all highlight the supreme status that “一” represents in terms of ranking, grade, etc., reflecting people’s pursuit and praise of excellence and top achievements.
II. The Role of “一” in Transforming Chinese Characters
“一” not only has profound connotations in culture and philosophy but also changes the meaning and ideographic dimension of Chinese characters through the addition of a simple stroke, enriching the structural functions of Chinese characters. Let’s take the character “日” as an example to illustrate this:
(1) 旦
Adding a horizontal stroke below the character “日” forms the character “旦” This vividly depicts the sun rising slowly from the horizon, symbolizing the beginning of a new day. It provides the concept of time with a specific image and a clear starting point, allowing people to intuitively feel the start of a day.
(2) 旧
Adding a vertical stroke (the vertical form of a horizontal stroke) to the left of the character “日” forms the character “旧.” It expresses the meaning of the past or old, giving people a sense of the passage of time and the changes in things over the years. This creates a sharp contrast with the original simple concept of “日,” which represents the sun or a day, enriching the expression of time and the state of things.
(3) 甲
Adding a horizontal stroke in the middle of the character “日” without extending it upward forms the character “甲.” In the ancient Chinese timekeeping system, “甲” represents the first of the Heavenly Stems, signifying order and rank. It is often used to denote the first or the top, such as in “甲等” (first-class) and “甲级” (first grade), reflecting its leading position and importance in a sequence.
(4) 申
Adding a vertical stroke in the middle of the character “日” and extending it upward and downward forms the character “申.” It carries the meanings of stretching and explaining. Additionally, it is the ninth of the Earthly Branches. This change in the shape of the character gives “申” a unique ideographic function, enriching the Chinese characters’ expression of actions, states, and time concepts.
(5) 由
Adding a vertical stroke in the middle of the character “日” without extending it downward forms the character “由,” meaning reason or source. Through this simple addition of a stroke, the character conveys the causal relationship and origin of things, showcasing the subtlety of Chinese characters’ ideographic design.
(6) 目
Adding a horizontal stroke below the middle horizontal stroke of the character “日” forms the character “目,” which represents the eye. The eye is an essential organ for observing the world. While “日” represents the sun, symbolizing light and brightness, “目” visually resembles the shape of an eye, emphasizing its association with seeing and perception.
“一” occupies a pivotal position in Chinese culture. Its profound influence is not only reflected in philosophical and cultural connotations but also in the unique charm of Chinese character construction. From a philosophical and cultural perspective, “一” symbolizes origin, unity, concentration, and purity, carrying the wisdom and spirit of Chinese civilization. From the perspective of Chinese character construction, as a basic stroke, “一” combines with other strokes to create countless rich and diverse character forms and meanings, demonstrating the flexibility and profundity of Chinese characters.
This simple symbol goes far beyond its surface meaning and profoundly influences the Chinese way of thinking and values. In culture, philosophy, and language expression, “一” is not only the starting point but also the core, becoming an important cornerstone for the inheritance and development of Chinese culture, reflecting the dialectical pursuit of simplicity and complexity, unity and diversity.
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