理 lǐ Li
本义指玉石的纹理，引申而有三重含义：其一，指具体事物的样式或性质，如短长、大小、方圆、坚脆、轻重、白黑等物理属性；其二，指万事万物所遵循的普遍法则；其三，指事物的本原或本体。后两种含义与“道”相近。宋明时期的学者特别注重对“理”的阐发，以“理”为最高范畴，因此宋明时期占主导地位的学术体系被称为“理学”。
The original meaning of li (理) was thetexture of jade; later it was extended to contain three meanings: 1) thephysical forms or proprieties of things, such as length, size, shape, tensilestrength, weight, and color; 2) the universal laws followed by all things andbeings; and 3) the original source or ontological existence of things. The lasttwo meanings are similar to those of Dao. Scholars of the Song and Mingdynasties were particularly interested in describing and explaining thephilosophy known as li (理), and considered it as thehighest realm, giving rise to the School of Principle which dominated academicthought in the period from the Song to the Ming dynasties.
例句 Examples：
◎物无妄然，必由其理。（王弼《周易略例》）
（事物没有随意而为的，必然会因循其理。）
Nothing happens at random; eachfollows its own li (laws). (Wang Bi: A Brief Exposition of The Book of Changes)
◎有物必有则，一物须有一理。（《二程遗书》卷十八）
（每一事物的存在必有其法则，但所有事物都须有万物皆同的理。）
Everything exists according toits objective law but all things must follow the common li (law). (Writings ofthe Cheng Brothers)