佛祖統紀 48.45

48.45

八年五月。修佛事於瓊花島。○十一月建國號曰大元。取周易大哉乾元之義。以明資始之功。

In the eighth year, in the fifth month, a Buddhist service was conducted on Qionghua Island. In the eleventh month, the state title of Great Yuan was established, taking its meaning from the phrase 'Great indeed is the originating Qian' in the Book of Changes to signify the virtue of conferring the beginning [of all things].