Taxonomy of meanings for 苑:　　

  • 苑 wàn (OC: tsens MC: tsiɛn) 紆願切 去 廣韻：【 】
  • 苑 yuàn (OC: qonʔ MC: ʔʷiɐn) 於阮切 上 廣韻：【園苑白虎通云苑囿所以在東方者謂飬萬物東方物所生也 】
    • GARDEN
      • nlarge park for the use of rulers, with buildings for the use of the ruler

    Additional information about 苑

    說文解字: 【苑】，所以養禽獸也。从艸、夗聲。 【於阮切】

      Criteria
    • GARDEN

      1. The general term for a garden is yuán 園, and such gardens are primarily for fruit and vegetables, and they are walled for protection against theft, and often include artificial lakes.

      2. Pǔ 圃 refers to a garden tended by a gardener, the art of gardening being written with the same character (see AGRICULTURE).

      3. Yòu 囿 refers to a large garden or park used by the aristocracy for hunting and for pleasure rides to view animals reared.

      4. Yuàn 苑 is a large-scale park for the general delectation of rulers, typically of the same type as the smaller 囿.

      See ZHU ZUGENG 1.93, note 3.

    • VIRTUE

      1. The current general term for salient features and principles of charismatic moral potency, integrity and generosity is dé 德, when used as a term of ethical evalutation.

      2. Other general terms for subjectively construed general moral commendation include měi 美 "point of moral distinction" (ant. è 惡 "point of moral decrepitude"), and occasionally gāo 高 "elevated points, elevated spirit" (ant. jiàn 賤 "point of vulgar decrepitude"). NB that shàn 善 "excellent" is not used as a general term of positive moral appreciation in pre-Buddhist texts.

      3. The most current dé 德 "virtues" recognised in pre-Buddhist China are rén 仁 "kind-heartedness", yì 義 "rectitude", lǐ 禮 "propriety", zhì 智 "wisdom", and xìn 信 "good faith".

      4. Further important virtues are xiào 孝 "filial piety", zhōng 忠 "loyal diligence", tì 悌 / 弟 "brotherly affection", lián 廉 "impeccable probity", jié 節 "moderation", and perhaps yǒng 勇 "the courage of one's moral convictions". ( 說苑 : 百行 (xìng) 孝為先 )

      5. Zhōng yōng 中庸 "the mean in action" may be mentioned as a a central Confucian virtue, jiān ài 兼愛 "unIversal love" as a Mohist virtue, wú wéi 無為 "unobtrusive action" as a non-moralistic Taoist virtue.

      Word relations
    • Assoc: (GARDEN)囿/GARDEN Yòu 囿 refers to a large garden or park used by the aristocracy for hunting and for pleasure rides.